Friday, January 30, 2009
El mundo es un pañuelo
The Ebro river in Zaragoza is flooding, so I googled "crecida del Ebro" and found these fabulous photos by José Antonio Melendo Puértolas. What gorgeous pictures of Zaragoza! And I discover, through his blogroll, that he knows neighbors Marta and Chesus!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Beat Freakz on ABDC
via MTV Remote Control TV Insider blog
Because I don't get MTV at home, I'm very appreciative of the fact that MTV has made an effort to put out high quality videos for fans to watch after the show. You can watch the whole episode at the America's Best Dance Crew homepage on MTV, and there is also an official ABDC MySpace page and an authorized YouTube Channel Fanscape with this playlist. There is even an embeddable player on the YouTube page. This is so much better than the stupid policy that has SYTYCD videos disappearing from YouTube because the show mistakenly thinks that fans are stealing something from them when in fact the videos are a way that fans build loyalty to the show. I'm heartbroken that the remixes and mashups that buffmetube made last season are gone! They were outstanding.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Dancin' machines!
I hadn't seen the robot bit from Flight of the Conchords ("The humans are dead")!
Reminded me of the showdown on SYTYCD of Phillip Chbeeb (Pac Man) and Robert Muraine (Mr. Fantastic).
Here they duel again.
Here's Skeeter Rabbit to show you some locking:
Reminded me of the showdown on SYTYCD of Phillip Chbeeb (Pac Man) and Robert Muraine (Mr. Fantastic).
Here they duel again.
Here's Skeeter Rabbit to show you some locking:
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Black Bean Salad
A recipe from Sarah N.
This recipe comes from Rick Rogers's "The Carefree Cook" by way of Spendid Table. I use it as a cold salad in warm tortillas in the summertime, and in winter I often fold it into a tortilla with a little cheese (so it sticks) and cook them in a very lightly oiled skillet. A green salad and salsa go well with it.
Dressing
Mix in blender:
zest of one lime
juice of one lime
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 crushed clove of garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
Salad
Mix in bowl:
1 25 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1-2 vinegar packed roasted red peppers, rinsed and diced
1 avocado 1/2" dice
dressing (see above)
This keeps well in a covered container in the fridge for about a week. In general I find the avocado keeps its color pretty well if it is well covered with the dressing.
This recipe comes from Rick Rogers's "The Carefree Cook" by way of Spendid Table. I use it as a cold salad in warm tortillas in the summertime, and in winter I often fold it into a tortilla with a little cheese (so it sticks) and cook them in a very lightly oiled skillet. A green salad and salsa go well with it.
Dressing
Mix in blender:
zest of one lime
juice of one lime
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 crushed clove of garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
Salad
Mix in bowl:
1 25 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1-2 vinegar packed roasted red peppers, rinsed and diced
1 avocado 1/2" dice
dressing (see above)
This keeps well in a covered container in the fridge for about a week. In general I find the avocado keeps its color pretty well if it is well covered with the dressing.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
"Completist projects"
I have learned a new term: "completist projects." Completist is often understood as obsessive fan collecting (all of Dylan, The Beatles, comic books, Star Wars memorabilia). Some birdwatchers are completists, with life lists and "nemesis birds" that elude them. Getting a PhD in Comparative Literature, at least where I studied, could be considered a vain gesture toward a completist project: reading all the books. Or at least a lot of books that other people think are good or important (the canon) along with all the other stuff one is reading on the side (the reading log, or the list). 
I do have the book by Philip Ward called A Lifetime's Reading: 500 books to be enjoyed over 50 years (here's the list), but don't propose to make a project out of it! In 2007 and 2008, I kept lists of all the films I saw and linked the names to their imdb sites, but decided not to try to review them. I'm too busy, or too lazy, or both. I decided not to keep a film log this year, although it is early enough that I could reconsider....it would include Koroshi no rakuin (1967) and Paul Blart, Mall Cop.
The sense of "completist project" that interests me now is when a person, such as Matthew Dessem on whose blog I found this term, sets out to blog about an entire set of things, sometimes as an educational project. His blog,The Criterion Contraption, is a series of essays/discussions about his viewing of all the films in the Criterion Collection. He also links to a few others blogs he has labeled "completist projects" such as The Whole Five Feet, in which Christopher Beha reads all 52 volumes of the Harvard Classics.
The first example I encountered, before I had heard the term, was the Julie/Julia project (originally this blog) , in which blogger Julie Powell set out to prepare every recipe from Julia Child's
book Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a great example.It was subsequently published in book form, one of the first wave of blog-to-book publications. A movie has been made, with Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as the author. Wow! I have to be careful, though. I can get obsessive about finishing a series if I like it, which is why starting to watch The Wire was dangerous, and trying to watch the entire X-files has bogged down my Netflix queue in an entirely unsatisfying way.
Shooting Down Films is Kevin Lee's project, based on blogging movies from the list of 1000 films They Shoot Pictures Don't They? The list is here. He has written a very important post on his experience of having, losing and regaining his YouTube account. Read it and the posts he links to; the importance of fair use of content online is only going to become more pressing as more of us use online material for teaching. His "video essays" on films are amazing. I really enjoyed his pairing of an interview with director Paul Schrader and cinematographer Ed Lachmann with scenes from the movie Light Sleeper, a movie I've been meaning to watch again for some time now. Maybe I should have a Paul Schrader fest?
I do have the book by Philip Ward called A Lifetime's Reading: 500 books to be enjoyed over 50 years (here's the list), but don't propose to make a project out of it! In 2007 and 2008, I kept lists of all the films I saw and linked the names to their imdb sites, but decided not to try to review them. I'm too busy, or too lazy, or both. I decided not to keep a film log this year, although it is early enough that I could reconsider....it would include Koroshi no rakuin (1967) and Paul Blart, Mall Cop.
The sense of "completist project" that interests me now is when a person, such as Matthew Dessem on whose blog I found this term, sets out to blog about an entire set of things, sometimes as an educational project. His blog,The Criterion Contraption, is a series of essays/discussions about his viewing of all the films in the Criterion Collection. He also links to a few others blogs he has labeled "completist projects" such as The Whole Five Feet, in which Christopher Beha reads all 52 volumes of the Harvard Classics.
The first example I encountered, before I had heard the term, was the Julie/Julia project (originally this blog) , in which blogger Julie Powell set out to prepare every recipe from Julia Child's
book Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a great example.It was subsequently published in book form, one of the first wave of blog-to-book publications. A movie has been made, with Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as the author. Wow! I have to be careful, though. I can get obsessive about finishing a series if I like it, which is why starting to watch The Wire was dangerous, and trying to watch the entire X-files has bogged down my Netflix queue in an entirely unsatisfying way.Shooting Down Films is Kevin Lee's project, based on blogging movies from the list of 1000 films They Shoot Pictures Don't They? The list is here. He has written a very important post on his experience of having, losing and regaining his YouTube account. Read it and the posts he links to; the importance of fair use of content online is only going to become more pressing as more of us use online material for teaching. His "video essays" on films are amazing. I really enjoyed his pairing of an interview with director Paul Schrader and cinematographer Ed Lachmann with scenes from the movie Light Sleeper, a movie I've been meaning to watch again for some time now. Maybe I should have a Paul Schrader fest?
Bob Fosse-->Beyonce--->your bedroom--->Obama
Beyonce's hit song "Single Ladies" has some dancing that was inspired by Bob Fosse's choreography . She acknowledges the influence of this dance he did for Gwen Verdon (here's the original bit--see the influence?). There are a now gazillion imitations that have been posted to YouTube, and the SNL sketch with Justin Timberlake as one of Beyonce's backup dancers is pretty funny. Everyone wants to channel his or her inner Beyonce, and one of the most famous viral videos is of Shane Mercado dancing in his bedroom in a rather skimpy outfit. Here's an interview with him, and his recreation of the video on the Bonnie Hunt show, and another where he shows a couple of local broadcasters the moves!
Alphacat has turned the song into an Obama inauguration song:
Alphacat has turned the song into an Obama inauguration song:
Getting things done
On my to-do list today is
1) take out the garbage.
2) do the dishes
3) clean the bathroom
On President Obama's to do list are a lot of things people want him to do and that he has promised to do. In fact there is now an Obameter at a site called Politifact at the St Petersburg Times. They are tracking over 500 campaign promises made by Obama, with the categories promises kept, in the works, stalled, compromise, and broken.
So far, I am quite pleased with how fast things are starting to happen.
Revamp White House website? check
Sign order to close Guantanamo? check
Rescind the "global gag rule" aka "Mexico City policy"? check
From Whitehouse.gov, here is the statement released after the President rescinds "Mexico City Policy"
1) take out the garbage.
2) do the dishes
3) clean the bathroom
On President Obama's to do list are a lot of things people want him to do and that he has promised to do. In fact there is now an Obameter at a site called Politifact at the St Petersburg Times. They are tracking over 500 campaign promises made by Obama, with the categories promises kept, in the works, stalled, compromise, and broken.
So far, I am quite pleased with how fast things are starting to happen.
Revamp White House website? check
Sign order to close Guantanamo? check
Rescind the "global gag rule" aka "Mexico City policy"? check
From Whitehouse.gov, here is the statement released after the President rescinds "Mexico City Policy"
Yesterday, President Obama rescinded the "Mexico City Policy" and released the following statement:
It is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law, and for the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries. For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.
For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back and forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.
It is time that we end the politicization of this issue. In the coming weeks, my Administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world.
I have directed my staff to reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies. They will also work to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and increase educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.
In addition, I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund. By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration '09 Fave moment #2: Jon Stewart
Fave moment of inauguration #1
The Big Picture has a wonderful photo gallery of the inauguration here. 
But it is lacking a photo of one of my favorite moments of watching the broadcast: Aretha's awesome hat! Here is Ms.Aretha herself in her hat.
And now her hat is on everyone! Aretha's hat is everywhere!
But it is lacking a photo of one of my favorite moments of watching the broadcast: Aretha's awesome hat! Here is Ms.Aretha herself in her hat.
And now her hat is on everyone! Aretha's hat is everywhere!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
watch the inauguration live
You can go to C-span and watch it live via several feeds, with minimal yakkity yak. or you can go to MSNBC if you want to see Rachel Maddow! It turns out that hulutv.com is broadcasting the Fox coverage, so nix on that.
For more ways to follow the inauguration via social media, go here.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
For more ways to follow the inauguration via social media, go here.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Pasta e fagioli
Pasta e Fagioli
1 1/3 cups dried cannellini or Great Northern beans, or 2 cans (16 oz) white beans
1/2 pound penne or ditalini
1.5T salt
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil
2t chopped fresh rosemary or 1 t dried (but it really only works with fresh)
1 very large or 2 medium onions halved and sliced paper thin
freshly milled pepper
If using dried beans, rehydrate and cook the way you normally do. I cook them with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a couple of cloves of garlic which I remove immediately when they're done.
Drain canned beans, rinse, drain again.
Cook the pasta in salted water. When pasta is half-cooked, add the drained beans to the water (or reheat the dried, cooked beans in their own cooking water)
While the pasta and beans are cooking together, in a skillet over medium heat warm the oil. Add the rosemary and onion and sauté until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and beans. Toss everything together. Sprinkle with lots of pepper, add salt if you wish, and serve with good parmesan or asiago on the side.
Since this recipe is from Lisa, a political scientist, I post it also with this handy link to watch the inauguration live on Tuesday!
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/5-best-ways-watch-obama-inauguration-online
1 1/3 cups dried cannellini or Great Northern beans, or 2 cans (16 oz) white beans
1/2 pound penne or ditalini
1.5T salt
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil
2t chopped fresh rosemary or 1 t dried (but it really only works with fresh)
1 very large or 2 medium onions halved and sliced paper thin
freshly milled pepper
If using dried beans, rehydrate and cook the way you normally do. I cook them with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a couple of cloves of garlic which I remove immediately when they're done.
Drain canned beans, rinse, drain again.
Cook the pasta in salted water. When pasta is half-cooked, add the drained beans to the water (or reheat the dried, cooked beans in their own cooking water)
While the pasta and beans are cooking together, in a skillet over medium heat warm the oil. Add the rosemary and onion and sauté until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and beans. Toss everything together. Sprinkle with lots of pepper, add salt if you wish, and serve with good parmesan or asiago on the side.
Since this recipe is from Lisa, a political scientist, I post it also with this handy link to watch the inauguration live on Tuesday!
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/5-best-ways-watch-obama-inauguration-online
Pete Seeger no longer blacklisted, but Gene Robinson is left out
I couldn't be there in person, and I couldn't see it live on TV, but some kind souls have already posted the TEXT of Gene Robinson's invocation from the inauguration event today. Can't find any video yet. I have to post this link to Pam Spaulding's site so you can read it, because HBO did not broadcast it.
Update: here is a video, not from the "official broadcast" of the prayer
But here is this splendid video from the inauguration concert of Bruce Springsteen accompanying Pete Seeger singing ALL the lyrics to "This Land is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie, including the angry ones. Pete Seeger is almost ninety years old, and he has never stopped, despite FBI persecution and blacklisting. So he sang for the children. Here's a clip from the documentary on PBS American Masters' series
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
At the relief office
I saw my people
As they stood there hungry
I stood there whistling
A big high wall
That tried to stop me
A great big sign read private property
On the other side it didn't say nothing
THAT side was made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
Here's Woody Guthrie's version
Update: here is a video, not from the "official broadcast" of the prayer
But here is this splendid video from the inauguration concert of Bruce Springsteen accompanying Pete Seeger singing ALL the lyrics to "This Land is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie, including the angry ones. Pete Seeger is almost ninety years old, and he has never stopped, despite FBI persecution and blacklisting. So he sang for the children. Here's a clip from the documentary on PBS American Masters' series
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
At the relief office
I saw my people
As they stood there hungry
I stood there whistling
A big high wall
That tried to stop me
A great big sign read private property
On the other side it didn't say nothing
THAT side was made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
Here's Woody Guthrie's version
Farm pictures from September, part 2
Here is what is on the other side of the "pantry" wall, and below you can see the shutter Loren put up for the window between the bedroom and the living room. When you slide it open, you can have an uninterrupted view from the back bedroom all the way to the living room windows.
Farm pictures from September, part 1
It has been too long since I did a farm update!
A new addition to the inside is the pergola. Always a part of Loren's vision for the house, it is made of the black walnut he harvested from the old farm site when he had to move. It is suspended from the ceiling, and rests on the wall of that marks off the kitchen from the entry. There was going to be a pantry there, but right now it houses a buffet that is so pretty, it may stay that way.
Along the wall of that entry way under the pergola is a bench made from pieces of Loren's favorite tree, the old birch tree, that Carrie rescued from the old farm site. You can see that the support piece still has the bark on it. Lining the wall opposite the bench are sections from a branch from that same birch tree.
These slabs from one of the branches have been sanded to show the grain and mounted to line the wall of the entry. When I walk in, I always touch them.
Here is a sunset looking west past the barn.
and this is what the place was looking like before the snow.
A new addition to the inside is the pergola. Always a part of Loren's vision for the house, it is made of the black walnut he harvested from the old farm site when he had to move. It is suspended from the ceiling, and rests on the wall of that marks off the kitchen from the entry. There was going to be a pantry there, but right now it houses a buffet that is so pretty, it may stay that way.
Along the wall of that entry way under the pergola is a bench made from pieces of Loren's favorite tree, the old birch tree, that Carrie rescued from the old farm site. You can see that the support piece still has the bark on it. Lining the wall opposite the bench are sections from a branch from that same birch tree.
These slabs from one of the branches have been sanded to show the grain and mounted to line the wall of the entry. When I walk in, I always touch them.
Here is a sunset looking west past the barn.
and this is what the place was looking like before the snow.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Delayed recap of ABDC (I don't get cable)
I love America's Best Dance Crew! Now in its 3rd season, it's running in the background of the American Idol blitz, Randy Jackson's side joint. The show flows well, with good camera work, strong production values, and dancers doing their own choreography in response to the challenges set them by the show. I never feel that the judges are talking down to the dancers or the audience, even if the show has a formula. I also love how the words you and your are banished in favor of 'y'all' and 'y'all's' by Shane and L'il Mama. Kid Rainen, a dancer from Jabbawockeez, stood in for JC Chasez as a judge, and he did a good job. This show also features Asian and Latino dancers which is how I remember growing up in California.
The crews performed in sets, with one crew from each set being sent to duel it out at the end of the show.
Strikers Allstars: stepping based. They were in sync, strong, and attractive. They don't have as much name recognition as some of the other crews, but there are a lot of steppers out there who will root for them.
Beat Freaks, an all-woman all-star B-girl crew, doing the foundational styles of hip hop: popping, locking, b-girling. Awesome! I have to root for them.
G.O.P. from Puerto Rico incorporated some salsa and reggaeton moves, but were a little ragged compared to the other groups, and they were sent to the battle at the end, while the other two crews were safe.
Quest Crew has some familiar faces: Hok, Dominic and Ryan Conferido were all on So You Think You Can Dance in previous seasons, so they bring a wide fan-base. Very charismatic, very creative, and super-talented, they may be the early favorites. On the other hand, there could be some backlash if they are seen as too privileged because of that.
Fly Khicks, Miami Heat cheerleaders, high energy strip-club style. Ugh. Yeah they can dance, but I hate the hoochy-coochy stuff. Shane's reaction was exactly what I hate about it-- it was condescending. Kid Rainen called them on it gently: yeah, you can bring the sexy, but what else?
Ringmaster, a crew from Brooklyn did "flex" dancing (double-jointed, gruesome, "bone-breaking") popping their arms out of the sockets, yeow! along with a lot of hat tricks. Amazing, scary, nobody has ever seen moves like that, including a flip off a ten-foot ladder and a guy who came out of a suitcase: originality and goosebumps! "Cirque but in a raw, street form." L'il Mama cried for her hometown crew.
Fly Khicks was sent to battle it out.
Box Cuttahs (how do you spell that? why did they pick that dumb name?) did a well-choreographed routine, with theatrical touches, humor. One gal (Korean) and a bunch of guys with charm and skills- I think they are contenders.
OK, now, this was my big surprise: the return of the CLOGGAH! (and damn Dick Clark productions for yanking every SYTYCD-related fan video from YouTube). Brandon Norris, the guy who auditioned for SYTYCD and made such a great impression, is back with a group called Dynamic Edition (seven-time clogging champions) to do a number to Black-Eyed Peas "My humps" (too much!) They sold it. They know they are on the show to represent clogging to a new audience, and they impressed. The comments I read on Twitter last night, which was how I learned the show was on again, were positive.
Team Millenia had appeared in the auditions of a previous season, but they were cut, so this is their second chance. They chose to showcase a more "rock"-inspired choreo, to differentiate themselves from the style they did when they got cut, and the fans seem to be divided on whether or not they should have done it. The judges hinted that they shouldn't go too far in that direction, and I agree.
Box Cuttahz seemed surprised that the white kids aka the cloggers were kept, but this gave them a chance to show their skills again, and they were much better.
The crews had all been asked to prepare a 30-second routine to the same music, and this was where the choreography chops showed, or didn't show. G.O.P. pulled out their moves, but the cheerleaders are seasoned competitive performers, used to pulling together new choreo, and Box whatevers have a choreographer-leader, who worked the music really well. Bye bye earnest young men from Puerto Rico! Your fans will be mad at L'il Mama, but someone had to go.
I'll be able to watch the next round online next Friday, since I don't get MTV and have to wait until the voting is over to watch the whole show online.
The two classes of 4th-graders I talked to this morning had watched the show, and when I showed them Brazilian capoeira videos, we talked about the connections between breaking and Afro-Brazilian culture. So cute!
The crews performed in sets, with one crew from each set being sent to duel it out at the end of the show.
Strikers Allstars: stepping based. They were in sync, strong, and attractive. They don't have as much name recognition as some of the other crews, but there are a lot of steppers out there who will root for them.
Beat Freaks, an all-woman all-star B-girl crew, doing the foundational styles of hip hop: popping, locking, b-girling. Awesome! I have to root for them.
G.O.P. from Puerto Rico incorporated some salsa and reggaeton moves, but were a little ragged compared to the other groups, and they were sent to the battle at the end, while the other two crews were safe.
Quest Crew has some familiar faces: Hok, Dominic and Ryan Conferido were all on So You Think You Can Dance in previous seasons, so they bring a wide fan-base. Very charismatic, very creative, and super-talented, they may be the early favorites. On the other hand, there could be some backlash if they are seen as too privileged because of that.
Fly Khicks, Miami Heat cheerleaders, high energy strip-club style. Ugh. Yeah they can dance, but I hate the hoochy-coochy stuff. Shane's reaction was exactly what I hate about it-- it was condescending. Kid Rainen called them on it gently: yeah, you can bring the sexy, but what else?
Ringmaster, a crew from Brooklyn did "flex" dancing (double-jointed, gruesome, "bone-breaking") popping their arms out of the sockets, yeow! along with a lot of hat tricks. Amazing, scary, nobody has ever seen moves like that, including a flip off a ten-foot ladder and a guy who came out of a suitcase: originality and goosebumps! "Cirque but in a raw, street form." L'il Mama cried for her hometown crew.
Fly Khicks was sent to battle it out.
Box Cuttahs (how do you spell that? why did they pick that dumb name?) did a well-choreographed routine, with theatrical touches, humor. One gal (Korean) and a bunch of guys with charm and skills- I think they are contenders.
OK, now, this was my big surprise: the return of the CLOGGAH! (and damn Dick Clark productions for yanking every SYTYCD-related fan video from YouTube). Brandon Norris, the guy who auditioned for SYTYCD and made such a great impression, is back with a group called Dynamic Edition (seven-time clogging champions) to do a number to Black-Eyed Peas "My humps" (too much!) They sold it. They know they are on the show to represent clogging to a new audience, and they impressed. The comments I read on Twitter last night, which was how I learned the show was on again, were positive.
Team Millenia had appeared in the auditions of a previous season, but they were cut, so this is their second chance. They chose to showcase a more "rock"-inspired choreo, to differentiate themselves from the style they did when they got cut, and the fans seem to be divided on whether or not they should have done it. The judges hinted that they shouldn't go too far in that direction, and I agree.
Box Cuttahz seemed surprised that the white kids aka the cloggers were kept, but this gave them a chance to show their skills again, and they were much better.
The crews had all been asked to prepare a 30-second routine to the same music, and this was where the choreography chops showed, or didn't show. G.O.P. pulled out their moves, but the cheerleaders are seasoned competitive performers, used to pulling together new choreo, and Box whatevers have a choreographer-leader, who worked the music really well. Bye bye earnest young men from Puerto Rico! Your fans will be mad at L'il Mama, but someone had to go.
I'll be able to watch the next round online next Friday, since I don't get MTV and have to wait until the voting is over to watch the whole show online.
The two classes of 4th-graders I talked to this morning had watched the show, and when I showed them Brazilian capoeira videos, we talked about the connections between breaking and Afro-Brazilian culture. So cute!
How cold is it? Ask Bird Chick!
The awesome Bird Chick (Sharon Stiteler, author of Disapproving Rabbits and City Birds,Country Birds) did a few science experiments to illustrate to our non-MN buddies what happens when it is -21F outside.
Here's science experiement #1: spraying hot water that freezes before it hits the ground:
Experiment #2: freeze a banana rock hard, use it as a hammer!
She tagged these posts "ass cold."
Here's science experiement #1: spraying hot water that freezes before it hits the ground:
Experiment #2: freeze a banana rock hard, use it as a hammer!
She tagged these posts "ass cold."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Photo gallery of "Obama's People" in NYTimes
Via PhoenixWoman, a link to the New York Times gallery of portraits called "Obama's People." Be sure to click on both links at the bottom; listen to the stories about how they did the photographs, what they asked people to bring with them. What a fascinating and diverse group of people!
Eric Holder tells the Senate that waterboarding is torture, that torture is illegal, and that Guantanamo will be closed. "No one is above the law." We can haz sane Attorney General?
Eric Holder tells the Senate that waterboarding is torture, that torture is illegal, and that Guantanamo will be closed. "No one is above the law." We can haz sane Attorney General?
Spellcheck poetry
I don't know if I should play this for my students or not. What say you?
Taylor Mali, teacher and poet, has other poems about teaching: "What Teachers Make" the use of "Like, and You Know"
Taylor Mali, teacher and poet, has other poems about teaching: "What Teachers Make" the use of "Like, and You Know"
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Only a few more days!
I will be watching the swearing-in via French TV from the Language Center on campus, just before going to teach my first class!
Some reasons why I, like Al Giordano at The Field, am feeling a little "hopey."
Signs of change in policy regarding Latin America;
announced he will begin the process of closing the shameful Guantanamo Prison beginning Day One;
Obama's team has been preparing to reverse up to 200 of Bush's executive orders, including restrictions on abortion, drilling for oil on national land.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Scalloped Aparagus with Bear's Garlic
From Germany comes a rather exotic dish, that will be possible to make when spring comes: asparagus with Bear's Garlic! I had never heard of bear's garlic before, and that is no surprise as it is native to Europe and not the U.S. Apparently, bear's garlic (allium ursinum) is in the same family as garlic, chives, ramps, etc) and is called ransoms in English. It is similar, but not identical, to ramps which we can find in the coop or farmer's markets in spring, at the same time as asparagus. We also do not usually see fresh white asparagus in this country, but this recipe could be made with green.
Scalloped Asparagus with bear's garlic (Allium ursinum)
Ingredients:
1 kg asparagus
300 g crème fraîche
1 untreated lemon
4 chêvre frais à 40 g
20 g bear's garlic
garlic
pepper
If you use white asparagus, peel it first then cook it for 5 minutes with the lemon peel. Save the lemon juice for later! The asparagus should still be rather hard since it will be baked in the oven later. Carefully grease a fire resistant dish. Put the asparagus in. Take the crème fraîche, 2 chèvre, chopped or pressed garlic and the bear's garlic and blend it to a thick sauce. Add some salt, pepper and lemon juice to refine the taste. Put the sauce on the asparagus in the form. Distribute the remaining chèvre over the asparagus and put freshly ground pepper on top. Now it can go into the oven for 6-8 minutes at 150-200 °C. Before serving put a few bear's garlic leaves on top for decoration. Bread or potatoes go along well and you may perhaps drink a Grüner Veltliner with this great dish, at least I like it very much!
Guten Appetit!
Antje
Scalloped Asparagus with bear's garlic (Allium ursinum)
Ingredients:
1 kg asparagus
300 g crème fraîche
1 untreated lemon
4 chêvre frais à 40 g
20 g bear's garlic
garlic
pepper
If you use white asparagus, peel it first then cook it for 5 minutes with the lemon peel. Save the lemon juice for later! The asparagus should still be rather hard since it will be baked in the oven later. Carefully grease a fire resistant dish. Put the asparagus in. Take the crème fraîche, 2 chèvre, chopped or pressed garlic and the bear's garlic and blend it to a thick sauce. Add some salt, pepper and lemon juice to refine the taste. Put the sauce on the asparagus in the form. Distribute the remaining chèvre over the asparagus and put freshly ground pepper on top. Now it can go into the oven for 6-8 minutes at 150-200 °C. Before serving put a few bear's garlic leaves on top for decoration. Bread or potatoes go along well and you may perhaps drink a Grüner Veltliner with this great dish, at least I like it very much!
Guten Appetit!
Antje
Another vegetarian recipe
DAHL (from memory but originally from The Vegetarian Epicure)
Easy: Cook split peas until smooth. Add the simmered spices and the salt at the end.
1. Cook 1 1/2 cup dried split yellow peas (or smaller Indian red "lentils")
in 4 cups water for 1-1/2 hour depending on size of peas (quick with red "lentils")
2. In heavy small skillet melt 3 Tablespoons butter or ghee (clarified butter) over very low heat, add the 8 spices, and let the aroma fill the house. After the peas are cooked, add spices and 1-1/2 t. salt. Play with the spices. Best with freshly ground spices. Better after re-heated 2 days later. Remember to remove the whole cloves and cinnamon stick.
1 teaspoon whole cumin
1 t. turmeric
2-3 cm cinnamon stick
1/4 t. cayenne
1/2 t. powdered ginger
1/2 t. powdered coriander
8 whole cloves
3/4 t. mustard seed
Enjoy! From Barb!
(follow Barb's advice to play with the spices!)
Easy: Cook split peas until smooth. Add the simmered spices and the salt at the end.
1. Cook 1 1/2 cup dried split yellow peas (or smaller Indian red "lentils")
in 4 cups water for 1-1/2 hour depending on size of peas (quick with red "lentils")
2. In heavy small skillet melt 3 Tablespoons butter or ghee (clarified butter) over very low heat, add the 8 spices, and let the aroma fill the house. After the peas are cooked, add spices and 1-1/2 t. salt. Play with the spices. Best with freshly ground spices. Better after re-heated 2 days later. Remember to remove the whole cloves and cinnamon stick.
1 teaspoon whole cumin
1 t. turmeric
2-3 cm cinnamon stick
1/4 t. cayenne
1/2 t. powdered ginger
1/2 t. powdered coriander
8 whole cloves
3/4 t. mustard seed
Enjoy! From Barb!
(follow Barb's advice to play with the spices!)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Vegan recipe: garbanzos and eggplant
Chick peas with eggplant (vegetarian/vegan)
2 cups of dry chick peas (garbanzos)
1 small-medium eggplant, diced.
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 onion, chopped.
1/2 red pepper, chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon diced fresh ginger root (easy to grate in food processer and store the extra in the freezer)
1-2 tsp. ground cumin
2 cans (14 oz or 400g each) diced peeled tomatoes, pureed
chili pepper or "guindilla" or hot paprika
oil
salt
water
"chicken masala" spice mix or garam masala, if available
This recipe is based on cooking dried garbazos in a pressure cooker (30-45 minutes cooking time). If you prefer you can use frozen or canned chick peas, added at the same time as the eggplant.
Dry chick peas will need soaking overnight in warm water with a little baking soda added. Changing the water a few times softens them sooner.
After dicing the eggplant, put it in a colander and salt it heavily. Leave for about 10 minutes for the bitter juice to "sweat" out. Then rinse it well.
In deep pressure cooker, add oil and sautee the onion with the garlic and ginger root until onions are translucent (sautee pepper if used). Add cumin and sautee gently, along with any masala spice mix you wish to add, and hot paprika if used instead of chili or guindilla. Then add tomato puree, soaked garbanzos, and water to cover the chick peas with about 2cm (1 inch) of liquid covering the chick peas. Add guindilla (if used) and salt to taste. Then add the eggplant. Cook until garbanzos are tender (usually 30-45 minutes).
thanks to Heather! I don't use a pressure cooker, and I'd probably use canned garbanzos, but I love love love eggplant!
2 cups of dry chick peas (garbanzos)
1 small-medium eggplant, diced.
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 onion, chopped.
1/2 red pepper, chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon diced fresh ginger root (easy to grate in food processer and store the extra in the freezer)
1-2 tsp. ground cumin
2 cans (14 oz or 400g each) diced peeled tomatoes, pureed
chili pepper or "guindilla" or hot paprika
oil
salt
water
"chicken masala" spice mix or garam masala, if available
This recipe is based on cooking dried garbazos in a pressure cooker (30-45 minutes cooking time). If you prefer you can use frozen or canned chick peas, added at the same time as the eggplant.
Dry chick peas will need soaking overnight in warm water with a little baking soda added. Changing the water a few times softens them sooner.
After dicing the eggplant, put it in a colander and salt it heavily. Leave for about 10 minutes for the bitter juice to "sweat" out. Then rinse it well.
In deep pressure cooker, add oil and sautee the onion with the garlic and ginger root until onions are translucent (sautee pepper if used). Add cumin and sautee gently, along with any masala spice mix you wish to add, and hot paprika if used instead of chili or guindilla. Then add tomato puree, soaked garbanzos, and water to cover the chick peas with about 2cm (1 inch) of liquid covering the chick peas. Add guindilla (if used) and salt to taste. Then add the eggplant. Cook until garbanzos are tender (usually 30-45 minutes).
thanks to Heather! I don't use a pressure cooker, and I'd probably use canned garbanzos, but I love love love eggplant!
Lentils with chorizo
From Ana and José in Spain
LENTEJAS CON VERDURA Y CHORIZO
Lentils with greens and chorizo
Ingredients (for a party of 4):
300 gr lentils (dry)
200 gr Spanish chorizo (can be changed to bacon in the US, or any kind of ham. Don't add it if you are vegetarian, the recipe will be still good and tasty).
1 onion
3 carrots
1 or 2 green pepper
1 tomato
If you don't have those vegetables you can change them for those you have by hand (leaks, potatoes, zucchini, etc).
oil
salt
water
2-3 leaves of laurel(bay) (if you have at home, not essential)
a pinch of black pepper
Put the dry lentils in water the night before cooking, they will be softer and they will need less time boiling. The next day, clean and wash all the vegetables carefully, then cut them in small pieces (less than 1 cm). Fry them in a large pan with little oil until they are cooked. Then, add the chorizo also in thin slices (about 3-4 mm) for about 5 minutes until is fried. Add the lentils to the pan and mix with the vegetables and the chorizo. Then add about 1 liter of hot water and put to boil. Add salt, 2-3 leaves of laurel and a pinch of black pepper if you want. Let it boil for about half an hour and try it to be sure that the lentils are tender (it can take more time, depending on the type of lentils). During the boiling time, add more water if necessary. The final result is not a soup, but lentils with a little bit of sauce!!
I like to make a version of this with chard.
LENTEJAS CON VERDURA Y CHORIZO
Lentils with greens and chorizo
Ingredients (for a party of 4):
300 gr lentils (dry)
200 gr Spanish chorizo (can be changed to bacon in the US, or any kind of ham. Don't add it if you are vegetarian, the recipe will be still good and tasty).
1 onion
3 carrots
1 or 2 green pepper
1 tomato
If you don't have those vegetables you can change them for those you have by hand (leaks, potatoes, zucchini, etc).
oil
salt
water
2-3 leaves of laurel(bay) (if you have at home, not essential)
a pinch of black pepper
Put the dry lentils in water the night before cooking, they will be softer and they will need less time boiling. The next day, clean and wash all the vegetables carefully, then cut them in small pieces (less than 1 cm). Fry them in a large pan with little oil until they are cooked. Then, add the chorizo also in thin slices (about 3-4 mm) for about 5 minutes until is fried. Add the lentils to the pan and mix with the vegetables and the chorizo. Then add about 1 liter of hot water and put to boil. Add salt, 2-3 leaves of laurel and a pinch of black pepper if you want. Let it boil for about half an hour and try it to be sure that the lentils are tender (it can take more time, depending on the type of lentils). During the boiling time, add more water if necessary. The final result is not a soup, but lentils with a little bit of sauce!!
I like to make a version of this with chard.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
One from Spain: Tortilla de patatas
Some folks opted out of the recipe exchange because it felt too much like what they have to do for work (I totally get that, as I prepare for my classes). But some recipes have started to arrive! As I get them, I'll post them here with the tag "recipe" so that later, one can view the entire collection.
Here is a recipe for Tortilla de patata, the dish that could perhaps be called Spain's "comfort food." Everyone knows how to make it, with a few variations. The person who sent it is not actually a big fan of this dish, but he can make a great one anyway. For those who have never made it before: note that "a little bit of oil" in Spain means about 3T, so more oil than a little bit will seem like quite a lot! Just pour off any excess (into a jar). To flip the tortilla: find a plate that is about the same size as your frying pan, place it face down over the pan, then hold the plate in place with your hand as you turn the whole thing over. The tortilla will then be sitting on the plate, ready for you to slide it back into the pan to cook the other side. You can use a pot lid as well.
TORTILLA DE PATATAS
Ingredients:
1 kg potatoes (let's say 3 medium size potatoes)
8 eggs
olive oil
salt
Clean and wash the potatoes, then dry them with a cloth and peel them. Cut in two halves following the largest dimension and then cut them in fine slices (about 3-4 mm). Add salt and fry them in the frying pan with a lot of oil. Once they are cooked and a little brown, drain the oil and take the potatoes out of the frying pan. Beat the 6 eggs for a long time; add some salt and mix in the same bowl with the potatoes and - if you want - the onions. In the frying pan add a little bit of oil (about 3 table spoons), wait until it is hot and add the mixture of eggs, potatoes and onions. Keep moving the frying pan, so it will not stick to the bottom. When it is done in one side, turn in over with a dish, so it will cook on the the other side.
You can also add onions. Peel the onions and chop them in small pieces. Add the olive oil to the frying pan and fry the onions until they are just a little bit brown. Remove from the frying pan and add later to the mixture of potatoes and eggs. And if you want, you can also add some milk to the mixture, so the tortilla will be lighter.
Here is a recipe for Tortilla de patata, the dish that could perhaps be called Spain's "comfort food." Everyone knows how to make it, with a few variations. The person who sent it is not actually a big fan of this dish, but he can make a great one anyway. For those who have never made it before: note that "a little bit of oil" in Spain means about 3T, so more oil than a little bit will seem like quite a lot! Just pour off any excess (into a jar). To flip the tortilla: find a plate that is about the same size as your frying pan, place it face down over the pan, then hold the plate in place with your hand as you turn the whole thing over. The tortilla will then be sitting on the plate, ready for you to slide it back into the pan to cook the other side. You can use a pot lid as well.
TORTILLA DE PATATAS
Ingredients:
1 kg potatoes (let's say 3 medium size potatoes)
8 eggs
olive oil
salt
Clean and wash the potatoes, then dry them with a cloth and peel them. Cut in two halves following the largest dimension and then cut them in fine slices (about 3-4 mm). Add salt and fry them in the frying pan with a lot of oil. Once they are cooked and a little brown, drain the oil and take the potatoes out of the frying pan. Beat the 6 eggs for a long time; add some salt and mix in the same bowl with the potatoes and - if you want - the onions. In the frying pan add a little bit of oil (about 3 table spoons), wait until it is hot and add the mixture of eggs, potatoes and onions. Keep moving the frying pan, so it will not stick to the bottom. When it is done in one side, turn in over with a dish, so it will cook on the the other side.
You can also add onions. Peel the onions and chop them in small pieces. Add the olive oil to the frying pan and fry the onions until they are just a little bit brown. Remove from the frying pan and add later to the mixture of potatoes and eggs. And if you want, you can also add some milk to the mixture, so the tortilla will be lighter.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Chicken sausages with apples and potatoes
A friend has started a recipe exchange. Here's one of the first to arrive, my Mom's chicken sausages, potatoes, and apples.
3 potatoes, not idaho or baking, peeled and sliced in 1-1/2 inch rounds.
1 small onion sliced in 1 inch rounds.
2 medium apples, unpeeled, but cored,cut into1 inch rounds.
1 package, chicken apples sausages, cut into 2 inch rounds (Bruce Aidell's are great!)
2 tablespoons light olive oil
Heat skillet with oil, large and deep enough to fit all ingredients
Add onions and potatoes, cook shaking pan, to prevent sticking
cook few minutes until they begin to soften
add 1/4 cup of water. cover and simmer around 8 to 10 minutes
Place sausages over potatoes and then apple rings over sausages.
cover and cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes and apples are tender
cooking time will vary depending on type of potatoes and apples you use.
One of my favorite emergency foods. Thanks, mom!
3 potatoes, not idaho or baking, peeled and sliced in 1-1/2 inch rounds.
1 small onion sliced in 1 inch rounds.
2 medium apples, unpeeled, but cored,cut into1 inch rounds.
1 package, chicken apples sausages, cut into 2 inch rounds (Bruce Aidell's are great!)
2 tablespoons light olive oil
Heat skillet with oil, large and deep enough to fit all ingredients
Add onions and potatoes, cook shaking pan, to prevent sticking
cook few minutes until they begin to soften
add 1/4 cup of water. cover and simmer around 8 to 10 minutes
Place sausages over potatoes and then apple rings over sausages.
cover and cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes and apples are tender
cooking time will vary depending on type of potatoes and apples you use.
One of my favorite emergency foods. Thanks, mom!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Crows in Minneapolis
It's winter, and that means the return of thousands of crows to their urban roosts in Minneapolis. Crows have started to roost in great numbers in cities in the last several decades, in part because it gives them some extra protection from their major predator, great horned owls. It may be that they are breeding in the suburbs, where the habitat is ideal for them, with the unmated youngsters flocking to the urban areas. One year, they roosted near the crook of 35W and 94, which made them highly visible at about the time a lot of people were driving home from work. Another year, their roost was near the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and another was spotted at Wirth Park. I remember the year they chose Loring Park as their nighttime roost; walking at night with a friend under the trees chock full of roosting crows, we could hear a soft rustle-murmer, as if the trees were alive.
I'm not sure how many roosts there are this year, or where the biggest ones are, but I've seen crows flying in to congregate at the cemetery on Cedar and Lake around sundown (which has been about 4:30-5!) and so has another local biology observer. They haven't become a nuisance in the Twin Cities, as far as I know, the way they have in some other areas, probably because we have large stands of bare trees in areas like parks, by the river, etc, so their droppings are not bothering people the way they do in some smaller cities. I have also noticed that several trees on our block are serving as a staging area; smaller groups of about 20-30 crows show up at around 4, and fly and yak between a few trees, as they congregate before heading for the big communal roost.
Mark Westerfeld has created Crows.net Project, collecting information from amateur observers, like these stories of small groups of crows folks observe while walking their dogs. Crows are smart and adaptable, like coyotes: opportunistic, scavengers, and very entertaining.
Is this not the most gorgeous painting of a crow roost by Chicago artist Diana Sudyka?
Some great photos on Flickr include this series near Chicago Ave (not far from the Lake street area).
I'm not sure how many roosts there are this year, or where the biggest ones are, but I've seen crows flying in to congregate at the cemetery on Cedar and Lake around sundown (which has been about 4:30-5!) and so has another local biology observer. They haven't become a nuisance in the Twin Cities, as far as I know, the way they have in some other areas, probably because we have large stands of bare trees in areas like parks, by the river, etc, so their droppings are not bothering people the way they do in some smaller cities. I have also noticed that several trees on our block are serving as a staging area; smaller groups of about 20-30 crows show up at around 4, and fly and yak between a few trees, as they congregate before heading for the big communal roost.
Mark Westerfeld has created Crows.net Project, collecting information from amateur observers, like these stories of small groups of crows folks observe while walking their dogs. Crows are smart and adaptable, like coyotes: opportunistic, scavengers, and very entertaining.
Is this not the most gorgeous painting of a crow roost by Chicago artist Diana Sudyka?
Some great photos on Flickr include this series near Chicago Ave (not far from the Lake street area).
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Not neurotypical
I just read the memoir of John Robison, Look Me in the Eye. He did not have a diagnosis of his Asperger's Syndrome until he was in his forties, and his account of his suffering, delivered with calm logic and the driest of humor, is riveting. He is the older brother of Augusten Burroughs, whose memoirs of his childhood and recovery are lurid and hysterically funny even as they also horrify. They shared a childhood marked by abuse and the mental illness and alcoholism of their parents. By some miracle, they are now both thriving, happy, and very close, partly as a result of their writing and the connections they have made with readers. Robison has also written about taking part in clinical trials of rTMS (which I wrote about earlier), and it seems to be having a noticeable effect.
While immersed in this book, I head the Talking Heads' song "Cities" on the radio. One of the things I found compelling in my early fan days was David Byrne's persona, a mixture of paranoia, hyper-intelligence, and yearning.
Their album Fear of Music, their darkest, was another collaboration with Brian Eno; it came out in 1979, at a time when I was finishing college and reeling from the impact of my parents' divorce and its revelations about our family. I broke out in painful, maddening eczema, all over my body, and for months I was covered with itching painful scabs. I felt as if I had leprosy. The songs on Fear of Music and David Byrne's way of singing them are entwined with those memories. "What is happening/to my skin? Air can hurt you too, air..."
"Air" and "Cities" (1979 performance)
I have now learned that Byrne now thinks he might fall "on the spectrum" of autism, somewhere between Asperger's and "good at math"; he has said it is not so much a diagnosis as an explanation for his intense shyness, the focus, the need to control. I wonder.
While immersed in this book, I head the Talking Heads' song "Cities" on the radio. One of the things I found compelling in my early fan days was David Byrne's persona, a mixture of paranoia, hyper-intelligence, and yearning.
Their album Fear of Music, their darkest, was another collaboration with Brian Eno; it came out in 1979, at a time when I was finishing college and reeling from the impact of my parents' divorce and its revelations about our family. I broke out in painful, maddening eczema, all over my body, and for months I was covered with itching painful scabs. I felt as if I had leprosy. The songs on Fear of Music and David Byrne's way of singing them are entwined with those memories. "What is happening/to my skin? Air can hurt you too, air..."
"Air" and "Cities" (1979 performance)
I have now learned that Byrne now thinks he might fall "on the spectrum" of autism, somewhere between Asperger's and "good at math"; he has said it is not so much a diagnosis as an explanation for his intense shyness, the focus, the need to control. I wonder.
A voice of reason from Congress on Gaza
found via The UpTake: My congressional representative, Keith Ellison, talks about what is going on in Gaza. He presents a rational alternative perspective, one he expresses in respectful but absolutely clear language. It is unacceptable that Israel is slaughtering civilians by the hundreds who had nothing to do with Hamas's attacks.
Want to know more? For context and analysis, Professor Zero recommends this article by Lisa Roy.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Mindful grocery shopping!
One resolution I have made over time, but that I have not yet tried to adhere to completely, is to buy and eat healthy food: food that is healthy for us because it is organic, and food that is healthier for the land and the economy because it has been produced in sustainable, humane, and healthy circumstances. I try to buy and eat food that is from producers close to home, and in season. I have, in the past, been a member of a CSA, I'm a member of a co-op, and I enjoy shopping at farmers' markets and places where I can meet the growers and talk to them about what they sell. The Twin Cities has wonderful networks for people like me, so even if we don't have the year-round growing season of California, it's possible to eat very well here without buying fruit from Chile. This weekend, I was very glad to notice that without exactly intending to do so, I had managed to buy organic foods that were from local producers: cheese from Wisconsin, root vegetables, Cedar Summit farm milk, Hope Creamery butter and chickens and eggs from Chase Brook Natural Farm's new stand. Even the frozen veg from a Minnesota producer. I haven't taken the locavore "100-mile-diet" pledge, but that chicken sure was delicious (roasted with the root veggies-parsnips, turnips, yellow, purple and orange carrots!). While I don't buy fresh tomatoes in the winter, I do buy some things that would not meet the standards set by Barbara Kingsolver and her family as she describes in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, but I figure that moving in that direction is a good thing.
There are folks in Minnesota who are dedicated to helping us think how we can support local farmers, eat healthier and more delicious food, and have to spend a fortune. I discovered The Minnesota Project's webpage today. Here is their mission statement:
The Minnesota Project is a nonprofit organization that connects people with policy to nurture collaborations that build strong local economies, vibrant communities and a healthy environment. Our programs are focused on the development, conservation and efficient use of renewable energy; farm practice and policy that promote profitable farms that protect and replenish the environment; and the production and consumption of local, sustainably grown foods. Through collaborative leadership we demonstrate practical solutions as a basis for future policy. For over twenty-nine years we have fostered local empowerment, bridged diverse interests, encouraged shared values, and initiated working dialogues that create positive action and policy.
What are the local parameters they use? They are not so restrictive as the 100-mile radius idea, but they do emphasize the concept of the region surrounding MN. We bought our produce at the Midtown Global Market's Produce Exchange, dairy and meat from the new and our bulk and frozen stuff from The Wedge Coop. The "Do It Green" site is a goldmine as a database for a person who wants to live, eat, and consume mindfully, with sustainable intention. We will never grow coffee in the upper Midwest, so if I am not ready to give it up (and I am not) I can choose to buy fair trade and sustainably grown coffee or give my business to cafes that use it.
I recently discovered Minnesota's Prairie Organic Vodka (retails for about $25 locally). Good stuff, and a fun website!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Good intentions, if not resolutions
I don't have any "best of 2008" lists, although I did have the urge to go through my photos and blog posts to think about the year, but decided to read a novel instead. This is the story of my life: intertia, redirected into narrative. If presented with the choice of painting the bathroom or lying on the couch reading old New Yorker magazines, guess which one I'll do? Anyway, enterprising souls like Tengrain do the year-end roundups for me, so I can lie on the couch and watch videos! I am reposting this video featured at Mock, Paper, Scissors, because I think it is hilarious!
Nor have I compiled a list of New Year's resolutions, because they are always the same: drink more water, eat healthy food, cut out the sugar, get in shape, do a better job at managing my fibromyalgia symptoms, practice mindfulness and aspire to complain less and practice compassion more. Just say no to more of the endless bureaucratic requests for my time. Start dancing again, and go back and study the Japanese I learned in college. Plan a trip somewhere local and another somewhere far away. Drink my coffee at home and save enough money to buy a new TV. Bring lunch to work in Mr. Bento. Finish knitting that scarf I started before Xmas. I'm sure I can come up with some more specifics, but then it becomes a "To Do" list, and I've already made a couple of those. I like the idea of thinking about the big picture, though, so I promise myself I'll sit down and come up with one of this "think big" dream lists, because that is how I make things happen.
Meanwhile, I am inspired by this Cute Overload post to remember that we all have a better nature, and we can all get along.
Nor have I compiled a list of New Year's resolutions, because they are always the same: drink more water, eat healthy food, cut out the sugar, get in shape, do a better job at managing my fibromyalgia symptoms, practice mindfulness and aspire to complain less and practice compassion more. Just say no to more of the endless bureaucratic requests for my time. Start dancing again, and go back and study the Japanese I learned in college. Plan a trip somewhere local and another somewhere far away. Drink my coffee at home and save enough money to buy a new TV. Bring lunch to work in Mr. Bento. Finish knitting that scarf I started before Xmas. I'm sure I can come up with some more specifics, but then it becomes a "To Do" list, and I've already made a couple of those. I like the idea of thinking about the big picture, though, so I promise myself I'll sit down and come up with one of this "think big" dream lists, because that is how I make things happen.
Meanwhile, I am inspired by this Cute Overload post to remember that we all have a better nature, and we can all get along.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
We were both so sad to leave San Francisco and ten wonderful days! we revisited the Ferry building, with its wonderful markets, and also did the Saturday morning Stockton street crawl, visiting all the chinese markets where the locals shop. North Beach, Crissy Field, West Portal, Golden Gate Park, Fillmore street, Japantown: we walked all over and breathed in the foggy, fragrant air. 
Now we are grateful to be back home, suitcases unpacked, in our pajamas, catching up with our lives. I'm sure my mother will be glad to have her place to herself again, to return to her painting. we'll miss being spoiled by her. My sister cooked us some magnificent meals; she made us one of her famous apple pies and a cheesecake the other night, and generously gave us the recipe for her incredible home-made graham crackers (with the secret ingredient!). I don't know if I'll be able to make them like hers, but I'm going to try.
We arrived to temps in the 20s, a fine sleety, snerty snowfall. The taxi-driver took the long way, but I didn't care because road conditions were iffy, and the freeway was probably safest. It appears that Al Franken will be announced as the winner of the Senate election on Monday (yay!).
We opened the door to find a very happy kitty! Fresca, you are the greatest!
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