Hutchinson Internment Camp

 I learned about Hutchinson Internment Camp while reading  the fascinating book, "The Island of Extraordinary Captives,"  About the people imprisoned at Hutchinson, on The Isle of Man, during World War 11.  I just had to know more.

Hutchinson Internment Camp was a WW 11 internment camp in Douglas, Isle of Man, particulary noted as "the artists" camp due to the thriving artistic and intellectual life of its internees.  The camp housed enemy aliens, civilians who the government believed to be a potential threat and have sympathy with the enemies war objectives.  Almost all of the internees were German or Austrians, living in Britain.  

The internees were not treated as prisoners, and after some initial mistrust, they were allowed to apply to work outside of the camp, predominantly on local farms.  Additionally they carried out professional activities within the camp, tailors, barbers, a Viennese baker and many artists and intellectuals.

At it's height, there were over 1,000 enemy aliens in captivity.  Always want to learn, the internees set up a camp university, holding lectures, and utilizing the talent of scientists, mathematicians, lawyers, philosophers, writes and artists.  This was in addition to the artists and musicians who offered lesson to individual students.  A camp newspaper was produced, written in English, by the internees.  It contained reviews and stories, as well as editorial pieces.  

Hutchinson was renowned for its thriving artistic life.  The art created in the camp ranged from figurative sculpture, graphic art, expressionism, Dadism, engraving, and other styles of art that were being suprpressed within the Third Reich.  Kurt Schwitters, perhaps the most significant artist in the camp, produced over 200 works during his 16 months of internment.  In the field of music, a camp orchestra was formed, led by Professon Kastner, nephew of Thomas Mann.

The camp was closed in March, 1944, and ended an ugly chapter in British history.

New Medications For Weight Loss

Everyone wants to lose weight.  The old fashioned way, reducing your caloric intake and increasing your exercise do work, but many people can't stick with it.  Over the decades, weight loss fads have come and gone, and we now have another diet tool. 

Ozempic and Wegovy are the two new drugs that are touted as a way to lose and control weight.  It's a once a week injection, like an epi-pen, that mimicks a hormone called GLP-1 that taragets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.  The medication is increased gradually over 16-20 weeks to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

Ozempic and Wegovy lower your appetite.  Many  doctors prescribe the injections along with intermitant fasting, also a fairly new weight loss tool.  Doctors also encourage a healthy diet along with exercise.

Because of supply chain issues and the fact that many prescription plans do not pay for the medication, losing weight using one of these medications can be very costly.  It's not a rapid loss plan, like gastric bypass, but a slow, steady weight loss. 

If you are overweight the best thing to do for your body is to shed the excess weight.  Easier said than done.  It took me decades to figure out what works for me.  Whatever plan you decide on, stick with it.  Your heart, lungs, blood pressure, and muscles will thank you.   

New Labor Laws in California

Every January brings a slew of new state laws, too many to enumerate here.  I will tell you about a few of the new labor laws, meant to protect workers.

1.  Senate Bill 62, The Garment Worker Protection Act. This law addresses the proper payment of employees n the garment industry in some very important ways.

2.  Assembly Bill 701.  Warehouse workers in California are protected from quotas that violate labor laws.  Employers must provide information about quotas that employees have to meet while working.

3.  Senate Bill 93 Recall Rights.  Employees of certain hospitality industry employers who were laid off during Covid-19 must be notified of job openings for the same or similar positions as the the ones they last held.  They must be offered jobs with priority.

4.  Senate Bill 3.  Minimum wage $15 an hour.  this bill has been phasing in since 2017.  The increase in minimum wage is different for large employers (26+) and small employers.  If local city or county has adoped a higher minimum wage, employees must be paid the local wage.

5.  Assembly Bill 1066.  Overtime for agriculture workers.  In 2016 agricultural workers started to receive overtime pay on the same basis as workers in most other industries after 40 hours per week.  Larger companies (26+) must pay overtime after 40 hours, smaller companies pay overtime after 55 hours.

So there you have it.  Several of these laws actually took affect in January 2022, but are being gradually phased in.  I hope they help protect workers as they are meant to.

One Of My Favorite Appetizers Ever

 When I was growing up, my parents entertained quite a lot.  Every dinner party began with drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the living room, followed by a delicious  dinner.  When I was young, I would help pass the hors d'oeuvres, and one of my favorites was a mayonnaise, parmesean cheese and onion mixture that was spread on tiny bread rounds and placed under the broiler.  I liked to pass them to her guests, because when they cooled off, I would eat the leftovers, before getting some hot hors d'oeuvres for the guests.  I have remembered this specific hors d'oeuvres all these years, 60 years, yet I have never made it, until now.

Why now?  Well, that's a funny story.  The hors d'oeuvres are made on tiny rounds of very thin sliced bread.  The bread is from Pepperidge Farms, and is extremely hard to find in Southern California, so I ordered a loaf on Amazon, and paid $13.99 for one loaf!

Here's the recipe for these delicious hors d'oeuvres that you won't be able to stop eating.

                                    Mayonnaise, Parmesean Cheese, Onion Rounds

White bread (very thin) Pepperidge Farm bread

1 cup mayonnaise (I used light mayonnaise)

3/4 cup parmesean cheese (use a little more cheese if desired)

1/3 cup finely diced onion

Cut each piece of bread into 4 small rounds (I used a cookie cutter)  You could also use a small water glass to cut rounds)

Spread each round with the mayo mixture.  Place on cookie sheet and place under broiler until golden brown.  Remove and eat!!  They are delicious!!!

This recipe is more than 60 years old but still one of the best hors d'oeuvres ever.

Helpful Household Tips

 I had just gotten my new all electric Chevy Bolt (my second one) back in the rainstorms in January, and my charger wasn't working.  I'd never had a problem before, so at first I thought there was something wrong with the charger.  When I discovered a hissing sound, I thought perhaps water had gotten into the outlet.  I mentioned this to Regina who told me to take my hair dryer out to the garage, plug it into a 110 outlet, and dry the the 240 volt outlet for a few minutes.  Wouldn't you know it worked!!  I was astounded, since I had an electrician out the day before and his thoughts were to have me spend $1000 for an adapter.  Thank you Regina.

That got me thinking about all the household problems and how to solve them.  Here are just a few helpful household tips.(not all of these have been tested by me)

1.  Hold a piece of bread between your teeth while peeling an onion.  It will prevent tears.

2.  Add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to your dishwasher.  Regardless of what kind of soap you use, your dishes will come out shiny and spotless.  (it works, I use vinegar all the time)

3.  Place candles in the freezer for three hours before burning.  They will burn much longer.

4. To remove cooking oil stains from clothes, was with regular shampoo.

5.  Plant mint around your house to prevent mice, rats, ants and fleas.

Brittany Is Finally Home: What About All The Others?

 There are no official statistics on how many Americans have been wrongfully detained in foreign countries, but it seems to be somewhere between 60 and 150.  These are the Americans that are being held by foreign governments.  There are many, many more that are being held by terrorist groups.

The number is on the rise.  State actors such as China, Iran and Russia are targeting U.S. nationals to exert political leverage over Washington.  In order to get these Americans home, there is an emerging threat to national security, given the steep price foreign governments typically demand for a captive's release.  As a result of the increase in Americans being detained, the state department has added a new risk indicator to travel advisories- the "D" indicator- to warn citizens about the risk of wrongful detention.  

Six countries account for 2/3 of the cases.  They are Iran, China, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and Russia.  In 63% of the cases a wrongful detention has ended in a release, rescue or escape.  Negotiations during the first year are critical.  Those held for more than four years have only a 7% chance of ever returning home.

Little known are the name of the American detained abroad, despite their years' long plight, but now, a work of art unveiled in Georgetown puts names and faces to those in captivity, which will be visible to tens of thousands.

There is no good answer to this problem.  Releasing known killers, gun traffickers and the like to get an American citizen home is what is being done.  My heart goes out to Americans being wrongfully detained, and hope we get them all home.  

Have You Ever Eaten Jackfruit?

 Walk into any supermarket today and you will see jackfruit for sale.  It's the biggest fruit you've ever seen, a single jackfruit can weigh up to 40 pounds.  It looks like an oversized mango with green skin and spikes.  There are two varieties of jackfruit- firm, which is crunchier and considered to be of a higher quality, and soft, which has small, spongey flakes and a sweeter flavor.  It is so popular today because it is used as a plant based substitute for meat, although I have never personally tried it.

It's a very healthy alternative to meat.  Here are some nutritional facts.  One cup of jackfruit offers 157 calories, 38 grams of carbohydrate, 2.8 grams of protein, and 2.5 grams of fiber.  It does not offer much protein.  An average chicken breast offers 33.6 grams of protein, so you wouldn't be eating it as a protein source.

Other nutritional benefits include vitamin C.  The seeds of jackfruit are a source of protein, potassium, calcium and iron.  Unlike other fruits, jackfruits contains B vitamins, including B6, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid.

Vegans and vegetarians pair jackfruit with chickpeas, beans and almonds to create some delicious recipes.  The size of it is intimidating, but I will try it one of these days.

How Dolphins Communicate

 Many species in the animal world communicate with each other, but not many to the extent that bottlenose dolphins do.  Their communication is extensive and complex.  A dolphin maintains an intricate social network that includes a few close associates (mother, calves, or pair-bonded males), plus more casual relationships with others who come and go within a larger groups.  They're pretty much like us in this way.  They hunt together.  Pods of dolphins coordinate their movements to herd prey.

In water, sound travels 4-5 times faster than air.  For this reason dolphins rely on sound for communication more than any other mode.  It is believed that every bottle nosed dolphin develops a distinctive high-pitched whistle.  The whistle appears to serve as a means of individual identification.  It lets the rest of the pod know which pod members are nearby.  Dolphins in distress sometimes emit their signature whistle very loudly. If a young dolphin becomes separated from it's mother, they will both whistle frequently until reunited.

Bottlenose dolphins also whistle while foraging on various prey.  If they find a school of potential prey they will vocalize more frequently.  Dolphins are capable of mimicking certain sounds very accurately.  The reason they do this is still being studied.  Body language may also play a role in dolphin communication.  Researchers are still studying the many behaviors observed by dolphins to figure out what they mean.  Bent head, rolling eyes, flex head and tail, headway, play dead and sideways head jerk with open or closed jaw are some of the body language behaviors dolphins exhibit.  They're social animals, just like us, and use both vocal sounds and body language to communicate.

Jazz Ambassadors And The Power Of Music

 Back in the late 1950's, the U.S. State Department started sending began sending musical groups to Eastern Europe and Russia.  It was a new experiment known as "cultural diplomacy."  The State Department hoped that by showcasing popular American music around the world, they would introduce audiences to American culture, and win them over as ideological allies in the cold war.  One such group that did this was the Dave Brubeck Quartet.  They toured Poland, Middle East, parts of Eastern Europe, central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Other tours allowed jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie to trumpet American values in Africa and Asia.

The State Department had first realized jazz's potential as a cold war weapon several years before.  Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a congressman with close ties to the jazz community, first suggested sending jazz musicians around the world on state-sponsored tours.  Gillespie's first tour was a great success, and provided the blueprint for a host of others.

The music of jazz, which was structured around improvisation within a set of commonly agreed-upon boundaries, was a perfect metaphor for America in the eyes of the State Department.  Music tours diffused the cold war conflict.  The power of music:  it brings people together in a special way.  That's why Dizzie Gilespie, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck and others are often called "The Real Ambassadors."

Who Really Wrote Wind of Change?

 In 1990, the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse.  The Berlin Wall had just come down.  A heavy metal band from West Germany called the Scorpions, releases a powerful ballad "Wind of Change."  It becomes the anthem of the peaceful revolution sweeping Europe.  It was one of the biggest rock singles ever.  Some go so far as to say it's the song that ended the Cold War.

Decades later, writer Patrick Radden Keefe heard rumors that the Scorpions didn't actually write "Wind of Change."  The CIA did!  If you like spy thrillers, you will love the podcast Keefe has produced called "Wind of Change."  It's about spies doing the unthinkable, propaganda hidden in pop music, and a maze of government secrets.  Check it out if you like a spy story that seems to wild to believe.  You will be thoroughly entertained by how our government likely used music to achieve our American objectives abroad.

Is There Help For Dyslexic Children?

 Yes, there is help for children and adults with dyslexia.  The challenge is finding that help.  It's the most common learning disability, with up to 20% of children showing some degree of dyslexia.  It needs to be identified early.  If a child is not reading proficiently by the third grade, they are four times less likely to graduate from high school.  Because of this disability, children often become behavior problems in class,  They tune out, as they can't read assignments.  They think of themselves as dumb, of having a small brain.  None of this is true, but getting children the proper help can be a problem

Public schools that identify children as dyslexic are supposed to provide the proper program for them, but most public schools do not have teachers trained in alternative methods of teaching reading.  IEP's (individual educational program) map out a curriculum for dyslexic children.  If the public school cannot provide for them, they are entitled to go to a private school that will meet their needs.  (in some states, not all).  Private schools focusing on dyslexic children are extremely expensive.  They provide a small child/teacher ratio, and offer a multi sensory approach.  

Dyslexic children and adults can learn to read, but will likely not learn under traditional classroom conditions.  Early diagnosis and a good reading curriculum should lead to success for most children.  We don't know yet why some people develop dyslexia and others don't, but hopefully research will soon be available to answer our questions.

Nothing Says Winter Like A Bowl Of Soup

 I love soup, especially hot, steaming soup, in winter.  Right before New Year's I went on a two day cooking spree.  I made several dinners for the future, froze most everything.  One of the things I made that I did not freeze, was a pot of chicken minestrone soup.  It's just like minestrone, but with shredded chicken instead of beef.  (Still watching my WW points).  

I went to Costco, bought a roasted chicken, which soon became green chile verde chicken enchiladas, chicken salad, a little bit of scraps for Pepper, and a big pot of Chicken Minestrone.  Here's how I made it.

                                                   Chicken Minestrone Soup

5 cups chicken broth (Winco has 32 oz. cartons for 99cents)

2 cups shredded chicken

1 bunch kale

1/2 diced onion

2 cloves garlic

1 can chick peas

2 carrots, cut in rounds

10 ounces of canned diced tomatoes

1sliced zucchini

1/4 cup uncooked orzo (or other small pasta)

Parmesean cheese for topping, optional

Parmesean cheese rind (if you have it)

                          Chicken Minestrone Soup

Brown onions and garlic for 5 minutes.  Add all ingredients except chicken (and parmesean) and cook until veggies are tender.  Add shredded chicken and cook for 10 minutes.  If you have a piece of parmesean cheese rind, throw it in the pot.  It will add a little salty taste to the soup.  

To serve, heat well and add fresh parmesean to the top.  Be sure to remove the parmesean rind before serving.  I think this will be come a winter time favorite for you, as it is for me.