![]() We've all heard of them at one point in time or another. I'm referring to secret societies. You know the groups: The Freemasons, Skull and Bones, etc. What is their purpose? What function do they service in the world? Do they actually decide what they think is best for the common folk? Are these societies even real? A secret society, by definition, covers a large range of membership organizations or associations that utilize secret initiations or other rituals and whose members often employ unique oaths, grips (handshakes), or other signs of recognition. Elements of secrecy may vary from a mere password to private languages, costumes and symbols. Secret societies are, by their very nature, are made up of persons presumably orientated toward similar aims and or goals. The ends usually manifest the characteristic that differentiates a given secret society from all others; that is to say, the ends are secret. Moreover, admission to membership almost always involves explicit obligation to preserve such secrecy, and penalties and violations are likewise explicitly stated. Secret societies would lose their reason for existence if secrecy were entirely abandoned. Many fraternal organizations, for example, maintained the secrecy of their rituals well into the 21st century, although, such as the case of college fraternities and sororities, these survived largely as formalities. Other academic societies- most notably, Yale University's Skull and Bones (remember I mentioned them) and other similar groups at other Ivy league schools- have traditionally guarded their secrets much more closely. In most instances, the core of the binding secrecy is to be found in the society's ceremonies. In many secret societies, the ceremony is cast in dramatic form and fashion and contains episodes taken from holy books, revered legends, and episodes thought to be of crucial historical importance. Let's ask former 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush about the ceremonies and secret rituals in the Skull and Bones since he was a member. We can't ask his father, the 41 st President George H.W. Bush since he passed away and was also a member of Skull and Bones. The Freemasons loom large in American history. Thirteen of the thirty nine who signed the U.S. Constitution were Masons. Founding Fathers like George Washington, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock all counted themselves as members of the fraternal order. But who are the Freemasons? The Freemasons can trace their routes to the Middle Ages in Europe when most craftsmen were organized into local guilds. Cathedral builders, by nature of their profession, had to travel from city to city. They identified one another via signs of their trade, like the builder's square and compass in Freemasonry's now iconic symbol. The earliest reference to the masons is in the Regius Poem, or Halliwell Manuscript, which was published in 1390, but Freemasonry, as we know it today, was founded in 1717, when four London lodges merged to form England's first Grand Lodge. Freemasonry quickly spread across Europe and to the American colonies. Freemasonry is not a religion, though members are encouraged to believe in a Supreme Being, or "Grand Architect of the Universe." Masonic temples and secret rituals have brought them into conflict with the Catholic Church. The Church first condemned the Freemasons in 1738 and has gone on to issue around twenty decrees against them. In 1985, Roman Catholic Bishops restated over 200 years worth of these strictures in the face of an increased number of Catholics joining the order of the Freemasons. The rituals around becoming a Freemason are shrouded in secrecy, but have entered the public imagination in film and TV and were even parodied on an episode of"The Simpsons". Membership to the Freemasons is open to all males over the age of 21, and women can join an associated group known as "The Order of the Eastern Star." The existence of these two secret societies is real and do exist to this day. Do they help or hinder humankind? Are there others that have shaped world politics? Possibly. As I always say. #QUESTIONEVERYTHING By Brian Argabright [email protected]
Del Rio’s boys and girls soccer teams returned to the pitch Friday night to kick off their district schedules and mark what would hopefully be the first step in the return to the playoffs for both teams. The Queens soccer team was at home Friday night hosting the Laredo LBJ Lady Wolves. Del Rio jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Noelia Ibarra and Layla Mendez, with an assist by Keliana Turner, before LBJ cut the deficit to 2-1 by halftime. “We were winning 2-0 midway through the first half, but LBJ kept battling and caught us off guard on a long ball we missed. We then committed a PK. They got on the board and gained some momentum,” Queens head coach Wilber Rivas explained. Del Rio sealed the win in the second half when Carolyn Valdez found the net for the Queens’ third goal in what was eventually the game winner. “In the second half, (LBJ) kept coming and tied the game. We kept calm and continued to play our game, just a bit more aggressive and with purpose. Carolyn Valdez received a ball from the middle and was able to outrun defenders on the right side of the field and scored on a one-versus-one against their goalkeeper,” Rivas said. It was a clean sweep for the Queens as their junior varsity team took care of business, handing the sub-varsity Lady Wolves a 10-2 defeat. Del Rio has its eyes on a deep run in the playoffs this season. The Queens reached the postseason last year as the runners-up in District 30-6A. They took on the San Antonio Warren Warriors in bi-district and were knocked out of the playoffs with a 3-1 loss. It was the second straight season the Queens finished second in the district and ended the season in the first round of the postseason. Del Rio’s girls fell 5-0 to San Antonio O’Connor in bi-district in 2023. The Queens’ last playoff win came in the 2022 season. Del Rio won the district crown and took on San Antonio Harlan in bi-district. They beat the Hawks 1-0 to advance to the Area round, but the Queens suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Edinburg Vela to bring an end to a successful girls soccer season. The Del Rio Rams soccer team was also victorious in its district opener, handing the LBJ Wolves a 2-1 loss on its home field in Laredo. Del Rio took a 2-0 lead behind goals from Luis Flores, with an assist from Josue Fernande, and Rodolfo Pina, with an assist from Jose Vielma. LBJ scored in the second half to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Rams defense clamped down and made sure the Wolves could get no closer and secured the win. Like the Queens, the Rams are looking for some playoff redemption this season. Last season the Rams reached the playoffs as the fourth place team in 30-6A and were knocked out in the first round by Harlan, 6-0. The Rams’ last playoff win came in 2023 when the team beat San Antonio Brennan, 4-0, before losing in the area round to Harlingen, 3-2. Even though we are smack dab in the middle of winter there are still so many streaming options available to us On The Stream.
Many people are raving about LIONESS on Paramount Plus. Also know as Special Ops: Lioness . From our friends at Paramount Plus; “This espionage thriller from Yellowstone executive producer Taylor Sheridan is back for an explosive second season, exclusively on Paramount+. And, yes, series lead Zoe Saldaña, Emmy® nominee Michael Kelly, Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman, and Oscar® and Emmy® winner Nicole Kidman are back for more drama, too.” This great series debuted in 2023 and is now it's second season. “What is Season 2 about? Lioness Season 2 is about as intense as it gets, and that’s the truth. But we suspect what you’re really asking is: What is Lioness Season 2 about … storyline-wise? So, here goes: In the new season, as the CIA’s fight against terror moves closer to home, Joe (Saldaña), Kaitlyn (Kidman), and Byron (Kelly) enlist a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat. With pressure mounting from all sides, Joe is forced to confront the profound personal sacrifices she has made as the leader of the Lioness program. Like we told you: intense.” Another great series streaming your way on Netflix is The DIPLOMAT. From Netflix; “Amid an international crisis, a career diplomat juggles her new high-profile job as ambassador to the United Kingdom and her turbulent marriage to a political star. Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi. From Creator: Debora Cahn” . Also getting good reviews and a popular rating is The Order also from our friends at Netflix. “ When Belgrave University student Jack Morton joins a fabled secret society, the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, he is thrust into a world of magic, monsters and intrigue. Out to avenge his mother's death, he uncovers dark family secrets and lands in an underground battle being waged between werewolves and practitioners of dark magic. Assisting Jack in the fight is Alyssa, a tour guide at Belgrave and fellow member of the Order, which is led by Jack's estranged father. Cast; Jake Manley · Jack Morton ; Sarah Grey · Alyssa Drake ; Adam DiMarco · Randall Carpio ; Louriza Tronco · Gabrielle Dupres ; Katharine Isabelle · Vera Stone. ” So many more to choose from as well, Squid Game 2, Gladiator 2, The Stranger and more. Take time to Log In and check them all out soon On The Steam. ![]() The Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band that formed in 1979 in New York. The group had numerous hit singles in the U.K., Australia, Canada, and the U.S.. The band first appeared in the New York area in the middle of 1979 performing under the names including The Tomcats, The Teds, and Bryan and the Tomcats, the name changing was to fool club owners who would not hire the same band for consecutive nights. Since 1983 they have used only the name Stray Cats. The Stray Cats were mostly influenced by Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent and Bill Haley and his Comets. In the middle of 1980 the band found themselves being courted by record labels including Virgin Records, Stiff Records and Arista Records. Word spread quickly and soon members of the Rolling Stones, the Who and Led Zeppelin were at their shows. In 1983 the Stray Cats begin recording their third studio album "Rant and Rave with the Stray Cats", half the album was recorded in London and the rest was recorded in New York. Find out more on the Stray Cats on KWMC's 1490 AM Classic hits Station's Little Red Rooster Show. and as always all stories and facts are by Wendy Johnson and all shows are produced by Javier Martinez Sr. ![]() So, if you lived on land that was a flood plain and were flooded out year after year, how long would you stay there before you decided to move? The same exact thing is happening in California, the Los Angeles area, right now. Because of it's geography and weather conditions the area is subject to extremely dry weather conditions and there fore subject to fire warnings year after year. Seems like almost not a year goes by without us hearing about a wild fire burning up the landscape in California. With high winds fanning the flames year after year leaving the area at their mercy. In spite of it all California has never had a good enough plan in place to save itself from such a catastrophe. This year is no different. California still does not have the plan, the man power or equipment to contain or manage this type of wild fire. Year after year the land is set ablaze, people loose their homes and someone dies. You have to ask yourself just how long will it be before they figure it all out and why hasn't it all ready happened after all these years. This years seems to be worse so far. Within the past year quite a few Major Insurance Companies decided to Cancel Home owners Insurance Policies in the affected area leaving many people unprotected and facing catastrophe. As fate would have it, the worse possible scenario surfaced and now many have lost everything, their land, their homes, their businesses and even friends and family. So just exactly what has to happen to change all this? If people aren't ever going to decide to move out of that area then who will be responsible for making sure such a catastrophe doesn't leave them destitute all over again? There has to be a solution. Whether it's purchasing the very latest fire fighting equipment to adding more man power to purchasing enough water tank aircraft that can douse and smother a wild fire when it' still possible to that and in turn save lives and property. A catastrophe of this magnitude affects not only, land, property, business, lives, pets and wildlife. Every one around the area is impacted as well. What will our new president do to make sure that such a catastrophe will e met with the very best fighting effort that America can provide? The next few months will tell the story of how vibrant America will be to make itself Great Again or drop the ball as always while politicians point fingers and blame each other as Rome Burns. Just Another Point of View. ![]() Nothing better than a nice hot plate of battered fish BUT the batter has to be jtatsy and just right. So this is what we'll need to make it: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup cold sparkling water (for extra crispiness) 4-6 fish fillets (like cod, haddock, or tilapia) Vegetable oil for frying NOW, The Directions on how to Prepare the batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Add the liquid: Gradually pour the cold sparkling water into the dry ingredients while whisking continuously until you have a smooth batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Heat the oil: In a deep fryer or large pot, heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Prepare the fish: Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring the batter adheres properly. Coat the fish: Dip each fish fillet into the batter, letting any excess drip off gently. Fry the fish: Carefully place the battered fillets into the hot oil. Fry the fish in batches for 4-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until the batter is golden brown and crispy and the fish is cooked through. Drain the fish: Remove the fried fish from the oil and place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes Yummy, Happy Healthy Eating. Del Rio’s local taco dealer reflects on familial legacy, personal hardshipsBy Maddy Vidales
DEL RIO, TX – The Rivera children lay in the backseat of their parents’ car, windows covered with blankets to block the streetlights’ glow and hungry customers flooding in from Acuña, Mexico’s streets. Outside the vehicle, the Rivera parents hustle to sell tacos to passing patrons. By morning, the children were back in the United States for school – a routine that took a toll on their sleep schedule. “A teacher told our parents, ‘Hey, your kids are falling asleep in class,’” Jacinto Rivera IV said. “So, our parents decided to make the transition to the USA. My Dad worked three jobs and finally opened a little shack with a little stove.” Three decades later, Jacinto Rivera IV – known to many as “Chinto” – now owns and operates his family’s taco business, fittingly named Chinto’s, in Del Rio, Texas. “I slang tacos, sell tacos, make tacos,” Chinto said, “I make people happy with food.” Named after Chinto’s father, Jacinto Rivera III, the restaurant’s ambitious start initially raised concerns for the family’s well-being. Chinto and his brothers, except for one sibling, are from Del Rio. The Rivera family frequently crossed between Del Rio and Acuña to address the various needs of their livelihood. The porous border between the sister cities provides economic growth on one side as a means to fund one’s livelihood on the other. Individuals in these border towns may cross for healthcare, work, or school. Although traveling between the sister cities offered economic opportunities and lower living costs, the constant back-and-forth hindered the children’s education. Chinto’s father aspired to leverage his taco business to support his family. Listed for $200 per month, Chinto’s father eyed a street corner for a potential new spot for the taco business. “My mom said, ‘You better not even think about it! We gotta buy milk and we got to feed these little boys – we need that money,” Chinto said. “One day, my dad comes home with no paycheck. You can imagine my mother – she was furious. Two weeks later, my mom’s helping my dad.” After his parents started the business in 1985, Chinto stepped into the kitchen in 1995. “I’m the oldest son out of four, and I was always dragged around everywhere,” Chinto said. “It was like, ‘Hey, dishwasher didn’t show up. Wake up. Come wash dishes.’ I’m like, ‘Hey, man, I don’t want to wash dishes, I wanna watch ‘GI Joe.’” From dishwasher to prepper, he tended to the restaurant’s duties through various positions. Taking on different roles in the establishment trained him to know the restaurant’s ins and outs and ultimately prepared him for ownership, Chinto said. “I didn’t just start up here, you know,” Chinto said. “If I walk in and I see my cook doing something and I can tell that the recipe doesn’t look like it should, I can call that out compared to an owner that just started in the front and doesn’t know anything about the kitchen.” As customers enter the restaurant, Chinto is posted at the register as his oldest daughter out of seven children, Ariana Rivera, works the drive-thru window. Chinto shoots sly jokes Ariana’s way before being met with her side-eye glare. Chinto laughs to himself before returning to his duties. Ariana’s knowledge of the business has grown beyond her original duties of picking up the work of the waitress who quit before her, Chinto said, and may extend to ownership in the future. “She’s learning … maybe one day I’ll make a sticker with (her) face on it,” Chinto said, “I’ll put, ‘Chinto’s tóxica daughter.’” Initially, Ariana said she joined the business out of necessity but now appreciates the extra time with her father. Every morning, Ariana prepares coffee for her dad as he comes through the drive-thru while on his way to drop her siblings off at school. “It’s really cute,” Ariana said, “knowing he’s coming in and I have his coffee ready for him. It’s a bond and routine I already know.” Cherishing his time spent with and emotionally supporting his family are sentiments Chinto said are dearest to him, despite the lack thereof during his childhood. “I don’t want my kids to be like, ‘Dad was never there, he was always working’– my dad did that,” Chinto said. “I really love my job, but I still want my kids to know they have a father; they can talk to me.” “Back in my day, I couldn’t really talk to my dad,” Chinto added, “I was scared to talk to that guy – you know, like shaking in your shoes.” Accompanying various military patches and Mexican iconography that decorate the restaurant are autism pride posters and signs. Chinto religiously expresses his devotion to caring for his autistic son. “Being a parent to a special needs child is parenting on another level,” Chinto said. “God bless all these parents out there who have special needs children because you can’t see autism.” Recounting the events, Chinto said he arrived late to work that afternoon because he was tending to his son’s needs. Chinto spent a portion of his day driving around Del Rio, looking to purchase his son’s favorite meal: cheese ramen. Recognizing and acknowledging his son’s behavior is vital, and any negative reactions are intolerable, Chinto said. “It’s hard sometimes to go to a restaurant and then something triggers your son,” Chinto said. “All people see is a kid who’s just spoiled and people don’t realize that my son is having sensory overload. I’m the type of person that if you say something about my son – we’ll have a problem.” “I’m already a felon,” Chinto added, “I got nothing to lose.” There was a time before putting his family and business first. Chinto found himself devoting his energy to the wrong crowds – ultimately resulting in his conviction. “You surround yourself with people who don’t have any morals in life and you say, ‘I’m not going to go down that path,’” Chinto said. “But eventually, there’s going to be a time that you say, ‘The heck with it. I’m already here.’ That’s what happened to me – I ended up falling.” With no possibility of becoming a border patrol agent as originally intended, Chinto doubled down on his life’s projection and meaning, keeping his children in mind as he reformed his character. “Monkey see, monkey do,” Chinto said. “If your child sees you acting like a fool, they think, ‘Well, my parents are doing it. I guess it’s good. I guess it’s right, it’s OK.’” Since turning his life around, the cherished time with his wife and seven children is especially valued following the two open-heart surgeries Chinto underwent because of a valve disorder. However, the life-saving procedures Chinto received partially inspired his second-oldest daughter, Natalia Rivera, to pursue an education and become a doctor. “She’s (said), ‘I want to be a heart doctor to save other people’s lives how they saved your life, Dad,’” Chinto said. Still deciding what kind of practice she wants to pursue, Natalia will nonetheless start her education at Texas Tech in the fall. Natalia is entering this new chapter in her life EMT-certified. Now reformed, Chinto said he instills morals and cultural practices within his children to retain values he does not like seeing diminish. Notably, Chinto said he gave his children strong Latino names as a form of preserving the culture; no matter who they marry, their names remain. “We go to church every Sunday,” Chinto said. “I teach my kids right from wrong, (to) say, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir. Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am.’ All the little, small things that I feel like are going out the window, like, people disrespecting law enforcement.” Proclaiming his admiration for law enforcement and authoritative figures, Chinto said his admiration for Del Rio also derives from the diverse faces coming in via the Laughlin U.S. Air Force Base – located approximately 8 miles from the restaurant. “I’ve had people come here 20 years later and now they’re officers and they get a taco and they’re like, ‘Man! It’s just like I remembered,” Chinto said. “I haven’t changed the recipe, bro!” Remembering his family’s humble beginnings, Chinto said he always tries to extend a helping hand to those seeking employment – especially to those he sees himself in. A former waitress lived in Mexico and crossed into Del Rio daily to take her kids to school and work at the restaurant. For her, it was cheaper to live in Mexico with the income earned in the United States. “People are still doing it to this day,” Chinto said. “Still living over there and crossing every single day to come work. It’s not easy, but they’re doing it and they’re eligible to work over here.” Reflecting on his legacy, Chinto said he sometimes doubts his progress, wondering if he has done enough for the restaurant. Jokingly, Chinto poked fun at the lack of verbal validation Mexican parents express to their children. “You could be a doctor,” Chinto said, “and they’ll (parents) be like, ‘Look at that doctor, he has a billboard – you don’t have a billboard.’” However, Chinto’s success has finally been praised by the man who started it all: his now 78-year-old father. “He’s already finally come around – took him this long to finally be like, ‘Hey, son, you’re doing a good job,’” Chinto said. “I guess I gained his trust from working hard because I worked in the kitchen. The symbiotic relationship between Del Rio and Acuña enriches the Hispanic culture in the community, Chinto said, therefore solidifying strong values of comradery. “I don’t know if it’s just because our music and our food make us happy, but the care that we have for each other…” Chinto said with a prideful tone in his voice. “You will get a message from somebody that their house got burned up and, you know, we’ll help them. We will open our house to anyone, really.” Despite the sacrifices and hardships Chinto’s family faced during the restaurant’s creation, he said the payoff was all worth it in the end; Chinto’s own family now reap the benefits their relatives sowed. “I can’t be mad at them for creating this,” Chinto said. “As I (grew) older, I (saw) what they were doing, and I always went to bed with a belly full of food. They created this and it’s beautiful. It’s enough.” Fall is here again and along with any cooler temperatures are a bunch of new movies available Trough the stream.
“Kate Beckinsale is back in the action movie saddle with the Amazon Prime Original Canary Black. When terrorists kidnap her husband, top CIA operative Avery Graves (Beckinsale) is blackmailed into betraying her country. Cut off from her elite team, Graves delves into the underworld to search for the intelligence the kidnappers seek. But she’s not the only one looking for it, and she’ll have to lean on every ounce of her training and fighting skills to free her husband and avert a global crisis.” Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, Saffron Burrows. Runs 103 minutes. Then, look for the FALL GUY 2024 on Peacock. “Ryan Gosling stars as stunt man Colt Seavers in the ridiculous meta comedy The Fall Guy. After a nearly career-ending accident, Seavers finds himself the star of his own narrative as he has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy, and win back the love of his life (Emily Blunt) while still getting blown up at his day job.” Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. RUNS 126 minutes. Now on Disney + for the kids and everyone in the family. “One of the biggest movies of the summer, Inside Out 2, picks back up in the mind of a now-teenage Riley. But while Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira) have felt like things have been going OK, they’re not ready for the explosive arrival of new teenage emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke), who shows up and commandeers the whole operation with a bunch of new emotions in tow.” Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman. RUNS: 97 minutes. Over on NETFLIX, look for HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. “The beloved children’s book comes to life in this live-action/CGI hybrid. As a child, young Harold could make anything come to life by simply drawing it with his magic purple crayon. But as an adult (Shazam‘s Zachary Levi), Harold draws himself off of his book’s pages and into the physical world. It turns out he has a lot to learn about real life — but will still need more than a little imagination. Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel. RUNS; 90 minutes. So much to STREAM so Little Time, Honker down and jump into a new adventure on the screen. See ya next time, On The Stream ! The Pilgrims Ate What For Thanksgiving? |
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