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DECEMBER 17, 2023

TIME FOR TAMALES PAGE 4

Your News, Entertainment & Lifestyle Source

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POINTERS FOR OVERNIGHT HOLIDAY GUESTS

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WHERE TO VIEW HOLIDAY LIGHTS

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HOW AEROBIC ACTIVITY BENEFITS YOUR BODY

PLUS : CITY NEWS | OPINION | HOME | ENTERTAINMENT | SENIORS | HEALTH & FITNESS

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES 4 ‘Tis the Season for Tamales 7 Make Your Own Holiday Candies

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CITY MANAGER

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8 Happy Birthday Santa Clarita HOLIDAY

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9 Creature Comforts for Overnight Holiday Guests 10 Santa Clarita Holiday Lights ENTERTAINMENT 11 11 Woo’s ‘Silent’ Movie is a Revenge Tale FOOD 12 12 Christmas Cookies HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 14 HEALTH 16 16 How Aerobic Activity Benefits Your Body CELEBRITY EXTRA 17 AUTOMOTIVE 18 18 Tips for Safe Ground or Ground-to-Air Holiday Travel GARDENING 19 19 Gifts from the Garden HOME 21 21 How to Clear Out Home Office Clutter

PUZZLES OPINION David Hegg

22 23

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

N E W S F E AT U R E

‘Tis the season for … Tamales!

Signal Staff Writer

A

staple during the holidays in many Latino households is the iconic tamales at the dinner table, a treat that many families bond together making. A tamal is a corn flour dough surrounding a filling, wrapped in a corn husk and slowly steamed.

History

The origins of tamales date back to the Olmecs and Toltecs, prehistoric Mesoamerican civilizations that date thousands of years before the Aztecs.

Tamales historically have been stuffed with various items such as turkey, fish or vegetables. The recipe for tamales has changed a bit in the past 500 years but predominantly remains unchanged.

Today’s tamales traditionally feature chicken, roasted peppers and cheese, or pork, and dessert tamales are commonly made with raisins. The festive food is given to family and friends, starting around Thanksgiving but continuing through Christmas.

Tamales Express has been owned and operated by husband and wife Romualdo and Yesenia Barre-

ra. They offer tamales year-round and have a food truck used for special events and catering in Santa Clarita.

The business began one holiday season when Romualdo and Yesenia Barrera ate tamales made by Romualdo’s mother. They only ate tamales during Christmas but wanted to enjoy them year-round, according to Romualdo.

“We love tamales, and that was one of the main reasons why we opened the restaurant because It wasn’t fair that you could only have it during the holidays,” Yesenia said.

The Barreras began researching and having their family taste test the items. Eventually, the business opened in 2019 but quickly filled a void for people wanting tamales outside of the holidays.

“Right now we’re making a thousand pounds of masa in two days,” Romualdo said.

Currently, Tamales Express offers beef in red and green sauce, chicken, pork tamales, chicharrón (fried pork belly), jalapeño and cheese tamales.

Romualdo said there are times the business runs out, and it takes about three hours to make a batch of tamales, often selling out before the day is

over. Even with increased production, it is still not enough.

“Monday through Thursday we make up to 1,200 tamales a day,” Romualdo said. “Friday, Saturday and Sunday we sell over 2,000.”

On Dec. 23 and 24, Tamales Express expects to sell 12,000 tamales in preorders alone and make an additional thousand for last-minute additions to orders.

Many times the food truck will have more tamales available, in addition to churros and specialty Mexican drinks. The Barreras advise preordering tamales and checking their social media page for more information: instagram.com/tamalesexpress_ scv.

If you’re planning to experience making tamales the traditional way with your family, Romualdo says to be in a good mood and have patience with the process.

“I would say don’t get frustrated if you’re new to making tamales,” Romualdo said. “I feel like it’s one of the toughest items to make, honestly.” 

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

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N E W S F E AT U R E

Chicken Tamales Recipe

R

ecipes varies by country, region and grandmother. There is no perfect recipe that will make everyone happy, but this recipe is designed for beginners who want to try one of the most popular varieties of tamales.

Ingredients

Tamale dough 1 package of corn husks 1 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature 1 cup of broth (Use the water from boiled chicken) 2 cups of corn flour (also called masa harina or maseca) 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 tablespoon salt

Filling 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

chicken breast, boiled and shredded pound tomatillos cups water white onion poblano chili clove garlic tablespoon salt teaspoon pepper

Directions

The corn husks must be soaked for 30 minutes and cleaned of any leftover corn hairs. After soaking the husk, you set them aside to dry.

You can choose to boil or pan cook your chicken, but for this recipe, boiling is easiest. First, place chicken breast in boiling water; add salt and onions for taste. After 15 minutes of boiling chicken, set the chicken to cool and shred with a fork.

Combine the maseca masa mix, baking powder and salt. Stir into the vegetable shortening, adding more broth from the boiled chicken as necessary to form a spongy dough. You can add more maseca mix if you add too much broth. A clump should float in a cup of water; if not, keep stirring.

You can boil, pan cook, or grill the peppers, but boiling the ingredients is faster and easier for this purpose.

Cut the tomatillos into quarters and peppers into slices. Dice garlic and onions. Add the ingredients to a boiling pot of water, add a teaspoon of salt and cook for 20 minutes or until peppers are soft.

Drain the ingredients and place in a blender until ingredients are well-blended and you have a bright green salsa. Finally, pour the salsa into the shredded chicken, mix and let the chicken marinate.

With a spoon, scoop the tamale dough and spread it on two-thirds of the inner husk; make sure the layer of dough is about a quarter-inch thick. Next, scoop the filling in the center of the dough-covered husk with a spoon.

Fold half of the tamal to cover the filling, then

fold the other half; fold the bottom of the corn husk under your tamal. The spreading of dough and folding is the hardest part of making tamales and will require many attempts before mastering the skills of a grandmother with decades of experience making tamales.

Add a few cups of water to a traditional steamer pot and heat until water is hot. An old grandmother’s trick is to add a coin to the water. If you hear the coins rattling, that means there’s enough water. If you can’t hear the coins moving, then you need to add more water to the pot.

Place the rack in the steamer pot, gently placing your tamales into the steamer upright with the

open part of the husk at the top.

Once you’ve added all of your tamales to the steamer, cover and steam over medium heat for 45 minutes or until cooked. Let tamales cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Optional Alternatively, using a slow cooker with a steamer setting can equally work. Apply the recommended amount of water for your multicooker, place the tamales upright and steam for 20 minutes. Check to see the dough is cooked and separating from the husk. You can also change the fillings to incorporate cheese or other favorite ingredients. 

Local Places To Buy Tamales Jazmin’s Bakery

Located at 24330 Main St. in Newhall with more than two decades of operation, Jazmin’s offers many seasonal baked goods. The bakery also makes tamales including the more common fillings and traditional Guerrero style. Varieties include jalapeño and cheese, pork in red sauce, chicken in green sauce and a chicken mole in a banana leaf.

You can reach them on instagram at @ jazminsbakery.

California Bakery & Cafe

Located at 23021 Soledad Canyon Road inSanta Clarita, the bakery makes many baked

and fried goods and also sells tamales. The business is also close to selling out of holiday preorders and advises placing a phone order in advance.

You can reach California Bakery & Cafe at (661) 255-1254.

Tamales Express:

Located at 18283 Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, Tamales Express offers tamales year-round and has a food truck used for special events and catering in Santa Clarita.

For more than two years, the business has been owned and operated by husband and wife Romualdo and Yesenia Barrera.

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C EAYS M B IEGR N17, S UDNED A L2023 · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

Make Your Own Holiday Candies

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

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ne of the joys of the holiday season is to bake cookies, cakes and other holiday goodies for friends and family.

However many bakers are hesitant to make candy or other confections because it seems complicated.

But there are many holiday candy and confection recipes that are very simple and will impress your giftees when they open a tin of your handmade holiday sweets.

Many recipes need nothing more than a reliable candy thermometer and will take less time to prepare than a batch of Christmas cookies.

Slow Cooker Candy Clusters

My cousin brought these to our Christmas celebration a few years ago and everyone was suitably impressed. They didn’t last an hour. It was the candy everyone reached for first. The best part of this recipe is that you can make your candy clusters to include only your favorite add-ins. I like pecans and cashews but peanuts, almonds and walnuts can also be used. Here’s my creation.

46 oz milk chocolate chips, Ghirardelli 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, Ghirardelli 12 oz white chocolate chips, Ghirardelli 2 cups chopped pecan pieces 2 cups chopped cashew pieces 1 cup broken pretzel pieces

Colored sprinkles

Red and green M&Ms First gently roast your nuts on a cookie sheet in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 7 to 8 minutes for nuts like pecans, walnuts and almonds, stirring once. Nuts burn quickly so keep a close eye on them.

Place the milk, semi-sweet, and white chocolate chips in a crockpot. Cover and turn to the crockpot to warm.

Let the chocolate warm for one hour, or until chips are melted.

Stir when melted.

Add in the nuts and pretzel and mix until coated.

Drop by tablespoon onto parchment or wax paper lined baking sheets. Press M&Ms and sprinkles on the top of the clusters. Let the candy sit at room temperature until set.

Store in airtight container. Keep at room temperature or freeze if needed.

Peppermint Meringues

These are worth the effort. I’ve been making meringues

since home economics class in high school. I also love peppermint so this seemed like a natural to me.

These literally melt in your mouth.

4 large egg whites 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Red food coloring

English Toffee Rum Balls and Peppermint Meringues.

Heat oven to 200°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large metal or glass bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar. Set bowl over (but not in) saucepan of simmering water and cook, whisking constantly, until sugar has dissolved and whites are very warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and using electric mixer, beat on low speed, gradually increasing speed to high, until glossy soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Beat in peppermint extract. Beat in red food dye until you get the shade of pink you desire. Do not overmix.

Fit pastry bag with 1/2-inch round pastry tip.

Spoon egg white mixture into bag and pipe 1-inch circles onto prepared baking sheets. Or just drop spoonfuls of meringue mixture onto baking sheet.

Bake meringues until just set on outside, 60 to 75 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Easy-Peasy Toffee

I had the best home economics teacher in high school. She liked making candy as much as we liked making and eating it. I made so much of this toffee that I finally got tired of it.

2 cups unsalted butter 2 cups white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup finely chopped almonds Combine butter, sugar, and salt in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat; stir constantly in one direction until butter is melted, about 5 minutes.

Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper, letting it overhang two sides of the dish.

Once the butter has melted, stop stirring and bring

mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cook, stirring only 2 to 3 times, until it turns a dark amber color and the temperature reaches 285F on a candy thermometer, 20 to 30 minutes.

Immediately pour toffee into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let sit until they soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Use a spatula to spread softened chocolate into a thin, even layer.

Sprinkle nuts over the chocolate and press down slightly. (I wearing a plastic food storage bag over my hand to minimize the mess).

Place toffee in the refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.

Lift hardened toffee out of the baking dish with the parchment paper. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Lillian’s Rum Balls

When I was just out of college I went to work for a major metropolitan newspaper in Los Angeles. One of my co-workers was a crusty, older lady, who seemed tough as nails. She scared me. But she made the best rum balls. I was so touched when she gifted me her recipe.

2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup baking cocoa 12 ounces vanilla wafers, finely crushed 1 cup finely chopped walnuts 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/4 cup Myer’s Original Dark Rum

Additional confectioners’ sugar, coconut flakes or powdered cocoa.

In a large bowl, mix confectioners’ sugar and cocoa until blended. Add crushed wafers and walnuts and toss to combine. In another bowl, mix corn syrup and rum; stir into wafer mixture.

Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in additional confectioners’ sugar, coconut flakes or powdered coca.

Store in an airtight container. 

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Happy Birthday, Santa Clarita

By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager

J

ust a few days ago on December 15, the City of Santa Clarita officially turned 36-years-old.

Our community has evolved incredibly since incorporation back in 1987.

Originally measuring 39-squaremiles, with only 130,000 residents at the time of our incorporation, the City now spans over 73-square-miles and is home to more than 230,000 residents! Although we have grown, we still retain our small-town feel with many big-city opportunities.

Back on December 15, 1987, there were only a handful of parks in our fledgling City. Now, Santa Clarita boasts 37 beautiful parks with trails

to explore, fields to play sports, playgrounds for kids, impressive public art pieces and so much more.

Santa Clarita regularly ranks high on esteemed review lists for safety, healthy lifestyle, boasting a business-friendly environment and more.

This year our City was named the 4th Safest City in America, the 5th Best City in the Nation for Women, the 8th Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, the 31st Happiest City in the Nation and was recognized as the Most Business-Friendly City by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. In addition, this year marked the 33rd consecutive year that Santa Clarita was designated as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Over the past year we reached some major milestones in our City. Our budget topped the $300 million mark for the first time, which is in stark

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comparison to the City’s first budget of just under $30 million in 1988. We welcomed residents to a new inclusive play area at West Creek Park, to new amenities at Central Park and to the new Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center. We saw the return of our landmark Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival and married six couples at the same time as part of The Big I Do. We also welcomed the Tesoro Adobe Park as our 37th park. All of these achievements are part of the action items in our five-year strategic plan Santa Clarita 2025. I encourage all of you to check out the full plan to see what new projects and amenities are in store for our 37th year of cityhood in 2024. Some of these exciting projects include Skyline Ranch Park and the new Valencia Community Center.

The City has also demonstrated its strong commitment to addressing homelessness in our community by

donating millions of dollars to Bridge to Home’s new shelter project. This project is anticipated to come to fruition this spring located on Drayton Street. Please visit SantaClarita.gov/ SC2025 to see all the action items listed in our City’s strategic plan.

Santa Clarita is a unique and special community that has truly lived up to the vision of our City founders.

I am proud of our organization’s work over the past 36 years – thanks to the devoted leadership of our City Council. We will continue to provide our residents with top-notch customer service and high-quality City resources. Please join me in wishing Santa Clarita a happy 36th birthday, and to all of you…happy holidays!

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov. 

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

H O L I D AY

Creature Comforts for Overnight Holiday Guests

O

vernight 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 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)

Planning Pointers • Hire a local cleaning service • Get an early head count • Rent items from a local party supply store • Arrange for transportation

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N E W S F E AT U R E

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

Lighting up Santa Clarita

By Selvin Ramirez For The Signal

T

he days after Thanksgiving, or even the day after Halloween, families decorate their homes with lights and displays to celebrate the holiday season.

These homes light up the Santa Clarita Valley with joy and cheer. Behind each of these homes are families with

The Hallack House

Briarcliff Place

stories of why they do this year after year, despite the challenges that come from installing these elaborate displays.

Here are some of the houses you can visit this holiday season:

Wakefield Winter Wonderland

Wakefield Court, Santa Clarita 91350 Commonly referred to by local residents as “Candy Cane Lane,” the Wakefield Winter Wonderland has been a holiday staple to Santa Clarita residents and visitors for almost 30 years. Over 40 houses are decked out with lights, inflatables and animatronics of your favorite holiday characters. As you walk or drive around the cul-de-sac, you can see homes lined up with the classic poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” What many people don’t know is that this neighborhood tradition started during the year of the 1994 Northridge earthquake to bring the community together. There is also a toy donation collection location for the SCV Boys and Girls Club at 21900 Wakefield Court and for the local homeless shelter at 21982 Wakefield Court. According to the Wakefield Winter Wonderland Facebook page, the hours are 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and there are no public restrooms, so drink that cocoa at your own risk.

Homestead Holidays

Tolentino Christmas

Homestead Place, Santa Clarita 91350 Nestled west of the Wakefield Winter Wonderland is the Homestead Holidays. This neighborhood goes all out with their holiday decorations. This neighborhood tradition was founded in part by the Valvo family.

The Valvos’ twin children Troy and Cheyenne Valvo have been passing out candy canes for years to people visiting their street. Homestead Holidays gained national attention in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when the twins aimed to continue to pass out candy canes to raise money and collect toys to donate to those in need.

“Just like Santa, not even the pandemic will stop them,” Mike Valvo told Fox News.

“Whether it’s raining or it’s windy outside, the kids are out there almost every single night.”

Homestead Holidays has also been featured in the Santa Clarita Transit Holiday Tour Trolley.

Thomas & Cody’s Light Show

25851 Royal Oaks Road, Stevenson Ranch 91381 The Thomas & Cody’s Light Show has over 20 songs to choose from for their light shows.

There are traditional Christmas songs, mod-

ern Christmas songs, Disney songs and the non-Christmas song “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.

You can tune in to 99.7 FM when you’re near the home to listen to the songs. It runs daily from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Hallak House

25086 Cotton Blossom Lane, Stevenson Ranch 91381 Houses away from the Thomas & Cody’s Light Show, the Hallak House is another home with 65,000 lights. There is a train, an 8-foot teddy bear and a snowman that blows out snow. Many homes decorate the outside of their homes for others to see, but this house also decorates the inside of their home for their family to enjoy. Tune in to 107.FM when you’re near the home. It runs every night from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Holiday Light Spectacular on Briarcliff Place

27732 Briarcliff Place, Valencia 91354 The Steigelbauer family has the tradition of hosting holiday light shows from October to December. As they raise holiday spirit and cheer, they are raising donations for the National Brain Tumor Society. Kim Steigelbauer lost her father Frank Egan to glioblastoma eight years ago, and the family’s goal is to make life brighter for those diagnosed with a brain tumor now and in the future. Donations can be given at the home or online at nbtsevents.braintumor.org/HolidayLightSpectacular.

Koji Court

19715 Koji Court, Santa Clarita 91351 For over 11 years, the Tolentino family has put on a spectacular light show for the community to see. Their home won the Signal’s Holiday Lights Contest in 2017. They received 65,627 votes.

“I ask myself when it will be the last year,” said Manny Tolentino. “I look at the kids who visit, and I know it won’t end.”

Manny Tolentino has a creative technical background. For years it had been a dream to work for Disney. His father has always been big with Christmas, and one year he decided to take it to the next level with a synchronized light show. He now works for Disney and incorporates elements of it into the shows.

“I love to see the joy on everyone’s faces,” he said. “Even as I work on putting this together, people would drive by and cheer me on.” 

D E C E M B E R 10, 2023

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Woo’s ‘Silent’ Movie is a Revenge Tale

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Silent Night’

 (out of four)

Lionsgate presents a film directed by John Woo and written by Robert Archer Lynn. Rated R. In theaters.

N

ot to be confused with the 2012 slasher film “Silent Night” or the 2020 South London crime movie “Silent Night” or the 2021 black comedy “Silent Night,” John Woo’s “Silent Night” is a dialogue-free vigilante revenge thriller with echoes of “Taken” and “Peppermint” and, of course, “Death Wish.”

For the 77-year-old Woo, who has influenced generations of directors with films such as “The Killer,” “Bullet in the Head” and “Face/Off,” this is his first American film since 2003’s “Paycheck,” and it is hardcore evidence Woo retains his signature style and his flair for over-the-top, sometimes poetically brutal action.

“Silent Night” kicks off with Joel Kinnaman’s Brian Godlock wearing a corny Rudolph “dad sweater” as he desperately races through the streets of Los Angeles as a red balloon drifts away in the skies, uh-oh.

We soon learn Brian’s young son has been killed by stray gunfire during a gangland shootout, and Brian’s reckless pursuit of the shooter ends with him on the ground and the leader of the gang, a menacing borderline caricature named Playa (Harold Torres), shooting Brian in the neck at point-blank range.

Brian somehow survives and recovers, but his vocal cords have been obliterated and he’s unable to speak.

This sets up the movie-long gimmick of a dialogue-free film, with characters’ voices muffled and most communication transpiring via text messages or notes. (We also occasionally hear a voice on a radio.) In a world where the cliche of the Talking Villain continues to thrive and too many action films grind to a halt so the characters can explain to each other — and thus the viewer — where we are and what needs to happen next, there’s something undeniably refreshing about Woo’s reliance on sound, movement and sometimes flashy

Brian isn’t a trained killer like John camera moves to tell his very simple but effective revenge tale.

Wick or Liam Neeson’s Bryan Mills in The square-jawed, leading-manthe “Taken” movies. He’s just a reguhandsome Kinnaman does a stellar lar guy who has to learn how to drive job of conveying Brian’s feelings of like a stuntman, shoot like a marksdespair and rage as he returns home man and fight like Jason Bourne, with his wife, Saya (Catalina Sanso we get an extended sequence in dino Moreno), who stays loyal and which Brian reinforces his Mustang, loving to Brian while reminding him takes shooting lessons, buys guns and that she’s hurting too. Brian crawls studies YouTube videos to learn how inside of a bottle and holes up in the to punch and kick and block blows garage, and Saya finally gives up and and stab and stab and stab and stab. leaves him to his bitterness and his PHOTO CREDIT IMDB It’s a remarkable and relatively fast anger. Brian pays a visit to the police transition — but we’re reminded Bri- conclusion — a prolonged confronstation with the intention of meetan is a novice at this whole vigilante tation between Brian and Playa, with ing with theLaemmle detective (Scott MescuTheatres •thing Santa Signal adsource@exhibitorads.com innumerable henchmen/stuntmen whenClarita he kidnaps and attempts di) who is working his case, but after meeting their along the way. to torture a gang member for inforp. demise 888.737.2812 f. 203.438.1206 3col (4.75”) x 5.9” Brian identifies Playa and some of Glass breaks. Blood splatters. Cars mation, and it all goes sideways in his associates mugshots tacked on Sunday-Thursday, December 17-21, 2023 Adviainsertion date: crash and explode.

Sometimes it hapspectacularly violent, hand-to-hand the wall, he beats a hasty retreat and pens in slow motion. that time, combat fashion.

Ad his creation/delivery date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:22:09 AMBy CASCS_LEM1217begins plotting revenge, scrawlwe’ve come to appreciate that if this With director Woo, cinematograing the words “KILL THEM ALL” on story DID have dialogue, it’s debatpher Sharone Meir and editor Zach the date Dec. 24th on the calendar able if that would be an asset. “KILL (the one-year anniversary of his son’s Staenberg providing the slick and THEM ALL” pretty much sums it stylish visuals, and Marco Beltrami’s death) just in case we’re not clear up.  music pounding home the action, about his intentions.

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FOOD

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

A

s a child I remember sitting impatiently at the kitchen table waiting for my tray of cutout sugar cookies to decorate. My favorite cookie cutters were the angel and the Christmas tree.

Those were fun cookies to decorate. I never did like the reindeer, his legs or his head always tore off when getting transferred from the table to the cookie sheet for decorating. In addition, I didn’t like red or green sugar decorated reindeer, the reindeer had to have the chocolate sprinkles, which usually ran out first.

When I had a daughter of my own, we made it a holiday tradition to decorate Christmas cookies together.

My favorite story about my Christmas cookie recipes is the time I decided to publish our family’s most “sacred” recipe, the Springerle recipe handed down from my grandmother. She obtained the recipe from a neighbor.

My aunt was horrified that I would share such an important family recipe.

“Not the Springerle!” she objected.

However, I shared the recipe despite her objections. She has since shared the recipe with friends, as well.

It is, after all, the season of “giving.”

Here are some time-tested Christmas cookie recipes from my own recipe box Most of these recipes have been handed down in my family, but not all.

Some recipes were gathered from friends. I usually make most, if not all of these cookies every year for the holidays.

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs and blend.

Springerle from Mrs. Roehr

Dissolve the soda in the sour cream and add, alternatively, with the flour and salt.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL RECIPE, REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS WRITTEN.

Chill the dough until it is very stiff. Roll a little thicker than a dime on a floured board.

Stir in 1 Tbsp. butter, 2 C sugar and 4 large eggs.

(Before mixers the recipe said to beat for 1/4 hour).

Add 4 C flour and 1 tsp. baking powder. Add 1/4 package anise seed.

use holiday cookie cutters to cut into festive shapes.

Kneed on board a few minutes

Bake in a hot oven at 400 degrees until pale gold.

Roll to 1/4-inch thickness.

Bake 5 or 6 minutes.

Baste the cookies with milk and decorate with a variety of springles and other cookie decor.

Candy Cane Cookies

Roll again with little figured rolling pin.

1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup shortening 1 egg 1 cup sifted confectioners’ suger 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract OR 1 tsp. peppermint extract.

1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. salt 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. red food coloring

Leave on trays overnight. This is a MUST. Sprinkle anise seed on cookie sheet and lay cookies on top. (Optional) Bake in slow oven 250 degress, 25-30 minutes approx.

Cook one sheet at a time.

Remove baked cookies from sheets immediately, If not removed, they will stick to the cookie sheet like cement.

Lita Cakes 1 2 4 4 1 1

pound butter cups sugar cups flower eggs tsp. vanilla lb. package of cornstarch

Warm butter at room temp until easily creamed with sugar. Beat until light in color.

Add unbeaten eggs one at a time alternately with flour and cornstarch sifted together. Add vanilla.

Form in long strings about the thickness of a finger.

Cut off and form into balls like large marbles and press down to 1/4 inch, make dent with a little

finger and fill with plum jam.

Bake well apart at 300 degrees.

Do not brown, but cook just until a light brown on the bottom of the cookie.

Bake 15-25 minutes.

When kept in tight tins, cookies improve with age.

Do NOT replace butter with margarine.

Decorated Sour Cream Cookies 1 1 /2 cups sugar 1 cup butter 1/2 tsp. soda 1/4 tsp. salt 3 Tbsp. thick sour cream 2 well-beaten eggs 3 cups of flour 1/4 tsp. vanilla

Mix shortening and butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix flour and salt and add to shortening mixture.

Divide dough in half.

Blend red food coloring into one half of the dough.

Roll 1 teaspoon of the red dough and 1 teaspoon of the white dough on lightly floured board into 3-inch long and 1/4-inch wide ropes Place the ropes side by side and press lightly together and twist like a rope. Curve top of rope down to look like the handle of a candy cane.

Bake 9 minutes at 350 degrees or until lightly browned.

Optional Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed peppermint stick candy and 1/2 cup sugar. 

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

H E A LT H

How Aerobic Activity Benefits Your Body

P

hysical activity is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, and an effective fitness regimen is one that combines strength training with cardiovascular exercise.

Recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urge adults to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week. Aerobic activity includes cardiovascular exercises like hiking, running, dancing, cycling, or other activities that increase the heart rate and improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

Though cardiovascular exercise is often discussed in terms of its heart healthy benefits, the Cleveland Clinic reports that aerobic activities benefit various parts of the body, including the heart but also the brain, the joints, skin, and muscles.

Cardio and Your Heart

Routine cardiovascular exercise leads to a decrease in resting blood pressure and heart rate.

That’s beneficial for the heart because it ensures the heart does not have to work unnecessarily hard.

Cardiovascular exercise also improves good cholesterol levels and lowers blood fats, each of which also helps to improve heart health.

Cardio and your brain

diovascular exercise can help fight osteoporosis and reduce risk for hip fractures. It’s also important to note that men are not immune to osteoporosis, which has long been considered a more significant concern for women than men. Though women’s risk for osteoporosis is greater than men’s, UC San Diego Health reports that between 20 and 25 percent of all hip fractures occur in men.

Cardio and Your Skin The Alzheimer’s Society reports that studies have shown that exercise that increases heart rate in middle-aged or older adults has led to improvements in thinking and memory and lower rates of dementia. The Cleveland Clinic notes that cardio also decreases stroke risk by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Cardio and Your Joints

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become brittle and fragile from a loss of tissue. That tissue loss can be a side effect of aging, but even though the National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that half of all women over 50 will develop osteoporosis, older adults are not helpless against the condition. The Cleveland Clinic notes that car-

Physical activity increases circulation, which the Cleveland Clinic reports leads to clearer, healthier skin. Cardio promotes better blood flow to the skin cells on the face, which can reduce signs of aging and improve complexion.

Cardio and Your Muscles

Cardio increases oxygen supply to the entire body, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that allows muscles throughout the body to work harder and more efficiently. In addition, routine cardiovascular exercise allows muscles to adapt to an increased workload, which can improve daily life by making routine physical activities easier.

Cardiovascular exercise is a key component of an effective fitness regimen. By committing to cardio, adults can benefit various parts of their bodies.

(MC) 

D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

CELEBRITYNEWS

shows to return. Is there a definitive premiere date yet?

— K.H. Yes, now that the strikes in Hollywood have ended, cast members have returned to their sets for filming. NBC has even started airing commercials officially announcing that “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire” and Chicago P.D.” will begin airing new episodes, starting at 8 p.m.

ET on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the above order.

Also on NBC, another popular trio of shows: “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Law & Order: Organized Crime” will debut their new

A

Actress Jennifer Tilly. PHOTO CREDIT DEPOSITPHOTOS

seasons on Thursday, Jan. 18, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

it true that there’s going to be Q Isanother “Frozen” movie? When is it coming out?

— O.P. A decade after Disney’s wildly successful musical movie “Frozen” premiered in theaters, a third one is in development — and possibly a fourth. It was initially conceived as a hand-drawn animated film back in 1937 based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” before it

A

I occasionally see actress JenQ nifer Tilly on “The Real House-

wives of Beverly Hills” because she’s friends with Sutton Stracke. Is she still acting?

— K.J. Yes, Jennifer Tilly is still acting, and she’s also best friends with “RHOBH” cast member Sutton Stracke. She’s currently starring in the “Chucky” series streaming on Peacock. She also voices the character of Bonnie on the long-running animated series “Family Guy.” Tilly can also add being Oscar-nominated to her list of achievements for her supporting role in 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway.”

If she has any reality show career aspirations, she hasn’t made it known, but she occasionally appears on “RHOBH” due to her friendship with Stracke. On the show, the two ladies recently greeted Stracke’s beautiful horse, Santos, whom Stracke had purchased overseas. 

A

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As for the “Frozen III” premiere date, online publications are guessing anywhere from 2024 to 2027. What matters, though, is what Disney says, and so far, an official release date hasn’t been set. However, Jennifer Lee, Disney’s animation chief creative officer, has stated that a fourth film might be necessary because “they have a lot of story to tell.”

Two recent animated Disney movies — “Elemental” and “Strange World” — didn’t fare so well at the box office, and both were each based on original ideas. So, returning to a preexisting franchise like “Frozen” will be a guaranteed home run.

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

AUTOMOTIVE

Tips for Safe Ground or Ground-to-Air Holiday Travel

T

he holiday season can be stressful enough before adding travel to the mix.

Coordinating ground or air travel and planning accommodations, even if you’re simply staying with loved ones, is often just the beginning and health and safety concerns can fall by the wayside.

If you’re among the 62% of Americans who plan to travel this holiday season, according to research conducted by IPX1031, consider these tips to protect your health and safety.

Just in time for the holiday season, revamped Hands-Only CPR training kiosks, which provide an overview of Hands-Only CPR followed by a practice session and a 30-second test, are available in airports, hospitals and other locations around the country.

With the help of a practice mannequin, the kiosks give feedback about the depth and rate of compression, as well as proper hand placement — factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR — and teaches the two simple steps:

Plan Ahead

1. Call 911

Proper planning can help ensure you’re prepared to handle any unexpected challenges or delays when you depart. Check the weather before heading out — including at your destination — and travel around any anticipated storms. Leave early to account for potentially heavy traffic and plot your path in advance to ensure you’re aware of any road closures or construction.

Ensure Your Family is Up to Date on Vaccines

Routine vaccinations can help protect you from infectious diseases that can be easily spread when around a large group of people. The CDC recommends the seasonal flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.

Other vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine or booster and measles vac-

cine, can help protect not only your health, but your loved ones as well.

Learn CPR

Only about 40% of people who suffer from cardiac arrest receive CPR from a bystander, according to the American Heart Association. However, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 9

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ersonal, handmade gifts are always the best, and as gardeners, we have many options to choose from. Of course, the more you plan ahead, the more materials you’ll have to work with. Here is a selection of garden gift ideas sure to please everyone on your list.

Use your herbs. Dried herbs packed in pretty glass jars are a welcome gift for the foodies on your list. Easy-todry favorites include bay leaves, tarragon, sage, and thyme. Stored in a cool, dry location, these herbs will hold their flavors for a year or two.

Teas can be made using herbs harvested from your garden.

Dry the leaves by bundling and hanging them, or spreading them out on a piece of cheesecloth or an old window screen.

Popular tea plants include holy basil, also known as tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), mint of any kind (Mentha spp.) and anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). Package a couple of bags of dried tea leaves with a tea strainer and voilà! — a perfect gift for a tea lover.

Herbal vinegars are versatile and easy to make. Start by packing a glass jar with fresh herbs, stems and all.

Basils, rosemary, tarragon, lemon thyme or garlic chives all make flavorful vinegars.

Heat a mild type of vinegar, such as rice vinegar, almost to a boil and pour it over the herbs. Cover and store your infusions in a cool dark place for 2 to 4 weeks, then strain and pour the flavored vinegars into deco-

Christmas Lights rative bottles.

A holiday wreath, made using natural materials can last for weeks if hung on an outside door. You can start with a basic purchased wreath and augment with a variety of greens using a hot glue gun. From there, the list of possible adornments is endless. Cones, cayenne peppers, Thai peppers, okra pods, broom corn, dry wheat or rye stalks, coneflower seed heads, acorns and gourds are popular embellishments.

Grow gourds. Not only are they beautiful and interesting as is, they can be dried and decorated for use as holiday ornaments. Cut gourds from the vine when they are mature, leaving an inch or two of stem, and wash and rinse them.

Place them where they will get good air circulation and turn them every week or two. Or, hang them from a fence or from tree branches.

Succulents are easy to propagate.

Simply take a cutting and poke it into moist soil, keeping it moist until the cutting develops roots. With many succulents, this happens within three to four weeks. Transplant your cuttings into small clay pots for attractive, easy-care gift plants.

Seeds from your garden, placed in envelopes decorated with a photo of the plant, are great gifts for gardener friends. Let a few of your plants go to seed for this purpose.

Keep in mind that the seeds of flowering plants that are insect-pollinated may produce flowers or fruits that differ from those on the parent plant.(Home Garden Seed Association) 

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

How to Clear Out Home Office Clutter

H

old devices rather than simply tossing them in the trash once they’ve been wiped clean.

ome offices have garnered more attention in recent years. Restrictions implemented as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic forced many professionals to start working from home, which created a greater need for home office space.

Though millions of professionals have now returned to the office full-time, millions more have continued to work from home five days a week or are now working on a hybrid schedule. As a result, home office spaces have maintained their utility even as restrictions related to the pandemic move further into the rearview mirror.

Since home office spaces remain vital for so many, it’s important that these spaces are conducive to productivity. Conquering home office clutter is a step in that direction.

ments can prevent the piling up of paper in the future. Invest in a small file cabinet to store important personal and professional documents.

Cut through the piles of paper. Home offices have a tendency to transform into paper depositories over time. Work files, notes, monthly bills, receipts, and junk mail can quickly overwhelm a home office. Professionals who spend ample time working from home can resolve to cut through the piles of paper. Use a paper shredder to discard documents with sensitive information, such as bank statements and utility bills. Signing up for e-state-

Discard old devices. Old devices are another space eater in many home offices. In fact, a recent survey from Material Focus found that more than 20 million unused electrical items are currently hoarded in homes throughout the United Kingdom. Old smartphones and laptops that users are afraid to throw out can be wiped clean and discarded in adherence with local laws. Contact your local government to determine how to safely discard

Buy a bigger bookshelf. Home offices often double as reading rooms, which makes them vulnerable to clutter associated with leisure time as well.

Books stacked in a corner or taking up space on your desk can create a cluttered look, but also compromise your ability to concentrate. A 2011 study from researchers at Princeton University published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task.

If books are strewn about your office, purchase a bookshelf that can hold them. Once books are shelved, the less cluttered space can make it easier to concentrate.

Go digital. If space is limited, forgo traditional file cabinets in favor of digitizing important records and documents. Scan important receipts and statements and store them on a desktop or backup hard drive so they’re never out of each. This creates space and makes it easier and quicker to find important files.

Home offices can quickly become overwhelmed with clutter. Some simple strategies can help any professional transform their home offices into more organized spaces. (MC) 

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D E C E M B E R 17, 2023

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Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.

READERLETTERS

Obama the Puppeteer In a December 2020 interview with Stephen Colbert, former President Barack Obama mused about having a third term as president.

When asked about it, Obama said, “People ask me, knowing what you know now, do you wish you had a third term? And, I used to say, you know what, if I could make an arrangement where I had a stand-in, a front-man, or front-woman, and they had an earpiece in and I was just in my basement in my sweats looking through the stuff and I could sort of deliver the lines but somebody else was doing all of the talking and ceremony, I'd be fine with that.”

When I first watched that interview I chuckled a bit — either this man's a control freak or he really misses his old job — but then I completely forgot about it.

Now, former President Donald Trump, at an event in New Hampshire, insinuates Obama is President Joe Biden’s boss, and I sit there for a moment and I think about it, and I recall that interview, and I think to myself, “Hey, maybe Obama was finally able to make that ‘arrangement’ after all.” And the reason it's funny to me is that it's actually plausible, and mainly because I don’t believe Biden is capable of much more than deciding what flavor of oatmeal to eat each morning.

And although that statement was hyperbolic to the extreme, I'm pretty sure Biden and his administration have very little if anything to do with actually running our country.

They're just political placeholders for other interests. All Obama needs to do now is to get his puppet to speak coherently and keep it from running into walls and falling down stairs. I think it’s hilarious.

Arthur Saginian Santa Clarita Submit a Letter to the Editor

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E T H I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Noble Lies Aren’t Noble

By David Hegg

I

t is the 5th century B.C. Greek philosopher Plato, who gets the credit for both creating and promoting what has become known as the “noble lie.” In “The Republic,” he blatantly declared that not all persons are created equal.

He put it this way: “When God made you, he used a mixture of gold in the creation of those of you who were fit to be rulers, which is why they are the most valuable. He used silver for those who are to be auxiliaries, and iron and bronze for the farmers and the rest of the skilled workers.” In this way, he made racism look beneficial.

His learned conversation partner, Socrates, explained the usefulness of the noble lie when he said it is “… one of those falsehoods … one single, grand lie, which will be believed by everybody, including rulers, ideally, but failing that, by the rest of the city.”

And so, the “noble lie” was born. Since the time of Plato, those in power have used it as a means of controlling the thoughts, beliefs and actions of others. By means of a grand lie that actually incorporates some truth, rulers have been able to shape the behavior of those who, in reality, have no access to the information necessary to overrule what they have been told. And so, they go along with the lie.

The only problem is that noble lies are not noble at all.

They are actually tools of treachery. The elites who form the lie are pursuing an agenda that can only be achieved with the help of the populace who must believe it.

Sadly, the “noble, but not so noble lie” is alive and well today. I only have to write one word to prove it: COVID. It has become crystal clear that we were told things the tellers knew were false. We were commanded to do some things and not do other things by those who knew their demands had no factual basis. Numbers were manipulated into scary statistics and millions of us just went along, believing the lies out of fear of the unknown. We trusted those who were “in the know” and later found out the ones at the top were just telling us what they thought would placate us and make us more manageable even as they pursued their own power agendas.

I could also mention climate change. Remember when it was “global warming?” Then, as actual scientific history debunked the “warming” part, the elites rushed in with “climate change.” And once again, we were told the lie that unless we give up oil, gasoline and natural gas we will be guilty of ruining the Earth. And, this just in, the U.N. has asked Americans to cut way back on eating meat in order to save the planet.

The noble lie is all around us today. It is a prime ingredient in much of our marketing and certainly the political propaganda that will soon be filling our mailboxes, social media, and the commercial spaces in our favorite TV shows.

But here’s the greater problem. We’ve been so deluged

with noble lies of all sizes over the years that we are more prone to believe them than attempt to validate them. This is especially true if the noble lie is coming from someone we like and want to believe.

Too many of us are addicted to noble lies because they are really much more than lies.

They are movements and causes that raise in us an almost religious fervor. They also provide us with a sense of belonging by providing the basis for like-minded association. And therein lies the real danger of the noble lie. It replaces reality with a lie that appeals to us for all the wrong reasons.

So, what are we to do? Initially, we must realize that noble lies tend to shield us from what is really happening. They focus us on the macro ideas of the ruling class in a way that is meant to distract our eyes from what is really happening all around us.

Right now, America’s financial foundations are gravely threatened by reckless governmental spending as we live under the lie that the government is responsible for everyone’s well-being. Right now, America’s intellectual future is being undermined by those who no longer believe in absolute truth as we labor under the lie that truth is relative, non-binary.

Right now, the safety of America’s people is being eroded by policies that have eviscerated our defense forces while leaving our borders open to all comers as we are ruled by the lie that military might and closed borders should not be our priorities. Right now, in California, crime threatens our businesses, our cities, our families and our very lives even as prosecutors operate under the lie that non-prosecution will bring about a better society.

Right now, in California, the ability to find, purchase, and afford homeowners insurance has become a huge deterrent to home ownership as we are told the lie that things are better now than ever. Right now, California is facing a $68 billion budget shortfall, and we all know how Sacramento will attempt to sugarcoat it all while passing along the bill to the rest of us while telling us California is the best-run state in the Union.

And so, we can expect another series of noble lies. But actions have consequences, and lies ought to be pointed out, and liars made to pay. That’s what elections are supposed to be about.

Someone has said in a democracy the people get the government they deserve. That being true, let’s stop electing liars, especially those who continue trumpeting the lies they’ve been telling for so long. Noble lies really aren’t noble.

What we need is some good old-fashioned truth, and people who are courageous enough to deliver it.

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 