With so many sports and other activities for one to choose from, why would anyone let their boys play contact football today? What has now been scientifically proven is that cumulative sports concussions are shown to increase the likelihood of catastrophic head injury leading to permanent neurologic disability by 39%.
I just returned from seeing the new Will Smith movie, Concussion. It laid out the scientific evidence that took so long to be acknowledged by the NFL. Their deceit, their cover up, and their use of every possible means to stop the truth from coming out, is shameful. It reminds me of the Wall Street crisis a decade ago. The NFL is too big to fail. Finally, after the deaths of dozens of NFL players, mostly by suicide in the last few decades, people are paying attention. The cumulative effect of constant blows to the head, lead early onset Alzheimers, neurological impairement, severe headaches, hearing voices and more. There is a suit brought against the NFL by about 1500 former players, which has been yet to be settled. In the mean time, here are some concussion statistics that you might find interesting.
CDC reports show that the amount of reported concussions has doubled in the last 10 years for children 8-13 years of age, while the amount of kids participating in sports has dramatically decreased. Concussions among teens ages 14-19 have increased 200% in the last decade. High school football accounts for 47% of all reported sports concussions, with 33% of concussions occurring during practice. Football, ice hockey and soccer pose the most significant head health risk. 1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season. An estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a traumatic brain injury-related disability.
The amount of sports concussion per 100,000 for high school players is as follows: Football 76, Ice hockey 54, Girls soccer 33, Boys' lacrosse 46, Boys basketball 21, Girls' field hockey 24, cheerleading 14, boys baseball 5, girls gymnastics 7. There is risk in everything, but football leads the pack. Many experts predict that over the next decade less parents will allow their boys to play football. It will still exist, but will be played by a different kind of player. Kids in poverty or trying to escape gang violence, will still see football as a way out. Middle class kids will try something else. Just like boxing, football will still be there, but with a little less luster.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Public Libraries Are Changing, Again
Last year I wrote about how libraries were changing, with the expectation that in the next 10 years 25% of all libraries would be bookless. That's right. Books will be checked out and loaded on your mobile device, or on a borrowed device from the library. Now I find out libraries are for checking out cake pans, telescopes and microscopes, American Girl dolls, fishing rods, and just about anything else you can think of.
In Sacramento, they have a new service called the Library of Things. People can check out sewing machines, ukuleles, and board games, for example. Libraries are after all, the original sharing economy, having circulated art prints, movies and music, and more recently have added tools. There is now a cultural shift, in which libraries increasingly view themselves as a hands-on creative hub, places where people can learn new crafts and experiment with technology like 3-D printers.
.Public funding for libraries has decreased in the past several years, so libraries have turned to foundations, private donors and corporations for support. Libraries realize that the best way to serve the community is to look like them. Last year, the Free Library of Philadelphia pulled together city, state and private funds to open a teaching kitchen, meant to teach math and literacy through recipes and to address childhood obesity.
Libraries are looking for ways to become more active places. At one library outside Syracuse, horticulture and garden plots are available for the community. In Ann Arbor, the local library has a voluminous collection of science equipment, including telescopes, microscopes and cameras, often items patrons cannot afford to buy. These new libraries, are allowing people who can't afford to purchase expensive equipment, to borrow it from the library. In Berkeley, the Tool Lending Library, a forerunner of the maker movement, was established in 1979, now houses some 3,000 tools, including weed whackers, drain snakes,and demolition hammers. That was 35 years ago. It's taken a while, but the idea of libraries as a place for lending of all kinds, has finally caught on. Will we have one in San Diego soon? I don't know.
In Sacramento, they have a new service called the Library of Things. People can check out sewing machines, ukuleles, and board games, for example. Libraries are after all, the original sharing economy, having circulated art prints, movies and music, and more recently have added tools. There is now a cultural shift, in which libraries increasingly view themselves as a hands-on creative hub, places where people can learn new crafts and experiment with technology like 3-D printers.
.Public funding for libraries has decreased in the past several years, so libraries have turned to foundations, private donors and corporations for support. Libraries realize that the best way to serve the community is to look like them. Last year, the Free Library of Philadelphia pulled together city, state and private funds to open a teaching kitchen, meant to teach math and literacy through recipes and to address childhood obesity.
Libraries are looking for ways to become more active places. At one library outside Syracuse, horticulture and garden plots are available for the community. In Ann Arbor, the local library has a voluminous collection of science equipment, including telescopes, microscopes and cameras, often items patrons cannot afford to buy. These new libraries, are allowing people who can't afford to purchase expensive equipment, to borrow it from the library. In Berkeley, the Tool Lending Library, a forerunner of the maker movement, was established in 1979, now houses some 3,000 tools, including weed whackers, drain snakes,and demolition hammers. That was 35 years ago. It's taken a while, but the idea of libraries as a place for lending of all kinds, has finally caught on. Will we have one in San Diego soon? I don't know.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Getting Ready For El Nino
It seems to me, with all the talk we've heard about El Nino coming to our state this year, that state and local agencies would be ready. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Here's an example. My mom had an area in her backyard that accumulated a lot of water. She decided she needed sandbags on hand in case of heavy rain, so she went to the local fire department. She got there and was told that they had no sand bags on hand, and that when they do, you are just given the bag and have to fill them yourself! That's no problem for a 40 year old, but for a 92 year old, that might be tough. Anyway, she ended up going to Home Depot, where she was able to get the sandbags. The point is, that local fire departments should be stocked and ready to go. They're not.
Citizens can do much to prepare as well. Clean gutters, check drains, make sure the roof is in good repair. Also, have food and water on hand. There is a possibility that you might not be able to get out of your house for a few days, so have a week's worth of canned goods and water on hand. Also, flashlights should be checked, and fresh batteries should be handy. Finally, every house should have a transistor radio. If your power goes out, a transistor radio will give you emergency information. We're all hoping for a lot of rain, but let's also hope we get a little at a time. Saturated ground will cause hill slides and home slides, and rapidly filling rivers will more than likely cause a few crazys to try to kyak or swim in rushing water. Let's all try to keep safe.
Citizens can do much to prepare as well. Clean gutters, check drains, make sure the roof is in good repair. Also, have food and water on hand. There is a possibility that you might not be able to get out of your house for a few days, so have a week's worth of canned goods and water on hand. Also, flashlights should be checked, and fresh batteries should be handy. Finally, every house should have a transistor radio. If your power goes out, a transistor radio will give you emergency information. We're all hoping for a lot of rain, but let's also hope we get a little at a time. Saturated ground will cause hill slides and home slides, and rapidly filling rivers will more than likely cause a few crazys to try to kyak or swim in rushing water. Let's all try to keep safe.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
A Multi Cultural Day
I just returned from a truly inspiring day. It was both educational and uplifting. Regina and I had scheduled an afternoon at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in Southeastern San Diego to see the Soweto Gospel Choir. What a treat. The 24 group choir is powerful and jubilant. They sang a mixture of hymns we did not know and contemporary songs, with their own twist. The group has been around since 2002. They have a Grammy, an American Gospel Music "Best Choir" award, five albums, and they have performed for Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Oprah Winfrey. They tour the world spreading gospel music, and are a joy to listen to.
The choir performed in the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. This philanthropic organization was started in 1995 by Dr Joe and Vi Jacobs. He was the founder of Jacobs Engineering Group in Pasadena, and devoted much of the latter part of his life restoring the Diamond Neighborhoods in Southeastern San Diego through grants that included job training and education.
Regina called me a few days before the event to tell me there was something she really wanted to attend in the morning, and that she thought I might find it interesting. Would I attend? Yes, I did and I'm so glad I did. Because of the terror attacks in recent weeks and the reaction of some politicians to Muslims and Muslim immigrants, Christians, Jews and Muslims are working together to educate the public and bring understanding and peace to all communities. There was an open house at the Masjid Alittehad Mosque in Vista, that Christians and Jews were invited to attend. The Imann spoke to us for about 30 minutes, explaining the basic principals of Islam, and pointing out some of the likes and differences between the three main religions. We all have a lot in common. The goal of the meeting was to get a dialogue started between the religions, to get to know Muslims in our community, and learn to respect each other.
There were priests, rabbis and pastors from dozens of churches and synagogues in North County. Many churches have an interfaith laison, that will work with the Muslim community to create greater respect and understanding for each other. One idea that was discussed, is to have 8-10 Muslim families meet with 8-10 Catholic families for a pot luck, with the hope that they will get to know each other and understand each other better. Our fears about Muslims and Muslim immigrants comes mostly from fear, and fear often comes from lack of education. Learning about Islam and getting to know Muslims in the community will help minimize fear. I was inspired by the love I felt from all participants at this interfaith meeting. It gives me hope that one by one, if people give each other a chance, we can get to know, understand, and appreciate each other.
The choir performed in the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. This philanthropic organization was started in 1995 by Dr Joe and Vi Jacobs. He was the founder of Jacobs Engineering Group in Pasadena, and devoted much of the latter part of his life restoring the Diamond Neighborhoods in Southeastern San Diego through grants that included job training and education.
Regina called me a few days before the event to tell me there was something she really wanted to attend in the morning, and that she thought I might find it interesting. Would I attend? Yes, I did and I'm so glad I did. Because of the terror attacks in recent weeks and the reaction of some politicians to Muslims and Muslim immigrants, Christians, Jews and Muslims are working together to educate the public and bring understanding and peace to all communities. There was an open house at the Masjid Alittehad Mosque in Vista, that Christians and Jews were invited to attend. The Imann spoke to us for about 30 minutes, explaining the basic principals of Islam, and pointing out some of the likes and differences between the three main religions. We all have a lot in common. The goal of the meeting was to get a dialogue started between the religions, to get to know Muslims in our community, and learn to respect each other.
There were priests, rabbis and pastors from dozens of churches and synagogues in North County. Many churches have an interfaith laison, that will work with the Muslim community to create greater respect and understanding for each other. One idea that was discussed, is to have 8-10 Muslim families meet with 8-10 Catholic families for a pot luck, with the hope that they will get to know each other and understand each other better. Our fears about Muslims and Muslim immigrants comes mostly from fear, and fear often comes from lack of education. Learning about Islam and getting to know Muslims in the community will help minimize fear. I was inspired by the love I felt from all participants at this interfaith meeting. It gives me hope that one by one, if people give each other a chance, we can get to know, understand, and appreciate each other.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Acorn Squash and Cheese Sauce
Winter squash is one of my favorite vegetables. I usually roast it, with just a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Here's a more interesting version of Acorn Squash, which I think you'll like as much as I do. It will add a gourmet touch to even the simplest dinner.
Acorn Squash With Gruyere Cheese Sauce
One acorn squash, cut into 2 inch wedges (like melon)
Acorn Squash With Gruyere Cheese Sauce
One acorn squash, cut into 2 inch wedges (like melon)
olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces shredded gruyere cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
1 cup milk, any kind you like
butter and flour to make a roux
1 tsp dried thyme
1tsp dried sage
Cut the squash, remove the seeds, and place in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, or until squash and skin are soft.
While the squash is cooking, prepare a cheese sauce. Take about 2 tablespoons of melted butter, add 1 tablespoon of flour. Make a roux. Add milk, slowly, stirring constantly. Add dried herbs and cheese. Make sure sauce is smooth and thick enough. If it's not thick enough, add a little more flour.
Remove squash from roasting pan and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with cheese sauce, the amount depending on your taste. I like a lot of sauce. Remember, the skin of the acorn squash is edible and delicious, so enjoy it all.
4 ounces shredded gruyere cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
1 cup milk, any kind you like
butter and flour to make a roux
1 tsp dried thyme
1tsp dried sage
Cut the squash, remove the seeds, and place in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, or until squash and skin are soft.
While the squash is cooking, prepare a cheese sauce. Take about 2 tablespoons of melted butter, add 1 tablespoon of flour. Make a roux. Add milk, slowly, stirring constantly. Add dried herbs and cheese. Make sure sauce is smooth and thick enough. If it's not thick enough, add a little more flour.
Remove squash from roasting pan and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with cheese sauce, the amount depending on your taste. I like a lot of sauce. Remember, the skin of the acorn squash is edible and delicious, so enjoy it all.
Friday, December 18, 2015
What is SAWP?
I never knew that parts of Canada were in such need for agricultural manpower that they would go all the way to Mexico and the Caribbean to get such workers, but they do! We were driving around Quebec on our recent tour, and our taxi driver/guide told us about all the temporary guest workers that came to Canada every year for the farming season, earned lots of money, then went back home until the next season.
The program began in 1974 and is called the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. It was established by the governments of Mexico and Canada to respond to the growing need for labor in the Canadian agricultural sector. It's been in existence for over 40 years, but few people know about it. The Mexican and Caribbean laborers are screened, then brought to Canada at the expense of the Canadian government. They are sent to farms, where they receive room and board, $10 an hour pay, and work seven days a week. They usually stay around six months, then go back to Mexico until the next year. They pay no tax on the money they earn, and have virtually no expenses while working, so they make lots of money, probably enough to support their families in Mexico for the entire year.
It's a win/win situation. The Canadians can't find labor to work the farms, and Canadians prefer to eat food that is farmed in Canada rather than import fruits and vegetables. The foreign laborers make a lot of money for themselves as well, so everyone is happy. They have a labor union which protects them, they are entitled to free medical care while in Canada and protected by federal labor laws. I don't know much about the working conditions of the men and women working in American fields, but my guess is they're not as good as they should be. I will look into it soon and see how stack up. I remember years ago when Caesar Chavez was fighting for the rights of farm workers. I know he made some progress, but if it's enough, I don't know. I'll check it out.
The program began in 1974 and is called the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. It was established by the governments of Mexico and Canada to respond to the growing need for labor in the Canadian agricultural sector. It's been in existence for over 40 years, but few people know about it. The Mexican and Caribbean laborers are screened, then brought to Canada at the expense of the Canadian government. They are sent to farms, where they receive room and board, $10 an hour pay, and work seven days a week. They usually stay around six months, then go back to Mexico until the next year. They pay no tax on the money they earn, and have virtually no expenses while working, so they make lots of money, probably enough to support their families in Mexico for the entire year.
It's a win/win situation. The Canadians can't find labor to work the farms, and Canadians prefer to eat food that is farmed in Canada rather than import fruits and vegetables. The foreign laborers make a lot of money for themselves as well, so everyone is happy. They have a labor union which protects them, they are entitled to free medical care while in Canada and protected by federal labor laws. I don't know much about the working conditions of the men and women working in American fields, but my guess is they're not as good as they should be. I will look into it soon and see how stack up. I remember years ago when Caesar Chavez was fighting for the rights of farm workers. I know he made some progress, but if it's enough, I don't know. I'll check it out.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Monitoring Our Solar Energy
Understanding how solar panels collect and store energy is difficult for me , but I do know how to read graphs, and so I am thankful for the monitoring system that comes along with the solar setup. I just click on an icon on my desk top, and instantly I have lots of technical information about how well our panels are operating. There's a 45 minute video that explains how to use and read the monitoring information. It's technical, and neither Ron nor I made it to the end of the video. I doubt if many do.
The most important thing to know is how many kilowatts your panels are producing, and more specifically which panels are NOT producing as much as they should. The latter information is very helpful, as you can figure out why they aren't producing and do something about it. The problem is usually shade, usually from a tree, but possibly from a neighboring house. You can't move the house, but you can trim the tree, and move the panels if they're not in the proper location.
Getting solar is a big step. It's expensive, but statistically we should get our investment back in about 5 1/2 years. Or, you can finance it over 20 years, which doesn't save you much now, but it does get you off traditional electricity and on to solar energy. Not contributing to the bottom line of SDGE warms my heart. Our last bill was $44. Most of that was gas, including a small fee of about $5 for SDGE's collecting and storing our energy. I think that's what they do. If we have extra energy at the end of the year, we sell that to SDGE. How great is that? Even in December with short days of sunlight, we are producing enough to power our house. I'm so happy with our decision to go solar.
The most important thing to know is how many kilowatts your panels are producing, and more specifically which panels are NOT producing as much as they should. The latter information is very helpful, as you can figure out why they aren't producing and do something about it. The problem is usually shade, usually from a tree, but possibly from a neighboring house. You can't move the house, but you can trim the tree, and move the panels if they're not in the proper location.
Getting solar is a big step. It's expensive, but statistically we should get our investment back in about 5 1/2 years. Or, you can finance it over 20 years, which doesn't save you much now, but it does get you off traditional electricity and on to solar energy. Not contributing to the bottom line of SDGE warms my heart. Our last bill was $44. Most of that was gas, including a small fee of about $5 for SDGE's collecting and storing our energy. I think that's what they do. If we have extra energy at the end of the year, we sell that to SDGE. How great is that? Even in December with short days of sunlight, we are producing enough to power our house. I'm so happy with our decision to go solar.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Clean Out Your Spice Cabinet
How often does a recipe call for 1 tsp. of a spice, and for this you either have to buy an entire bottle, or buy a small amount in a little plastic bag? The plastic bag is unlabeled, and I usually end up throwing it out because it is unlabeled. Well, the solution to this problem is to make your own blend of all purpose seasoning, but using up the spices in your kitchen cabinet. Here is a recipe you might like that can be used with seafood, chicken, beef or vegetables. It is best to store it in an air tight container in a dark cupboard. Add more or less of various spices, depending on your taste.
All Purpose Seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 1/2tsp paprika
1 1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tstp red pepper
3/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground bay leaves
1/4 tsp chili powder
Combine all ingredients, store in an airtight container. This is a great hostess gift or holiday gift too. Enjoy
All Purpose Seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 1/2tsp paprika
1 1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tstp red pepper
3/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground bay leaves
1/4 tsp chili powder
Combine all ingredients, store in an airtight container. This is a great hostess gift or holiday gift too. Enjoy
Friday, December 11, 2015
The Disproportionate Risks of Driving While Black
I have though a lot about the topic of "White Privilege" recently An article in the New York Times led me to blog about the vast differences that exist between how blacks are treated and how whites are treated. An examination of traffic stops and arrests in Greensboro, N.C., uncovered wide racial differences in measure after measure of police conduct.
In 2013, Rufus Scales, age 26, was driving his younger brother to a hair cut appointment in a suburban area of the city. Before he knew it, sirens were flashing and two police officers pulled Rufus over for minor infractions that included expired plates and failing to hang a flag from a load of scrap metal. Here's what happened next. Rufus reached to restrain his brother from opening the door and a black officer stunned him with a Taser, while a white officer yanked him from the driver's seat. Temporarily paralyzed by the shock, he fell face down, and was dragged across the asphalt. Today, Rufus doesn't leave home without a hand-held video camera and a business card with a toll-free number for legal help. Sadly, Rufus' experience is not unique.
Documenting racial profiling in police work is a daunting task due to a multitude of factors, including elevated violent crime rates in many black neighborhoods, but we know that there is a wide difference in police conduct based simply on race. In North Carolina, where traffic stops were studied, it was found that officers were more likely to stop black drivers for no discernible reason, and were more likely to use force if the driver was black, even when they did not encounter physical resistance.
In Greensboro, which is 41% black, traffic stops help feed the stream of minor charges that draw a mostly African-American crowd of defendants to the county courthouse on weekday mornings. National surveys show that black and whites use marijuana at the same rate, but black residents in Greensboro are charged with the sole offense of possession of minor amounts of marijuana five times as often as white residents. In addition, more than four times as many blacks as whites are arrested on the sole charge of resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer, an offense so borderline that some North Carolina police chiefs discourage its use unless a more serious crime is involved.
Yes, it is risky to drive while black. Those of us who are white don't think about the possibility of being stopped by police every time we get in our car, but blacks certainly do. I guess this is part of what I call "White Privilege." Just being white entitles you to get in your car and drive without the anxiety that a police car may pull you over for little or no reason. White privilege will be a topic I will blog about another time, but for now, just pay attention to who's getting stopped on the side of the road in your city.
In 2013, Rufus Scales, age 26, was driving his younger brother to a hair cut appointment in a suburban area of the city. Before he knew it, sirens were flashing and two police officers pulled Rufus over for minor infractions that included expired plates and failing to hang a flag from a load of scrap metal. Here's what happened next. Rufus reached to restrain his brother from opening the door and a black officer stunned him with a Taser, while a white officer yanked him from the driver's seat. Temporarily paralyzed by the shock, he fell face down, and was dragged across the asphalt. Today, Rufus doesn't leave home without a hand-held video camera and a business card with a toll-free number for legal help. Sadly, Rufus' experience is not unique.
Documenting racial profiling in police work is a daunting task due to a multitude of factors, including elevated violent crime rates in many black neighborhoods, but we know that there is a wide difference in police conduct based simply on race. In North Carolina, where traffic stops were studied, it was found that officers were more likely to stop black drivers for no discernible reason, and were more likely to use force if the driver was black, even when they did not encounter physical resistance.
In Greensboro, which is 41% black, traffic stops help feed the stream of minor charges that draw a mostly African-American crowd of defendants to the county courthouse on weekday mornings. National surveys show that black and whites use marijuana at the same rate, but black residents in Greensboro are charged with the sole offense of possession of minor amounts of marijuana five times as often as white residents. In addition, more than four times as many blacks as whites are arrested on the sole charge of resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer, an offense so borderline that some North Carolina police chiefs discourage its use unless a more serious crime is involved.
Yes, it is risky to drive while black. Those of us who are white don't think about the possibility of being stopped by police every time we get in our car, but blacks certainly do. I guess this is part of what I call "White Privilege." Just being white entitles you to get in your car and drive without the anxiety that a police car may pull you over for little or no reason. White privilege will be a topic I will blog about another time, but for now, just pay attention to who's getting stopped on the side of the road in your city.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Woodchucks Bring Cheer To Military Children
You may have seen a recent article in the UT about a group of men and women living at Ocean Hills Country Club called the Woodchucks. They are a group of seniors, age 63-96, who love to do woodwork. Each year they work tirelessly to produce cars, trucks ,fire engines, helicopters and pull toys. At the end of they year they donate the toys to the children of military men and women at Camp Pendleton. In addition, they make doll size beds, and the women in the sewing group at OHCC make hand made quilts! Everything is displayed in the clubhouse for all to see and enjoy. Those of us that are not so handy purchase toys, which are also donated to Camp Pendleton.
In all, there will be 5 truckloads of toys going to the children of the military at Camp Pendleton this year. I'm so proud of our community for its effort to make the holiday season a happy one for everyone. The Woodchucks work hard to make this happen. Some spend 20-30 hours per week working on their projects. The result is some beautiful toys, enjoyed by children for years to come. Seniors have so much to offer their community, and the time to do it. Our community of 55+ residents has over 60 different clubs, offering any activity you can possibly think of, from sailing, hiking and fishing, to jewelry making, Chinese watercolor, and working with silver. We have Mah Jongg, bridge, Mexican train, and of course poker. Our theatre arts group puts on plays, and musical groups abound. If you're bored living here, it's your own fault.
I know the Woodchucks are already planning on what they will make for the children next year. They'll take a few weeks off, then be back at work in their workshop, enjoying friendships within the group, and creating beautiful toys for some lucky children.
In all, there will be 5 truckloads of toys going to the children of the military at Camp Pendleton this year. I'm so proud of our community for its effort to make the holiday season a happy one for everyone. The Woodchucks work hard to make this happen. Some spend 20-30 hours per week working on their projects. The result is some beautiful toys, enjoyed by children for years to come. Seniors have so much to offer their community, and the time to do it. Our community of 55+ residents has over 60 different clubs, offering any activity you can possibly think of, from sailing, hiking and fishing, to jewelry making, Chinese watercolor, and working with silver. We have Mah Jongg, bridge, Mexican train, and of course poker. Our theatre arts group puts on plays, and musical groups abound. If you're bored living here, it's your own fault.
I know the Woodchucks are already planning on what they will make for the children next year. They'll take a few weeks off, then be back at work in their workshop, enjoying friendships within the group, and creating beautiful toys for some lucky children.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Bread and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
When I was a kid, one of the favorite dinner meals for my sister and I, when our parents were out for the evening, was a bread and cheese casserole and a cup of tomato soup. My mom would take four slices of bread, butter them on both sides, sprinkle cheese on each slice, then take two beaten eggs, some milk, and pour it over the bread mixture. Cook for about 45 minutes and you have a sort of cheese sandwich/cheese soufflé. It is just delicious, and we ate it all the time I haven't made it in years, and it's now become more of a breakfast or brunch dish. Here is my updated version of the bread and cheese casserole.
Bread and Cheese Casserole
12 slices of bread, day old or fresh
cheddar cheese, about 6 ounces (more if you want it real cheesy) shredded
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
Add in any or all of the following: cooked sausage broken into small pieces, a can of diced green chiles, leftover broccoli, onions or spinach.
Salt and pepper to taste
This recipe serves 6 people. Use any kind of bread you want, and place buttered bread (I use butter but it's really not necessary) on the bottom of a casserole. Meanwhile, take all other ingredients and combine. Pour 1/2 of mixture over the first layer of bread, then put another layer of bread, and pour the remaining cheese, milk and egg mixture over the top. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until custard mixture is set and the top is brown. I think you're going to love this dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Bread and Cheese Casserole
12 slices of bread, day old or fresh
cheddar cheese, about 6 ounces (more if you want it real cheesy) shredded
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
Add in any or all of the following: cooked sausage broken into small pieces, a can of diced green chiles, leftover broccoli, onions or spinach.
Salt and pepper to taste
This recipe serves 6 people. Use any kind of bread you want, and place buttered bread (I use butter but it's really not necessary) on the bottom of a casserole. Meanwhile, take all other ingredients and combine. Pour 1/2 of mixture over the first layer of bread, then put another layer of bread, and pour the remaining cheese, milk and egg mixture over the top. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until custard mixture is set and the top is brown. I think you're going to love this dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Are You Afraid?
Just as the 9/11 attacks changed our lives forever, so too, the Paris attacks have changed Europe. I was glued to the TV for several days after the horrific events in Paris, wanting to hear all the details. The goal of the attackers, besides creating chaos, is to make us all fearful. That was my first response, and I suspect the first response of many people, but after a bit of time, I started to feel angry. How dare these cowards decide that their way is the only way. We need to fight back in a number of ways, but most importantly, by continuing with our way of life. That seems to be what Parisians are doing. After the initial shock of November 13, Paris is bustling with shoppers, lovers and café goers again. Sure, we need to be vigilant, but no, we're not, and Europe is not, going to change their way of life.
One week after the Paris attacks I attended a fund raiser for the Israel Defense Fund. There were many Israelis present, and I had an opportunity to talk to some. They have been dealing with terrorists since the country first began, so they are used to searches on busses, at stadiums, on airplanes and in many public places. It's part of life for them, and it will become part of life for Americans and Europeans. This inconvenience does not affect their way of life, though. It doesn't mean that any of us will stop going to football games, concerts, demonstrations or traveling. It means we will have to endure searches and questioning that we heretofore never did. We will do everything we can to stay safe, but we will not give up our way of life. Israelis have found a way to balance the possibility of terrorism without giving up their way of life. Americans and Europeans will find a way to do this too. We will not let them win. We will not let fear change us. That's what they want, and we won't let them have it.
One week after the Paris attacks I attended a fund raiser for the Israel Defense Fund. There were many Israelis present, and I had an opportunity to talk to some. They have been dealing with terrorists since the country first began, so they are used to searches on busses, at stadiums, on airplanes and in many public places. It's part of life for them, and it will become part of life for Americans and Europeans. This inconvenience does not affect their way of life, though. It doesn't mean that any of us will stop going to football games, concerts, demonstrations or traveling. It means we will have to endure searches and questioning that we heretofore never did. We will do everything we can to stay safe, but we will not give up our way of life. Israelis have found a way to balance the possibility of terrorism without giving up their way of life. Americans and Europeans will find a way to do this too. We will not let them win. We will not let fear change us. That's what they want, and we won't let them have it.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
We've Gone Solar
I like to do what's good for the environment, and I also like to save money. With that in mind, we are now the proud owners of solar power. We're off the grid (pretty much) for electricity. We have sixteen solar panels on the back of our roof, which actually look pretty good. They face west, and will hopefully capture all the sunlight we need to power our home and car. We won't know for a while, as we just got the monitoring system up and running
For years I had wanted an electric car, and about 18 months ago I bought one. I have a Ford C-Max, which gets 20 miles on a charge, then converts to gas, where it gets over 40 miles per gallon. My actual miles per gallon, factoring in electric and gas, is almost 80mpg. I recycle, carpool, reuse, and do just about everything to reduce my footprint. Ron and I both thought that powering our home with solar energy would be a win/win situation. Ron did the math, and with our usage, we should pay for new energy source in about five years. That's assuming the cost of electricity doesn't go up, which it surely will.
I've been told that 10% of California homes will be powered by the sun within the next few years. That means that SDGE and other power companies are going to have 10% less customers. So how are they going to make money? Raise their rates, is what I figure. Right now the government is offering a 30% rebate. This offer runs out soon, but it is a big cost saver. Many people finance their installation, others pay cash. We chose the latter . Never having another SDGE bill was very appealing to us. If we accumulate more energy than we use, we sell it to the electric company for a small fee, and if we need more energy than we produce, we buy energy at a reduced rate.
It's all very complicated, but if you have a solar company out, they will give you all the details. They will examine your last six months SDGE bills and determine whether you will benefit from solar. We just got our monitoring running, so now I can see exactly how much power we are storing each day, and it even tells you which of the 16 panels are most productive. It's a fascinating new industry, with more and more homeowners going solar every day. Just look up at the roofs as you drive around and you'll be amazed how many there are.
For years I had wanted an electric car, and about 18 months ago I bought one. I have a Ford C-Max, which gets 20 miles on a charge, then converts to gas, where it gets over 40 miles per gallon. My actual miles per gallon, factoring in electric and gas, is almost 80mpg. I recycle, carpool, reuse, and do just about everything to reduce my footprint. Ron and I both thought that powering our home with solar energy would be a win/win situation. Ron did the math, and with our usage, we should pay for new energy source in about five years. That's assuming the cost of electricity doesn't go up, which it surely will.
I've been told that 10% of California homes will be powered by the sun within the next few years. That means that SDGE and other power companies are going to have 10% less customers. So how are they going to make money? Raise their rates, is what I figure. Right now the government is offering a 30% rebate. This offer runs out soon, but it is a big cost saver. Many people finance their installation, others pay cash. We chose the latter . Never having another SDGE bill was very appealing to us. If we accumulate more energy than we use, we sell it to the electric company for a small fee, and if we need more energy than we produce, we buy energy at a reduced rate.
It's all very complicated, but if you have a solar company out, they will give you all the details. They will examine your last six months SDGE bills and determine whether you will benefit from solar. We just got our monitoring running, so now I can see exactly how much power we are storing each day, and it even tells you which of the 16 panels are most productive. It's a fascinating new industry, with more and more homeowners going solar every day. Just look up at the roofs as you drive around and you'll be amazed how many there are.
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