Is There An Eruv Near You?

I was in LA to visit my mom one Saturday, and while driving through Westwood one afternoon, she asked if I noticed the wire running overhead at the intersection of Veteran and Wilshire. I said I had not noticed it, and had no idea what it was there for. She told me it was one of the boundaries for the Westwood Eruv. "What in the world is an Eruv?" I said. Mom proceeded to explain to me what she had recently learned about an eruv. I was intrigued to learn more about this ritual enclosure and what it's purpose is, so here's a little of what I found out.

An eruv is a ritual enclosure that some communities construct in their neighborhoods as a way to permit Jewish residents or visitors to carry certain objects outside their own homes on Sabbath and Yom Kippur. The eruv allows religious Jews to carry house keys, medicines, and use strollers and canes. The absence or presence of an eruv affects the lives of people with limited mobility or those with small children.

There are 39 categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat, including moving objects, using a cane or wheelchair, using medication, wearing jewelry, carrying keys, carrying prayer books. Demarcation of symbolic walls for an eruv could be telephone poles, street lights or streets. These boundaries must be complete and contiguous in every element, and are checked frequently.

Eruvs exist throughout the world, in countries and cities on all continents. In the US there are several ongoing disputes between various Orthodox groups, as to whether certain boundaries are valid. For example, in Manhattan (NY), some rabbis dispute the validity of the eruv because it borders an estuary that is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, and not a reinforced wall. In San Diego there are two eruvs. One is in the College Area, the other in La Jolla. Check reference data online for exact boundaries, if you're interested.

In Israel, almost every Jewish community is enclosed by an eruv. Outside Israel, there are thousands of private ones enclosing only a few homes or neighborhood. Most major cities in North America have at least one, often surrounding only the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods rather than the entire city. None of the information I read explained how and why eruvs came to be. I suppose it was to make life easier for Orthodox Jews, who pretty much stop everything from Friday night until Sunday morning. Within the walls of the eruv, life can go on as usual for Jews, and they are not breaking with tradition, as the eruv protects them. It's a concept I don't fully understand, and if anyone out there does, please let me know. I'd never heard the word "eruv" until a few months ago, and didn't know that I'd been living within the walls of the Westwood eruv for years. If this interests you as it did me, find out where the boundaries are in La Jolla and look for the wires. They're there, and they mean that life goes on for Orthodox Jews on the Sabbath within these symbolic walls.

A Stand Out Day

There are days in our lives that stand above most others. A recent Thursday was one such day for Ron and me. It started with an uneventful drive from Carlsbad to Los Angeles. Ron had a business appointment, so he dropped me and Pepper off at my Mom's where we had a nice visit. The plan was that Ron would come back from his meeting and join us for lunch at a new little sandwich shop in Westwood. That, however, did not materialize, as the man he was meeting with in the morning asked him to join he and his fiancée for lunch. He did (they ate at a vegan restaurant!), and my Mom and I went to Simplethings for lunch. It's a tiny little restaurant, with just 4 tables inside and about 6 tables outside. They must do a huge catering business. I had the sweet potato sandwich, with apples, jammy onions, chevre spread, avocado, cumin coleslaw, on a pretzel roll. It was delicious. Mom had the avocado melt, with roasted peppers, fontina, apricot chutney, on brioche. Also wonderful. In all, they have about 15 interesting sandwiches to choose from. The salads looked great, too. A chopped salad, a kale salad, and a cobb salad were just a few of the choices. They are also a pie shop, and have several different offerings everyday. They sell cutie pies (small), simple pies (one good serving of pie) and big pies. They looked delicious, but we refrained. Westwood is their second location. Their first location is on 3rd Street in West Hollywood, but I look for them to be expanding quickly. Maybe even to San Diego.

Back to my stand out day. After lunch, Ron came to the house to pick me up and we went to Tarzana to visit with our 3 1/2 year old grandchildren (twin boys). It was a wonderful afternoon with Beth (our daughter-in-law), Ryan and Spencer. We really enjoyed the time with the kids. We left there to go back to Mom's for a little rest and conversation with her, before meeting all the kids for dinner. Unfortunately we had a slight fender bender while getting on the freeway in Encino. I tapped the back of the car in front of me, and my car crumbled! I couldn't believe that at 3 miles an hour so much damage could be done. Fortunately no one was hurt, and we arrived at my Mom's fine, but a bit shaken.

We had time to enjoy a nice visit with Mom before we met David and Tracy, Brian and Beth for dinner. We all had a wonderful time together, and by 8pm Ron, myself and Pepper were back on the road. A full day, but one full of highs and lows. The only low was crashing the car, but it did contribute to making this a stand out day. The only thing missing was our Colorado family, and I will be seeing them soon.

P.S. The repair on my new Ford C-Max, just three weeks old, was $4,100.00. Thank goodness for insurance.

Habits Of Happy People

I've written about the successful people in the past, and what it is about their behavior and character that make them so, and now I have a list of some of the habits of happy people. This was taken from Global One, just so you know I did not create the list, but I thought it was so good, I simply reprinted it as is. See how many of these habits you have. Are you a happy person?

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.

We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:

1. Appreciate Life

Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

2. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

3. Be Considerate

Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Continuously

Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

5. Creative Problem Solving

Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.

6. Do What They Love

Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

7. Enjoy Life

Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.

8. Laugh

Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)

9. Forgive

Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.

10. Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.

11. Invest in Relationships

Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.

12. Keep Their Word

Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.

13. Meditate

Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.

14. Mind Their Own Business

Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.

15. Optimism

See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.

16. Love Unconditionally

Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.

17. Persistence

Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.

18. Be Proactive

Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.

19. Self Care

Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.

20. Self Confidence

Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.

21. Take Responsibility

Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.

Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

A New Kind of "Foodery" Coming Our Way

I'm excited. Bottega Americano is a restaurant and marketplace unlike anything San Diego has seen before that will be coming to the East Village this summer. London has Harrod's food halls, Paris has Le Bon Marche Grand Epicier, New York has Eataly, and now San Diego will have our own urban marketplace.

The $3million, 8,000 square foot marketplace, located on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law building, is just blocks from the new downtown library. At Bottega Americano you'll be able to get a complete meal to go and have a high quality full sit down space all under one roof. The menu and prepared food will be produce driven. It will be urban Italian with an American twist, with pizza, cured meats, fresh mozzarella, Italian wine and specialty coffees among other offerings. The partners of Bottega Americano also want to have an educational component, with cooking classes, wine pairing instruction, and cheese making demonstrations.

The creative force behind Bottega is noted L.A. hospitality designer Thomas Schoos, who has worked on Puesto, Searsucker and Herringbone in San Diego. There are an estimated 10,000 residents in the East Village from which to draw, and with the 16 story 320,000square foot Sempra corporate headquarters planned and the relocation of Bumble Bee in the immediate area, they'll have plenty of customers. They will also draw from people like me in North County, who want to see what's new on the food scene. Sounds like a great day trip to me. Take the Coaster to San Diego, walk around the East Village, end up spending time shopping at Bottega Americano, then having lunch. I'll let you know when I hear about their opening date.

Cafe Rockenwagner For Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

I was in Los Angeles to visit my mom. She takes a very interesting class that I attended with her on neuroscience and what's new in the field. I learned so much about the brain and Alzheimer's, which I may tell you about at another time. After the class, mom, Buff and I went to a new restaurant in Brentwood. It's on the corner of Barrington and Wilshire, and is on the ground floor of a multi use building, with residential apartments above and retail below. The restaurant is inspired and developed by Hans Rockenwagner, longtime Los Angeles restauranteur, with a stellar reputation.

Hans Rockenwagner has been on the restaurant scene for years. He spent years cooking in Germany, Switzerland and Chicago, before settling in Los Angeles. He ran a full scale fine dining restaurant for years, but now concentrates on 3 Square Café, Rockenwagner Bakery, and now Café Rockenwagner

The café is noisy. There is no way it can't be noisy, with concrete floors, high ceilings, and no window coverings. It is an attractive, contemporary restaurant, with seating inside and out. The main attraction is the food. We were there for lunch. Mom ordered a sandwich sampler. Three small sandwiches on pretzel rolls, potato chips and a side salad. Buff ordered a shrimp salad, and I had the salad nicoise. My salad was made with fresh ahi tuna, and a few twists on the traditional salad. There was some hummus in the salad, but no potatoes or eggs. Excellent. Desserts looked fabulous, but we resisted. They make something called a "cro-nut," which is a donut made with croissant dough, fried, stuffed with a crème filling, and iced. I will write about after I taste it.

I want to go back for breakfast. They offer an authentic German Apple Pancake Souffle, with strawberries and crème fraiche, one of my favorite breakfast items. Also on the menu is chicken hash, grilled weisswurst, with eggs, apple-onions, potatoes, pretzel roll. Dinner is also offered, and includes entrees like seared scallops, poached salmon, pork chops, beef burger, lamb burger, and skirt steak. Most entrees are in the mid $20's. As appetizers, Café Rockenwager offers some interesting choices, like roasted marrow bones, Brussels sprouts and kale (with dates, pecan and blue cheese), and a selection of German cold cuts and cheese.

Except for the noise, everything was great. The service was friendly, and even Hans was on hand, visiting tables and asking how everything was. They will be busy for breakfast and lunch, with lots of office buildings in the area, but I'm not sure how they will do for dinner. On second thought, probably very well, as Hans Rockenwagner has a reputation as a fine chef, and with a moderately priced menu, Westside residents will give it a try. Next time you're in the Brentwood area, try this new café.

Zeal: A Better Way To Satisfy Your Hunger

Each visit to Boulder reinforces what we all think about when we think of Boulder: progressive, innovative, free spirited, and lots of growth. It's amazing the speed at which housing, retail and light rail are being built. Finally, Trader Joe's has come to Boulder. My recent trip to Colorado was mostly about visiting family; Phil, Deborah, Lennon and Elsa were what I went for. Of course seeing the children and grandchildren was wonderful, but you know me, I had time to get in a few meals at some new restaurants. The one I will tell you about today is called Zeal.

Zeal is about whole, fresh ingredients, but in a way I have not experienced before. This restaurant will not fly in just any city. It works in Boulder, and might also work in places like Portland, San Francisco, parts of Los Angeles and Newport Beach, and maybe Hillcrest in San Diego where residents may love this type of menu. I started with a flight of cold pressed juices. A short pour of red (beet, apple, ginger and lime, my favorite), orange (carrot, orange, gold beet and parsley) and green (kale, cucumber, spinach, celery, apple, lemon and ginger)They also have smoothies, acai bowls, and some interesting items like Chia pudding and Zeal granola. Snacks like tamari almonds, edamame, sprouted lentils and hummus with veggies and crackers are all wonderful. Deborah had the beef braise, enough for two. Curry, potato, carrot seasonal greens, cashews on rice. Phil had the Thai salad, with cilantro, broccoli, shitake, mango, kelp noodles, napa cabbage, and sweet chili carrot ginger. It was delicious. Lots of interesting soups, stews and salads on the menu, in addition to sandwiches like Banh Mi Chicken sandwich, cobb chicken sandwich, and veggie burger.

At first I was thinking it was like Tender Greens, but it's not. Check out zealfood.com to view the complete menu, and if you enjoy eating food with no GMO's (ever), this is your restaurant. Right now they're just in Boulder, but after talking with the owner, I can see that expansion is in their future. As I said at the beginning, this restaurant is not for everyone, but you will feel oh so virtuous and healthy eating there, and the dishes I sampled were wonderful. I especially loved the beet juice. This is NOT a vegetarian restaurant. There are plenty of beef, pork and chicken items on the menu, but it does have a lot of items many of you may have never heard of or eaten before. It's for adventurous eaters as well as those looking for a healthy meal. Try it if you're in Boulder.

Dolphin Hunting in Taiji, Japan, Years After The Cove

Several years ago I saw the movie The Cove, a film that depicted a horrific event that takes place every year in Taiji, Japan, where thousands of dolphins are slaughtered for meat. Since the public outcry of this event after the film was release, nothing much has changed. The dolphins are still hunted and killed, even though Ric O'Barry, the Oscar winning film maker who made The Cove began Dolphin Project, hopes to report to the world via blogs and social media what is happening in Taiji, make local contacts with people in Japan to spread the word about the hunt and the dangers of mercury-contaminated dolphin meat, and to let the Japanese government and the dolphin hunters know that the world is watching.

Cave Monitors undertake the above mentioned goals, and additionally engage in special projects such as obtaining dolphin meat to test for mercury and other pollutants. Dolphin hunts are killing fewer and fewer dolphins because the dolphin population is so depleted. Another goal of the Cove Monitors is to convince fishermen or town council members about possible alternatives to dolphin hunts, such as promoting eco-tourism, sustainable fishing, etc.

Cove Monitors are keeping the pressure on the dolphin hunters. Fewer dolphins are dying, but educating the Japanese and the rest of the world to this disgrace is an arduous task. Ric O"Barry vows to continue to document and video the slaughter until dolphin hunts end. It's sad that mankind is so slow to change, so unwilling to see how harmful dolphin hunting is both to these magnificent animals that are defenseless, and the humans who buy and eat mercury tainted dolphin meat to their people.

These people will do anything to continue dolphin hunting. The town of Taiji closed off a trail to the top of the overlook over the Cove with a locked gate, put up overnight, to keep out the Cove Monitors. The overlook is an emergency retreat to higher ground for the people of Taiji in case of a tsunami. Now the citizens of this town will have nowhere safe to go in case of emergency. All this to keep the world from knowing what is going on in their little corner of the world. Keep it up, Dolphin Project. The world needs to know what's going on.

Vehicle To Vehicle Communication

By now we know that big brother is watching. You can't go in a department store, gas station or supermarket without being photographed by a camera. The new smart phones with GPS also track your every move. There are positives to this technology, but also negatives. The latest technology is vehicle to vehicle communication, which Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says is just the beginning of a revolution in roadway safety. However, it could take years to show up in cars.

Cars of the future will speak to each other. They will know when you're about to get hit, and will react accordingly. Cars would speak in short-range radio signals, trading messages that would prevent accidents on a broad scale, perhaps decreasing accidents by as much as 80%. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will issue standards and rules for installing such systems before the end of the Obama administration, but it will be up to automakers to build the communications systems, GPS sensors and software into vehicles.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems would give cars the ability to warn drivers of dangers as far as 300 yards away. The main advantage of this technology is that it always pays attention to what's going on around, unlike drivers. The safety benefits will clearly outweigh concerns about cost.

One of the issues holding back this technology is the issue of privacy. Tracking a person's whereabouts 24/7 would be easy. Sure, there would be huge benefits to safety and the saving of lives, but the cost of this in protecting individual privacy is huge. This is an issue that will be hashed out by auto executives, transportation executives and probably by the media. In the end I don't know that we'll really have a say in whether we want it or not. I don't remember anyone asking me if I wanted my phone to be able to track me, or if I wanted to be photographed by the department store, gas station or just walking down the street corner. These are all invasions of privacy, yet we are not asked or informed about this intrusion. Overall, if I understand the technology correctly, the positive benefits seem to outweigh the negative. It's just another intrusion into our everyday life. George Orwell was right so many years ago, but I don't think even he imagined the extent to which big brother would be watching.

Suicide In Military Is Epidemic

As the war in Afghanistan winds down and our troops come home, suicide rates among both enlisted and longer-serving non -commissioned officers continues to climb. Trying to figure out how to arrest the increase in suicide is an ongoing quest of military officials. Today, suicide is the most frequent cause of death among Army forces, surpassing combat deaths and motor vehicle accidents. Lawmakers point to a backlog of claims for care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The system is overwhelmed. The Pentagon has struggled to pinpoint risk factors that will help them reach out to troubled troops. They have increased the number of counselors who might be able to talk to troops about the romantic woes that often come with multiple deployments. The Pentagon reported that half of all soldiers who committed suicide had recently had a failed relationship. The counselors are also meant to help troops with substance and alcohol abuse. Nearly a third of those who commit suicide also have struggled with substance abuse. Some senior Army officials have also spoken about the need for greater gun control among troops recently returning from war. 68% of soldiers who kill themselves use guns. The majority of suicides have two things in common: alcohol and a gun. When you have somebody that you feel is high risk, is it unreasonable to tell that individual that he should not have a weapon in the house? Yes, according to a new NRA law that prohibits the military from engaging in discussions about weapons and safety. Lawmakers may revisit this legislation sometime, but with the rate at which congress is introducing and passing new legislation, that may be in the next decade, after thousands more lives are lost. Army officials feel that the rise in suicide is preventable, and they are still looking for solutions. Our soldiers deserve mental health services when they come home, and right now, many of them are not getting it. Let's give these brave men and women what they need to live healthy, productive lives after they have risked life and limb for their country.

Danzon Therapy May Ward Off Alzheimer's

Danzon, the slow and elegant musical genre that's popular in the Latino community, may help ward off Alzheimer's. Latinos across the country are part of LAMDA (Latino Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders Alliance), and started "Bailando por la Salud (Dancing for health), to inspire Latinos who are uncomfortable with other forms of exercise to get fit and healthier- which in turn may help stave off Alzheimer's and other memory loss conditions.

Latinos develop Alzheimer's in greater numbers than the general population, and the condition could grow by 600% by 2050. New research suggest that Mexican Americans develop risk factors that could lead to Alzheimer's as early as a decade earlier than other groups. Getting the Latino population in better shape could help both their hearts and their minds. At the University of North Texas Health Science Center Dr. Sid O'Bryant studied 1,500 Mexican Americans who were already participating in clinical studies on aging. He found that factors such as education level, depression and diabetes were important considerations into whether the participants developed mental impairment and early stages of Alzheimer's.

Danzon is an elegant way to keep fit, both physically and mentally. Research suggest that higher incidences of heart disease and other risks, like diabetes, may play roles in the effect of Alzheimer's in the Latino community. Educating the community is a first step, but then the community must go out and practice what they have learned. (healthy eating habits and exercise). Mexican Americans are nearly twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with diabetes and 50% more likely to die from the disease. The costs of caring for diabetic patients and those with Alzheimer's is huge. Care for Alzheimer's patients cost $203 billion in 2013, and is expected to jump to $1.2 trillion in less than four decades. While early onset of cognitive impairment was a scary finding for researchers, this also means that the disease can be identified and treated sooner.

My Personal Journal

It's April already. Time to get you get you caught up on our progress. This past month has been a great month, as it not only brings us closer to early October, when Ron's probation will be over (yippee), but it also brings Ron closer to feeling 100%. I'm thinking that maybe that's why they make probation three years. Does it take everyone three years to feel whole again? It certainly is taking Ron that long. He said to me the other day that he feels so confident, so happy, so glad to be alive. It's tax time, and Ron has been busy working for Brian, in addition to the numerous new tax clients he has gotten on his own. It's so great to see him working again at something he's good at and loves. I am so proud of him!

One of the requirements of probation is to produce a report every month, that shows every financial transaction you have made. Income must be accounted for and all expenses must be itemized. It shows the probation department that you are living within your means. Although Ron was always a planner and a budgeter, this experience has heightened that ability. However, I do think he'll be happy to stop doing it come October.

I continue to do my mystery shopping and some travel agent work, and between the two of us, we are making it. Will Ron ever have the kind of business he had before? No, and he doesn't want it. The pressure of such a practice was horrible for him, for me and for our kids. He hopes to continue to increase his business to a comfortable level, where he can work without stress. That is the key. Right now life is good for us. We take trips to Los Angeles to see my mom and our children and grandchildren every month, and plan for the future to go see Phil and Deborah in Colorado. It's been a long time since we've traveled together, and a trip to Boulder will be one of the first things we do, when we can.

Natural Food Expo, 2014, Part 3

I walk through the food show with a paper and pen in hand, and most of the vendors think I'm a journalist. They want to tell me all about their product. That's a good thing, but some of them go on and on. I spent a total of about 4 hours tasting and learning about the interesting products. Here are a few more of my favorites.

Cherry Valle Farms makes boxed mixes for breads, pancakes and granola. They were all delicious. The three I sampled were blueberry and banana bread (two separate things) and cranberry granola. These are great products. Another favorite of mine was from Madhava. They make something like Crystal Lite, but it's made with agave. Luscious lemonade, peachy green tea and a coconut flavored drink were wonderful. They also make a pancake syrup with agave, very thick and sweet. Two Moms In The Raw make several items. Nut bars, truffles, and cereal. I loved the nut bars. (like an energy bar).

Marukome had a unique idea to show off its miso soup. They have a miso soup mix that just needs water, but they showed it off in a very unique way. They had a little bar of toppings to add to the miso soup: green onions, croutons, tofu, asparagus, seaweed, and edamame were all toppings that you could add to your soup. They gave you a cup of soup, and you added your own toppings. Clever. Suzie's makes a chocolate spread with olives, which I decided not to taste. It didn't appeal to me. Suzies also makes naan crackers and flatbreads. A butter substitute made by Melt, is very good. It comes in regular and chocolate flavor, and is available at Albertson's and Von's. Finally, Cedars and Mediterranean, makes beet hummus, taboule and other Mediterranean delights.

One final thing. Many of the yogurt companies were giving samples of yogurt, but rather than the low fat or 0%fat yogurts I'm used to eating, they all gave samples of the full fat yogurt. I had forgotten how absolutely delicious full fat yogurt is, and how thick and creamy it is, compared to the low fat version. It's 200 calories per container, rather than 80-100 calories for the lower fat version. I guess I'll stick with the low fat for now, and save the full fat yogurt for special occasions. It really is a treat.

Venice To Split From Italy

Inspired by Scotland's separatist ambitions, 89% of the residents of Venice, Italy and its surrounding area, voted in a referendum to break away from Italy. The proposed "Repubblica Veneta" would include the five million residents of the Veneto region and could later expand to include parts of Lombardy, Trentino and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Venice has only been a part of Italy for 150 years. Wealthy Venetians have rallied to secede from Italy, after growing tired of supporting Italy's poor and crime ridden Mezzogiorno south, through high taxation. They say that Venice has been forgotten, and all their taxes are going to other regions of the country. Activists have been working closely with the SNP on their joint agendas, even travelling to Scotland alongside Catalonians and Basque separatists to take part in pro independence rallies.>p>

I've always felt that, although Italian is the language you hear on the streets and canals of Venice, it has an almost magical quality, unlike anyplace else in Italy. I don't know how Venetians think, but this recent vote tells me they are tired of not getting what they consider their fair share. One Italian historian said that although history never repeats itself, we are now experiencing a strong return of little nations, small and prosperous countries, able to interact among each other in the global world. So next time you book a trip to Southern Europe, you may have a chance to visit a new country, Venice.