Iola is located South of Garnett on U.S. Route 169.

Iola is the scene of an upcoming gritty drama sequel to the Baywatch – Methwatch, where less toothy but a lot more animated characters save lives of unsuspecting citizens.

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I don’t pretend to be a photographer, but I do have a camera.

Mural on Independence Avenue.

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This post is dedicated to the recent change in Kansas liquor regulations.

Brought to you by the Kansas City Beer Blog – “Where Beer Spills On The Keyboard”

Until recently many Kansans could relate to this predicament photographed in 1946:

While some Kansans were busy parading against the alcohol…

…the others were not convinced.

Getting drunk in Kansas wasn’t so easy. If you didn’t feel like going to a liquore store that looked like this…

…you had to smuggle the contraband in a secret compartment of your car.

Then in a shady-looking roadhouse…

…you could finally imbibe with people you’ve never met….

…while the less fortunate citizens had to listen to boring speeches while sober.

Frank W.Carlson who is mentioned in the last photo was the Governor of Kansas in the late 40’s.

While governor, Carlson presided over the removal of prohibition in Kansas. “I’m a teetotaler,” claimed Carlson. “I don’t smoke or drink, but I have no quarrel with those who do. I’m a great believer in letting the people decide.”

Some of the modern-day politicians could learn a lesson from Mr. Carlson.

Read more about the alcohol laws in Kansas.

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This recipe is really easy and results in a spread or a dip, name it as you wish. Eggplant is delicious and good for you in a variety of ways including weight loss:

Don’t include too many eggplants in your diet if you’re interested in: Weight gain.

In other words, if you stay with the eggplant diet you will finally be able to attain that figure you were dreaming about, all the while consuming tasty eggplant recipes.

This recipe contains 2 eggplants, dill, garlic and mayonnaise – if you don’t like these ingredients separately or in combination, please move along.

Remove green ends from the eggplants and place them in a pot of boiling salted water.

Sometime during the cooking process try to turn the eggplants over, they will resist and try to flip back, one of you will eventually win, hopefully not the eggplant. You may want to use the lid for that purpose. Check periodically,when a toothpick goes through the eggplant without much effort, they are done. Time depends on the size and shape of your eggplant (if you know what I mean) but definitely over 20 minutes. Just keep checking. Remove from the pot. The next step is to press the eggplant. Place a cooling rack into the sink. Cut multiple slits into the skin of the eggplant lengthwise.

You need some weight to extract as much moisture out of the eggplant as you can. One possible way to do it is to place a cutting board on top of the eggplant and weigh it down with a pot of water.

Two hours later the eggplant should look fairly flat.

I use the meat grinder to chop the eggplant, you can use the food processor, just don’t pulverize it, you are not making toothpaste, it should retain texture. Add plenty of chopped dill, a little mayonnaise and as much garlic as you deem appropriate. Some salt and pepper to taste.

The final product looks like this and can be consumed with crackers or bread, in sandwiches, or on its own.

Warning: In case of extreme weight loss please discontinue.

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This week the Kansas City’s Jewish Community will be commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Operation Exodus – a massive  effort to resettle the Soviet Jews in North America and Israel. Over a million Jews left the USSR between the years 1970-1995 with a large percentage being welcomed by the communities in the United States. The history of the Jewish emigration out of the USSR has its share of political conflicts and controversies, but the sincerity and generosity of the American citizens trying to help the Soviet Jews is beyond any doubt and is the source of unending gratitude from the recipients of this effort.
When we were leaving in 1992 I didn’t know about any of this: political and humanitarian efforts, 250,000 people marching in Washington in 1987, the Lautenberg Amendment – everything that led to us walking out of the TWA terminal of the Kansas City International airport on a hot October day wearing full winter gear.

By the time of our departure the “iron curtain” had an equivalent of a highway going through it, a road laid out by the thousands of people who made the trip before us, starting with a trickle of refuseniks who spent years being denied the right to leave, and ending with a true exodus of the Jewish population. Everyone knew or was related to someone who had already left, was in the process of leaving or was at least entertaining the idea.

The process was pretty streamlined, and a certain amount of bribes and extortion money made it run relatively smooth.

From obtaining the passports….

 

 

…to an interview at the American Embassy in Moscow, a place where I first got to see real Marines and drop ceilings, to an anxious wait for the telegram with the life-changing words.

Few months later our passports were being stamped by an INS officer at the JFK airport.

I only remember bits and pieces from that time. Flashbacks of trips to Moscow, standing in line near the embassy, first time lighting a cigarette in front of my Mom, medical tests, trying to get rid of our possessions, tearing up “non-essential” photographs, train ride, last customs search, first international flight, Brussels, JFK, St.Louis, etc., etc., etc. A blur of events and faces, places and things…

Many people shared their emigration stories full of drama, tears, heartbreak, hard work, success, joy, fulfillment and hope; mine doesn’t seem so interesting in comparison. I left relatively young and just took it one step at a time always looking forward to the next day. People who came here as a part of Operation Exodus became business owners and engineers, scientists and doctors, the likes of the Google co-founder Sergei Brin and actress Mila Kunis; many achieved professional and financial success, others had a chance to give the best education to their children.

On a smaller scale, I count as my personal successes making Kansas City intimately familiar with the Soviet 1970’s pop-music and spreading the eggplant recipes to the remote areas of the State of Missouri.

Over the years since we immigrated here, I had my share of joys and disappointments; many times the reality turned out to be quite different from what I imagined; some of my ideals were shattered and the other ones were formed but one thing will always remain with me – the people who welcomed us here, provided the things we needed, helped us make this city home, drove us to the appointments, taught me to drive, helped with the resume, and did countless other things to make us feel wanted. Some of these people were related to us, but the majority were just members of the community whom we never had a chance to properly thank.

All these people who helped, marched, contributed and just provided moral support should be proud of themselves – their efforts changed countless lives to the better; their charity and sacrifice will be forever appreciated.

Thank You.

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