Who Are The Yazidis?

I'm in the process of reading a book called Last Girl by Nadia Murad.  It's about a Yazidi girl in Iraq who was captured by Isis, who raped and  tortured her.  She was a Yazidi, a religious minority in Iraq, living in near Mt. Sinjar.  I wanted to know more about the religion and understand how people can hate another group of people because of their beliefs so much.  I learned quite a bit about Yuzidis, but I'll never understand the hate that caused genocide of their people by Isis.

Globally, Yuzidis number about 700,000, with the vast majority of them concntrated in northern Iraq, in and around Sinjar.  They are an historically misunderstood group.  Ethnically, they are predominantly Kurdish, but they are not Muslim.  They have kept alive their syncretic religion for centuries, despite years of oppression and threatened extermination.  The religion is derived from Zoroastrianidm.  The religion takes elements from both Christianity and Islam.  They worship a fallen angel, Melek Tawwus.  Melek Tawwus was forgiven and returned to heaven by God.  Because of this, Yazidis have a reputation for being devil worshippers, which has turned life threatening.

Under Ottoman rule in the 18th and 19th centuries alone, Yazids were subject to 72 genocidal massacres.  In 2007, hundreds of Yazidis were killed as a spate of car bombs ripped through their stronghold in northern Iraq.  Al-Qaida denounced them as infidels, which was sanctioned indiscriminate killing.  Much of what Isis did to the Yazidi community is discussed in Last Girl.

Last Girl is interesting, yet difficult to read.  It's not for everyone.  I found the religion fascinating.  A little bit of  Judeo Christian philosophy mixed in with ideas I had never heard of.  I still can't come to grips with the hatred of one group for another because of their beliefs.  It's just another example of the many wars in history that have taken place over religion.

Buona Forchetta Comes To Encinitas

Buona Forchetta, a little family run Italian restaurant opened in 2011 in South Park.  It was an immediate hit.  So, several years later a second one opened in Liberty Station.  Now we have Buona Forchetta in Encinitas.  It's right on the coast, just a few blocks north of Encinitas Blvd.  It's a small restaurant with maybe 10 tables inside and another 10 tables on the outside, heated patio.  Reservations are only accepted for parties of 6 or more.  So, if you go, go early.  It's worth it.

Fran and I had lunch there in November after the restaurant had only been open for two weeks.  Service was friendly and efficient, and food was delicious.  Specials of the day are listed on a blackboard each day, and include heartier meals  like risotto and shrimp, several fish dishes with pasta, etc.  The regular menu is moderately priced.  Pizzas, which serve 2-3 people, range in price from $8-$16.  They must have a dozen or more varieties.  The dough is delicious.  Thin in the middle and puffed up and bubbly around the edges.  They have hand made pizza ovens where temperatures range from 700-1,000 degrees.

Starters are abundant and interesting.  Pizza in a jar, fried calamari, meatballs and octopus are just a few of the choices.  Salads are delicious.  Pastas are home made and several sauces are available.  We didn't eat dessert, but they have many home made desserts, including tiramisu.  Buona Forchetta is a great spot for lunch or dinner.  It's not expensive and the food is fantastico!

Simple Apple Tart

Count on Ina Garten when you're looking for a simple recipe that's delicious.  I followed her recipe for apple tart and was delighted with the result.  The best part was you can make the dough and keep it on hand in the refrigerator, then when you want to make your tart, it only takes about 10 minutes to put together.  Here's the recipe, and of course a picture of the finished product.

Crust

2c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 T. sugar
12 T. diced cold butter
1/2 c. ice water

Pulse first three ingredients in food processor until mixed.  Add the butter until mixture is crumbly, then slowly add ice water.  Remove mixture and knead for a few minutes until everything is incorporated.  Do not over mix. Form into a big disc, then wrap well in plastic wrap and refrigerate.  All it to rest for at least an hour.  I made the dough two days in advance, and it came out great.

When ready to assemble, roll dough on a floured board and cut into a large rectangle, then place on a cookie sheet.

Filling

4 large apples, peeled, cored and cut in 1/4inch slices
1/2 granulated sugar

Prepare apples and assemble them on the crust.  Fan them out so they overlap.  Sprinkle with granulated sugar, and 1/2 stick of cold butter, diced.  Cook in a hot, 450 degree oven, for 45 minutes.  That was Ina's recommendation, but I found the crust a little too cooked, so I would start to watch it at 35 minutes.  Allow tart to cool, then heat some apricot jam, add a little Calvados (if you have it).  If not, just thin the jam with a little water, paint the top of the tart with the apricot jam.

If you really want to be fancy, serve it with a dollop of creme fraiche, whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  This tart is delicious and so easy to make.  Enjoy!

Ending World Poverty

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Ending extreme poverty around the world has a deadline: 2030.  At least that is the date set by the World Bank, the main global organization that fights it. The World Bank recognizes that achieving this objective within 15 years will be difficult -- but not impossible -- despite the global economic slowdown, the end of the commodities boom and capital flight from emerging markets.
Reasons for optimism include the fact that this year, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty around the world will fall below 10%. In other words, people whose income falls below US$1.90 per day, according to the global poverty line recently adjusted by the World Bank.
According to the experts, the implementation of poverty reduction policies for more than a quarter century is responsible for this decline.

•  According to the most recent estimates, in 2013, 10.7 percent of the world’s population lived on less than US$1.90 a day, compared to 12.4 percent in 2012. That’s down from 35 percent in 1990. 
• Nearly 1.1 billion people have moved out of extreme poverty since 1990. In 2013, 767 million people lived on less than $1.90 a day, down from 1.85 billion in 1990. 

While poverty rates have declined in all regions, progress has been uneven:

• The reduction in extreme poverty between 2012 and 2013 was mainly driven by East Asia and Pacific (71 million fewer poor)—notably China and Indonesia—and South Asia (37 million fewer poor)—notably India. 
• Half of the extreme poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The number of poor in the region fell only by 4 million with 389 million people living on less than US$1.90 a day in 2013, more than all the other regions combined. 
• A vast majority of the global poor live in rural areas and are poorly educated, mostly employed in the agricultural sector, and over half are under 18 years of age.
• These statistics all concern extreme poverty.  You have probably noticed that the U.S. and Western Europe do not have extreme poverty.  The percentage of countries with extreme poverty has dropped from over 50% in 1981, to less than 10% in 2017.  The World Bank Group is leading the way on ending extreme poverty by 2030.  I hope  they can reach that goal.

Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?

It's been a question we've asked for years, and there have been many scientific studies to determine the answer.  Is it hard work, X and Y chromosomes, lifestyle, lots of testerone and not much estrogen, or something else?  It's hardly likely that hard  work leads to a shorter life, but the biological makeup of men may have a lot to do with longevity.  Women have 2X chromosomes, which is helpful to them as cells age.  They have another cell that can take over for the aging cell.  This is not so for men, who have an X and a Y chromosome.

Studies have found that testosterone may be the culprit.  Studies with Korean monks (eunuchs) found that  castrated males lived significantly longer than other males.  On the other hand, estrogen works as an antioxident, meaning it mops up poisonous chemicals that cause cells stress.  So men, all that testosterone that creates a hairy chest, big muscles and a deep voice, may be hurting you in the long run.

Personally, I think that stress has a great deal to do with longevity, and women typically handle stress better than men.  I'm sure some will disagree with me, but studies show that this is true.  Stress can lead to disease, especially cardiovascular disease, and men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease than women.  Stress also leads to an inability of the body to fight off other illnesses.  When do you get sick?  When you're run down and stressed.

So women, keep doing what you're doing.  Throughout the world, through the generations, women have had longer life expectancies, and that doesn't seem to change.  Men, well, I don't know what to say.  Getting rid of your testicles seems to be a little extreme.  Just keep your life balanced, learn to deal with stress, and stay healthy.  Here in Ocean Hills there are many men and women over 95, and if you ask each one of them, they'll each have a different recipe for longevity.  There is no simple answer.

Cheating: You Can Find It Everywhere

One of the main tenants of cardiology, is that the heart cannot regenerate.  So, years ago when Dr. Piero Anversa announced that his scientific research showed that the heart could grow new heart cells and replace those lost in heart attacks and heart failure  the medical community was very optimistic.  It now appears that data was falsified and the heart cannot regenerate

His studies took place at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital.  He falsified some data to obtain funding from the NIH.   It was discovered that over 30 of his scientific studies over a decade, contained falsified and fabricated data.

Corruption can obviously take place anywhere from Wall Street, to the President, to laboratories conducting scientific experiments at our most esteemed institutions of higher learning.  To think that someone would falsify data in order to better their own career is unthinkable, but in this day and age,  anything goes.

Dr. Anversa continues to deny he has done anything wrong.  He says a rogue colleague took his data and altered it.  Dr. Anversa is now 80 years old, and lives in disgrace in New York.  He says he spent a lifetime on this important work, and the allegations against him are untrue.  No one knows the truth, but it's sad to see criminal behavior at the highest levels of science.

Raising Cane's Comes To Vista

How can a restaurant survive serving just one thing?  Well, Raising Cane's has thrived, and all they serve is one thing:  chicken fingers.  I don't even like chicken fingers, but I had to go by the old Famous Dave's in Vista, which is now Raising Cane's.  I've been there once, driven by it several times, and found there always to be a long line waiting at the drive thru, and the inside and outside seating areas full.

Here's what you get:several chicken fingers, cooked to a nice golden brown, crinkle fries, cole slaw and Texas toast.  What is Texas toast you might ask?  It's a thick slice of bread, a nice spread of melted butter and garlic, then put on the grill for a few minutes.  Actually, it's pretty good.  The fries are cooked to order in canola order, so they're always fresh.  Let me just say that chicken fingers are not my thing, but obviously plenty of people like them.  There are several sauces to go with the chicken fingers, for dipping.  My grandkids love them, but adults must be eating them too.  It's a franchise, with locations in California and Arizona.  If you're looking for a change from Popeye's or KFC, Raising Cane's might be for you.

Reese's Stuffed Rice Crispies Treat

I love peanut butter, so when I saw this recipe for rice crispies treats adding Reese's peanut butter cups, I had to try them.  Wow, is all I can say.  If you're not making for yourself, you will surely want to make them for your grandchildren.  They're going to love them.

                        Reese's Stuffed Rice Crispies Treats


3T. melted butter
3T. melted peanut butter
1 package mini marshmallows
6cups rice crispies
Reese's peanut butter cups

Combine butter, peanut butter, marshmallows and rice crispies thoroughly.  Line 8X11 pan with wax paper, then spray with Pam.  Press 1/2 of rice crispies mix into the pan.  Then, place peanut butter cups on top of the mix, covering the whole pan.  Cover with the remaining rice crispies.  For an added touch, melt a little butter and peanut butter, and drizzle each on top of the mixture.  The heat from the rice crispies will melt the peanut butter cups.  When cool, cut into squares and enjoy.  These are a real decadent treat for those of us who love peanut butter.

Nobel Prize Controversies

I've been reading a book, The Demon Under the Microscope, which although a little too scientific for me, is quite interesting.  It's about the discovery of sulfa in the 1930's and how it changed medicine.  Many of the scientists featured in the book were German.  Germany, from the beginning of the 20th century, was a powerhouse in the field of medicine.  Chemistry and physics were their forte, and the training received in Germany was the best in the world, so many important discoveries came from Germany.

When Hitler came to power, this all changed.  Jewish scientists were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.  What caught my attention in the book, was that Germans who were awarded the Nobel Prize in the 1930's were not allowed to accept the award.

The prize of 1935 for chemistry was retroactively awarded one year later to Carl von Ossietzky, a German pacifist who had been convicted of high treason and espionage for exposing German re-armament. In an unprecedented move, King Haakon VII of Norway was absent from the award ceremony, two committee members resigned in protest, and the Norwegian conservative press, including leading daily Aftenposten, condemned giving the award to a convicted criminal. Ossietzky, interned in the concentration camp Esterwegen and severely ill with tuberculosis, accepted the award by letter but was prevented from traveling to Oslo. The award led to Adolf Hitler's forbidding any German to receive any of the Nobel Prizes in the future, and his prize was not allowed to be mentioned in the German press. In 1932, Gerhard Domagk discovered Prontosil, the first of the sulfa drugs.  He won the Nobel Prize for this discovery, but was not allowed to accept it.  It wasn't until 1947 that his discovery was finally acknowledged, when he traveled to Oslo to receive his prize.

The Nobel Prize was set up after the death of Alfred Nobel, and was first awarded in 1901 for service to humanity in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace.  (other categories were added later).  The prizes have occasionally engendered critici sm and controversy, mostly in the field of literature.  77% of physics prizes have been given for discoveries, not inventions, and the prize is often a reward for contributions over an lifetime, not just work from one year.

The reason that German scientists were not acknowledged as Nobel Prize winners during the 1930"s was that Carol vo Ossietzky outspoken rejection of Nazi dogma infuriated Hitler.  No Germans could accept the award during the 1930"s, in fact recipients of the award had to sign letters refusing to accept the award.  Germans made some amazing discoveries that helped humanity, but were not allowed world wide recognition.  The most ironic fact I discovered while researching this blog was that Adolf Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1939.  They did not give an award that year for peace.

Carroll Spinney To Retire

The man behind the voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, Carroll Spinney, is retiring after 50 years.  Wow, he was the voice of two of the most iconic children's characters for decades.  Many children grew up with these characters.  A new voice will take his place and hopefully continue Sesame Street for many years to come.

The news of Spinney's retirement got me thinking about Sesame Street and its' impact on children.  My children grew up on Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers.  Every morning before the carpool arrived, David and Phil would be sitting in front of the TV, learning to count, sing, read, and be good members of their community.  Sesame Street helped kids learn their numbers and letters.  It also helped them understand the world around them, appreciate our differences and accept them.

Brian was two years old when Sesame Street first came on the air.  He had two working parents, so Sesame Street was part educator and part baby sitter.  David and Phil started watching Sesame Street regularly when they were around 2 1/2 years old.  It helped them learn their colors, count, numbers, letters, you name it.  Through the years, songs were written to help children through all kinds of tough situations.  Whatever would we do without Sesame Street?

Childrens television shows come and go, but Sesame Street has been around for more than 50 years.  Anyone who is anyone in the field of music, dance and film, has done an episode of Sesame Street.  The voice of Carroll Spinney is one we will not soon forget.  His characters will live on with someone else taking over the voices, but the voices Spinney created will live on forever.

Joseph Lister Discovered Listerine

Did you ever wonder how Listerine got its name?  It is named after Joseph Lister, who developed Listerine in 1879.  The slogan "Kills germs that cause bad breath " was used for decades.  Listerine was originally sold by Lambert Pharmacy.  Later, Listerine continued to be sold by Warner-Lambert, and today, by Johnson and Johnson.  Listerine made claims that eventually were found to be false.  They claimed that Listerine could help cure colds and sore throats.  Their advertising was changed to prevent the public from falsely believing that Listerine could cure colds. 

Listerine was invented in the nineteenth century as powerful a surgical antiseptic. It was later sold, in distilled form, as both a floor cleaner and a cure for gonorrhea. But it wasn't a runaway success until the 1920s, when it was pitched as a solution for "chronic halitosis" — a then obscure medical term for bad breath. Listerine's new ads featured forlorn young women and men, eager for marriage but turned off by their mate's rotten breath. "Can I be happy with him in spite of that?" one maiden asked herself. Until that time, bad breath was not conventionally considered such a catastrophe. But Listerine changed that. As the advertising scholar James B. Twitchell writes, "Listerine did not make mouthwash as much as it made halitosis." In just seven years, the company's revenues rose from $115,000 to more than $8 million.

Joseph Lister was a pioneer of antiseptic surgery.His discovery has helped kill germs for 140 years!  I doubt he was properly compensated for his contribution to the prevention of bad breath.

Betty Grissom Dies at 91

Betty Grissom, wife of Virgil (Gus)Grissom, recently passed away.  Her husband Gus, was killed by an electrical fire on the launchpad in 1967, at age 40.  She sued a NASA contractor for wrongful death, and ultimately received $350,000.  (over $2.2 million today)

Gus Grissom was one of seven Mercury astronauts.  He was the second man in space, behind Alan Shepard.  He was the command pilot of Apollo 1, and intended to test the Apollo for flights to the moon.  The electrical fire occurred during routine testing, killing all three astronauts on board.

Four years after the accident, Betty Grissom decided to sue North American Rockwell, since the government cannot be sued.  Although the two year statue of limitations on wrongful death had expired, the general negligence statue of four years had not expired.  She sued, and won.  Her lawyer said that the astronauts had a right to expect that their capsule would be properly designed, and it was not.  Betty's action brought considerable grief to her and her family, many friends and strangers calling her unpatriotic and shunning her.  However, she never regretted the lawsuit.  Her suit paved the way for the other two families to receive compensation without having to go to court.

Pride By The Beach

On any weekend, in any town, you will find street fairs.  The one I went to on Mission Avenue in Oceanside was different than any one I had been to before.  It was called Pride By the Beach, and was sponsored by the North County LGBTQ.   The mission statement of the orginization is to foster and empower North County LGBTQ community and provide a safe space to sustain equalityand inclusiveness.

I have not seen such a diverse group of presenters in quite a while.   The US Army, several churches of all faiths, political booths for individuals or propositions on the ballot, Community Resource Center, and dozens of LGBTQ organizations to protect gay and lesbian citizens from inequality in housing, work and society.  People of all types were walking around the fair, gathering information and having a good time.  So many services are available for people in need, not just in the gay community, but everywhere.  It's a matter of knowing where to go to access assistance.

Fairs such as Pride By The Beach get the word out that there is a lot of help available for those in the LGBTQ community.  They face unique problems, and luckily we are living in an era where they can get counseling and meet with others like themselves, to discuss their unique issues.  I was so happy to see a broad cross section of the community supporting the fair.  It gives me hope that there are lots of people that want equality and inclusiveness for all.

One More Chance For The Carnegie Deli

About two years ago, one of the most iconic delicatessens in the country closed for good.  Or so we thought.  But wait, thanks to Amazon Prime Video (who else?) the deli is returning for one week only as a pop up restaurant at 201 LaFayette Street in New York City.  The reason is that Amazon Prime is using the Carnegie in the promotion of its new season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.  The Carnegie Deli will be serving sandwiches at the La Fayette St. location from December 1-8.  The price of a sandwich ?  Just $1!!! Yes, $1 will get you a good, greasy, overstuffed corned beef sandwich, the kind you probably love.  So, if you're going to New York during this time, or know people who are, tell them about this one week only bargain.  Not only will they get a great sandwich, but they might even get to see the crew filming.

Environmentalist GD Agarwal dies in Rishikesh

GD Agarwal, an environmentalist on a mission to save Ganga, died recently, the result of a 111 day fast, demanding a clean Ganga.  He died of a heart attack.  The 86 year old former professor had been on a hunger strike for 111 days, for a pollution free and uninterrupted flowin the Ganga.

Agarwal had demanded that steps be taken to make the river free-flowing for natural cleansing, and also wanted a ban on construction of all hydroelectric projects along the tributaries of the Ganga.  Letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had pledged four years ago that immediate steps would be taken to ensure cleaning of the holy river.  Nothing was ever done.

Activists and politicians criticized the government for not listening to Agarwal.  There are so many ways to protest.  How far would you go to protest an injustice?  I certainly admire his passion, but death by starvation to get the government to clean up a holy river, would be a bridge too far, for me.

An Almost Two Week Driving Trip Continued

If it's Saturday morning in late September, it must be soccer time.  All three grandchildren had soccer games.  Because of the thick grass, it was difficult for Ron to watch the games, so he stayed home (at Phil's) and relaxed.  We returned to Phil's house in Boulder in early afternoon, and had a delicious lunch, using mostly veggies he grew in his garden.  He has so much fruit and produce he doesn't know what to do with it, so he is busy canning applesauce and apple cider, canning tomatoes and beets, and pickling just about everything.  We had pickled cabbage (sauerkraut), pickles, pickled carrots and sliced yellow and heirloom tomatoes for lunch, along with grilled bratwurst.  Wonderful!  The afternoon was spent relaxing and watching the children play.  Dinner was thick a ribeye steak grilled to perfection, with more veggies from Phil's garden in the form of ratatouille.  Ron, who usually hates veggies, ate tomatoes, eggplant and peppers!

The following day David, Tracy and Calvin came to Phil's for an afternoon of fun, climbing trees, chasing each other around the yard, and dining on a delicious paella.  What a wonderful time we had in Colorado.  Nothing is better than seeing your children and grandchildren happy and thriving.

The only glitch in our road trip took place when we went to check in to our hotel in Albuequerque.  They did not have a handicapped accessible room as they had promised, and we had prepaid.  We ended up going to a nearby Hampton Inn, which has fantastic facilities for handicapped travelers.  We will deal with Wyndham, who did not have the proper room for us, at another time.  We left early the next day for Phoenix, having gotten a heads up on rain, wind and possible flash floods that may be in our path.  We made it to Phil and Ellen's house in Paradise Valley around 3pm.  I was exhausted.

Because of the torrential rains that had taken place, half of the shale mountain above their house had slipped, and was in the driveway and side of the house.  They had to hire tractors to come in the following day, and it two days to remove all the rock and mud.  It's not over yet, as they will now have to hire a civil engineer to access the situation and decide if a retaining wall is necessary.

Ron's high school friend Earl, flew in from Chicago, to visit.  They were best buddies for much of their teen age years, have both faced significant health challenges in the past few years, so the two days they spent together was very special.  There were many stories told and lots of laughs.  Our time in Phoenix ended on a very somber note, as Phil and Ellen's beloved Homer, a 16 wonder dog, who had withstood heart surgery and much more, died.  I felt so sad for them, remembering the end of Barney's life after many surgeries and 19 wonderful years.

Not once during the trip did Ron say he wanted to go home.  Visiting with family and dear friends from high school, is good medicine.  We both had wonderful time and are already planning our next adventure.

An Almost Two Week Driving Trip For Susie and Ron

Ron and I have traveled the world, from London and Paris, to Turkey, Japan, Cuba and West Africa, and dozens of places in between.  Every trip we have ever taken always seems a few days too long for Ron.  He is longing for home, his own bed, his dog, several days before the trips end.  Not so on this last trip.  We started our driving trip on a Monday, and 13 days later returned home.  Ron says that he never longed for home on this driving trip.  Why?

This was really our first long driving trip, ever.  Once, about 40 years ago, we drove to the Grand Canyon, but that was quick and easy.  This time we drove to Basalt, Denver, Boulder, Phoenix and back to Los Angeles.  I figure we drove about 2,200 miles in all, and we both had a wonderful time.  Of course knowing that our dog Pepper was well cared for by Grandma and Chayo, eased our minds.  We began our driving on a Tuesday morning, had lunch at Steak and Shake in the Southpoint Hotel in Las Vegas, then Ron played two hours of poker while I relaxed at the pool.  At 3pm we were off for Cedar City, Utah, our first overnight.

Traveling with a disabled person is new to me, and quite a challenge.  Ron was a bit nervous, as he knows things might go wrong, and he doesn't like that.  Fortunately our first hotel was perfect, with a roll in shower, bars in the bathroom, and wide spaces in the room.  We had a nice barbeque dinner at Charlies, really delicious, and got to bed early, as we had a long drive the following day.

The drive through Utah into Colorado was spectacular.  Pictures would not show the true beauty, so we just enjoyed the drive.  We arrived around 4pm in Basalt, a small town near Aspen, to spend the evening with Ian and Carol.  They made a delicious dinner and we sat around and watched some political TV.  The supreme court hearings were in full swing, and there was much to talk about.  We loved our visit with them, and hope to see them in the spring in Phoenix, where they spend half the year.

Another long day of driving and we ended up in Denver.  David, Tracy and Calvin live in Centennial now, having just bought a beautiful home there.  We spent the afternoon with them, then freshened up before dinner at a Littleton sports bar.  It was Monday night, and the men didn't want to miss any football action.  Calvin is growing up so fast!  He's talking up a storm, and is in constant motion.  Just an adorable little child.

The next day was spent with David and his family.  Around 5pm Phil and his wife and children came from Boulder, for a big family dinner.  Chicken, corn on the cob, and a big caesar salad were devoured, followed by cookies and cake.  It was great to see the kids enjoying each other.  I'm sorry that they don't get to spend more time together.

I'm a little long winded, so I will finish our adventures in my next post.  Bye for now.

The Rights of Saudi Women

Although the right of women in Saudi Arabia to drive was granted last year, very little in a woman's world has changed there.  When women first received the right to drive, licenses were slow to be given out.  Things are better now, but much of how women are treated in Saudi Arabia has not changed.

Women are still unable to interact with men, unless they are related.  In public, they must have a male relative with them at all times.  Also, Saudi women are not allowed to swim in public.  How could they?  They would surely not be allowed to wear a bathing suit.  Women in this highly restrictive society cannot wear clothes or make up that show off their beauty.  They are unable to try on clothes in a shopping center, because the idea of them undressing in a dressing room is unthinkable. I have heard that in private, wealthy Saudi women wear very expensive designer clothes and makeup.  Only other women see how beautiful they really are.

Until the last Olympics, Saudi women were unable to compete in international sports.  As it turned out, the few women that did compete in the last Olympics were called prostitutes by the religious clerics.

Giving women the right to drive has helped improve the economy of Saudi Arabia.  Now women are more likely to work and shop, even if they need a male relative with them for shopping.  Saudi Arabia operates under Sharia Law, with strict punishment for those that break the rules.  With the #me too movement taking off worldwide, Saudi Arabia will be forced to rethink their treatment of women, and loosen men's dominance.  I hope this happens soon.  These women have suffered long enough.

Blintze Casserole=Brunch Favorite

I was having David's family and some friends for brunch, and I wanted to serve something that was quick and easy.  I wanted to spend my time with my guests, not in the kitchen.  I made a long time favorite, blintz casserole, and everyone raved.  Here was the menu:  Frozen blintz egg casserole served with sour cream and jam, vanilla flavored Greek yogurt with granola and fresh fruit, Cherry and cheese danish, coffee and juice.  I had some leftovers, which I enjoyed the following day for lunch and froze the rest of the extra blintzes for a later meal.  Here's the quick and easy recipe of the blintze casserole.

                                       Blintze Casserole

2 packages of Golden cheese filled blintzes, frozen
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup orange juice + orange rind
4 eggs
2 T. melted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 T real vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar mixture to sprinkle on top

Place 12 frozen blintzes side by side in a pyrex dish.  Blend all ingredients except the cinnamon sugar mixture, and pour over blintzes.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.  Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until dish is puffed up and golden brown.  Let dish rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve with sour cream and jam.  If you like, you could use flavored Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.  It is always a crowd pleaser, and so easy to make.  Serves 6-8 people.

Hurricanes and Climate Change

No one can deny that the number of hurricanes and the intensity of these storms has increased dramatically over the past several decades.  Most scientists say that global warming has much to do with this.  As the earth has warmed (that's a fact), the sea levels have risen and precipitation from storms has increased.  Those that live in the Carolinas, Florida, Bahamas, and to a lesser extent other coastal areas in the Carribbean and Atlantic, should get used to a minimum of one storm per year.  Just as soon as they finish cleaning up from one storm, along comes another.

Satellite technology has made it easier to predict when and how hard hurricanes will hit, but nothing can be done about the fact that they will hit, and devastate homes, communities, and lives.  Accurate prediction makes it easier to prepare for evacuation, and there is less chance of loss of life.

For anyone who denies climate change and thinks that what's happening to our earth is just cyclical, please wake up.  Here is a chart showing the amount and frequency of hurricanes over the past 150 years.  It doesn't look good.   If we don't take care of our planet, the earth will continue to heat, sea levels will continue to rise, hurricanes will continue to increase in strength and frequency.  Look no further than the cliffs in Southern California, along Torrey Pines, La Jolla and Solana Beach.  Find a picture of what the cliffs looked like back in the 1970's, and you'll know what's in store for beachfront property.  We love where we live.  Let's all protect it.

What To Do With Red Snapper

My neighbor Max is quite the fisherman.  Every few months he goes out with a group, and usually comes back with quite a catch.  Last time he went, he returned with lots of red snapper and dorado.  Since I help (with another neighbor) take care of his 14 year old dog Sausage while he is gone, he rewards me with fish.  This time it was several nice pieces of red snapper.  One night I marinated the fish in some Italian dressing, then grilled it on the barbeque.  It was delicious.  Ron is not a real fish lover, so I decided to try something else with the rest of the red snapper.  Here's what I did.

Jewish deli's always have a whitefish spread on the menu.  I decided to try a red snapper spread.  It was fantastic.  I spread it on bagels or crackers.  Great as an appetizer or even as a sandwich.

One nice piece of red snapper
Mayonnaise
Sour cream
Horse radish or hot sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper

Season the fish, then grill in a pan until cooked.  Let it cool, then shred it.  In another bowl, add all the other ingredients, then mix in the fish.  Sorry I can't give you the amounts, but it should look similar to tuna salad.  Not too much mayonnaise, you can always add more.  I used horse radish, just enough to give it a little kick, but you could also use tabasco or other hot sauce.

The red snapper spread was a big hit!  I kept the spread in the refrigerator for about 5 days.  Then I got rid of what was left.  (not very much).  I didn't want to take any chances.  I assume you could use any mild fish, so next time you have fish ready to cook and you don't feel like having it as a main course, make it into a sandwich spread.  Delicious.

Queso Fundido or Queso Flameado Are Both Delicious

Is there anything better than melted cheese?  The Mexican version of Swiss fondue is called queso fundido.  It's delicious, and you'll find it in most Mexican restaurants, usually as an appetizer.  In Mexico, home cooks use  it as an appetizer too, while grilling meats and chilis on the barbeque.  There are many variations to the traditional, so here's the basic recipe that you can spice up any way you choose.

                                Queso Fundido or Queso Flameado

Cheese, either mozzarella, Monterrey jack, muenster or Oaxaca (found in Mexican markets), or a combination of any of these.  Place grated cheese, or cheese cut into small pieces in a skillet, place in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling.  Do not overcook, or the cheese will become tough and rubbery.  Remove from oven, and serve with  home made corn chips, or flour tortillas, cut into triangles.  What could be easier and more delicious?  Or, take some chorizio, brown in a pan for 6-7 minutes, then pat it with a paper towel, and sprinkle on top of the bubbling cheese.  Finally, for queso flameado (flaming cheese), pour a little brandy on top of the cheese, and light on fire.  Any way you choose to make queso fundido, you'll love it.  Gooey, bubbly cheese with tortilla chips.  What could be better?

Great Smog of London

Since the 13th century, London has been known for its poor air quality.  The worst episode took place in December 1952, which led to many deaths and changes in the law.  Here's what happened.

From December 5-9, 1952, a great smog covered all of London.  Cold weather combined with an anticyclone and windless condition, collected airbourne pollutants (mostly from coal), to create this condition.  The entire city was blanketed with smog, so thick, that you could not see even 5 feet in front of you.  4,000 died as a result of the great smog, although the number has recently been revised upwards to 6,000.  Over 100,000 people were made ill by the effects on the respiratory tract.

The good news is that the great smog led to changes in environmental research, government regulation and public awareness of the relationship between air quality and health, and finally, to the Clean Air Act of 1956.

Interestingly, as soon as the weather changed, the smog disappeared.  It was a perfect storm.  All the conditions were right for smog, and as soon as those conditions ceased to exist, the smog was gone.  Four years to get a Clean Air Act passed.  The British Parliament works about as slowly as our Congress!

Personal Responsibility

It's just days before one of the most important elections of our life.  The results will shape the future of our democracy for years to come.  If you like our president, like his lies, his disparaging remarks about the character of anyone who doesn't agree with him, his lack of respect for women, his put downs of any immigrant group that isn't white as rapists, murderers or terrorists, his lack of curiousity about the world and the issues he's supposed to be dealing with, and his lack of personal responsibility for his part in any serious action that takes place in our country that his language and actions may have contributed to, then vote like minded men and women that are running for office.  If, on the other hand, you are as distressed as I am over the direction our country is taking, the effort to silence the press,  remove controls that help the environment, rile up crowds and put fear into the hearts of Americans and ignore advice from his generals as to how to handle foreign affairs, then you should think about voting for NEW men and women, who want to get America back on course.

I saw this quote by Ronald Reagan and thought it was most appropriate.  Not only should our  president be accountable for his actions, but we too, are responsible for what we do, say, and think.  As Willie Nelson  says, our biggest gun is the ballot box.  Go out and vote.  If you don't like what's going on, VOTE!

Bar Bodega For Great Tapas

In September our lunch bunch went back to Little Italy.  There are so many good restaurants, and new ones popping up all the time.  We enjoyed a feast at Bar Bodega, on Kettner.  It's a new dining spot, great for lunch, happy hour, or a light dinner.  Drinks are plentiful.  We had a pitcher of red Sangria, made with Spanish wine.  Delicious and not too sweet.  We had a number of tapas, maybe six or seven, which we shared, plus, since it was Tuesday taco day and tacos were half price, we all had a taco.  I had the lamb taco with cilantro and avocado on a corn tortilla, which was excellent, others had the shrimp taco, which looked good, but I'm allergic to shrimp, so I just took their word that it was good.

We enjoyed deviled eggs, roasted and fried potatoes, white anchovies, stuffed dates, caesar salad, beet salad, and brussels sprouts.  Everything was delicious, but the potatoes, served with  slightly spicy red sauce, the caesar salad, stuffed dates and the brussels sprouts, stood out.  The brussels sprouts were loaded with cheese and panchetta.  We couldn't stop eating them, and had to order a second bowl.  The dates were out of this world.  Stuffed with a mild blue cheese and wrapped in a thin layer of serrano ham, I could have eaten them all.

Bar Bodega is best for a light snack or grazing meal.  There are no real entrees.  It's a great place to stop in at the end of a shopping day in Little Italy.  The tables are not too comfortable.  That's my only negative comment.  High top tables or bar stools, and just a few low tables with hard chairs.

FYI, a friend of mine told me a bit about the history of tapas.  During the time of the Inquisition, tapas were popular, and pork tapas were often served.  Seeing who ate the pork tapas was one way Spaniards identified Jews.  Of course Jews did not eat pork.  Pork is still popular in tapas dishes, but thankfully they are no longer using them to identify Jews.

Hansen's Disease: Leprosy

I'm reading a very interesting book called Moloka'i, by Alan Brennert.  The historical information in the book is accurate.  Moloka'i was a leper colony for many years.  Anyone who had leprosy or was suspected of having leprosy was sent to the island for a cure, but more likely for life.  Reading this book peaked my interest, so here are some current day facts on the disease called Hansen's disease, or leprosy.

Hansen's disease is an infection caused by a slow growing bacteria.  It can affect the nerves, eyes and lining of the nose.  It can be very disfiguring.  However, with early diagnosis and treatments, it can be cured.  Those that have it can lead a normal, active life.

Once feared highly contagious and devastating, we now know it doesn't spread easily and treatment is very effective.  If lef untreated, it can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis and blindness.

Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's when leper colonies were established, the cause and cure of the disease were unknown.  Thus, it was decided to separate those with the disease from the rest of society.  We know better now, but for those inflicted with the disease  a hundred years ago, a life of isolation and poor health was almost a certainty.  We have come a long way.

Australia Turns Out On Election Day

In The United States, we're lucky to get a 55% turnout in a federal election.  Part apathy and part voter suppression through strict ID laws and discrimination and intimidation, the United States makes it difficult to vote.  The reason for this depends on who you talk to.  Democrats will tell you that strict ID laws that try to prevent citizens from voting is the cause.  (Exact ID in Georgia is an example of this).  Republicans will tell you that they need these laws to prevent voter fraud.  (the actual cases of voter fraud are few and far between).  In any event, our voting turnout is a far cry from what you will find in Australia.

In Australia, more than 96% of the population is enrolled to vote, with 90%+ a typical turnout.  Failure to vote may cost you a fine.  Voting is made easy for Australians.  First, all elections take place on a Saturday, so most people don't have to take off work to vote.  Next, it is efficient.  Voting centers are organized by an independent commission, and are well staffed, so there is never more than a few minute wait.  Also, voting has become a party in Australia, with barbeques in every neighborhood.  They have an attitude of "we're all in this together."

Other countries where voting is a requirement include Argentina, Egypt, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey.  If the U.S. really wanted to make voting easier, we would have more early voting and either employers would give workers time off to vote, or we would hold elections on the weekend.  The truth is, many lawmakers DO NOT want more people to vote.  Making it difficult for seniors, people of color and the poor to vote changes the outcome of elections.

The Courageous Life Of Rita Borsellino

Rita Borsellino began a quiet life as a pharmacist in Sicily, but  when her brother was killed by a bomb set off by the Mafia, her life changed.  She wanted to fight against organized crime, corruption and money laundering, but chose to do it through the political system and peaceful protest.

She was born in 1945, but it wasn't until 1994 that she began her political career, when she was invited to join Libera, an Italian NGO working against crime.  In 2005 Ruth was made an honorary president of Libera. For many years she worked reduce organized crime in Italy and throughout the world.  Ruth was the first Sicilian woman nominated for presidency of her Sicilian region.  She did not win this position, but she did serve as a member of the European Parliament for many years.  Here she worked against organized crime, corruption and money laundering.  She died after a long illness, on August 15.  She's just one example of a strong woman, setting a path for future women to follow.  I said many months ago, that I consider this "The year of the woman."   Ruth Borsellino was ahead of her times, but I wanted to recognize this courageous woman.

Have You Enjoyed Vichyssoise Lately?

One of my favorite restaurants for special occasions used to be Scandia, on Sunset Blvd., in Los Angeles.  Everything I ever ordered there was fantastic, but one of my favorite starters was a soup called vichyssoise.  It must be out of fashion now, as I haven't seen it on a menu in decades.  It's rich and high in calories, and when everyone became conscious of calories and fat, vichyssoise was no longer popular.  I used to make it at home with a canned soup (I think it was Peperridge Farms) that I doctored up by adding extra sour cream and whipping cream.  I would serve it chilled, with a dollop of caviar on top, and friends thought I a real gourmet.

The origin of the soup is unknown, but most historians think it is an American inventions, possibly created by a New York chef to cool customers during the hot summer months. It can be served hot or cold, but I like it cold.  It's main ingredients are potatoes, leeks and cream.  How could it be bad?  Here's a simple recipe.  I'm looking for a good canned soup to doctor up.  It's a pain to make, and hard to get the smooth texture that you want, but here's a recipe to might want to try.

Vichyssoise

SoupGluten-FreeCold SoupPotato

A lighter version of the traditional vichyssoise chilled potato leek soup, with leeks and Yukon Gold potatoes.

Photography Credit: Elise Bauer

Vichyssoise Recipe

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 1 hour
• Yield: Makes about 10 cups, serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp butter
• 4-5 cups sliced leeks, cleaned (see How to Clean Leeks), white and pale green parts only (from about 4 large leeks)
• 1 medium onion, chopped or sliced
• 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 6 cups water (vegetarian option), or chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt (more to taste)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• Chopped fresh chives for garnish

MethodHide Photos

1 Heat butter until it begins to brown: In a large (6-quart) pot, heat the butter on medium high heat until it melts and foams up. Continue to heat until the foam subsides a little and the butter just begins to brown.
2 Sauté leeks and onions: Immediately toss in the sliced leeks and onions. Stir to coat with the butter. Cook for several minutes, reducing the heat to medium if necessary, until the leeks and onions are translucent and wilted.

3 Add potatoes, water or stock, salt, bring to simmer: Add the chopped potatoes, salt, and water or stock. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook, partially covered for 30-40 minutes, until the potatoes are completely cooked through. Remove from heat.
4 Purée until smooth: Purée using an immersion blender or working in batches, blend in a blender. (Careful! With hot liquids only fill the blender 1/3 of the way full, and hold the blender top on with your hand while blending.) Purée until completely smooth.
If you want an even smoother soup, you can take the extra step of pressing the purée through a sieve with a rubber spatula.
5 Cool and stir in sour cream and whipped cream: Allow to cool a bit before stirring in the sour cream and whipped cream. Allow to cool completely and chill in the refrigerator. The soup should be served just below room temperature (maybe 65°F or 18°C). If it is too cold, it won't taste as good.
Add more salt to taste. Serve garnished with chopped fresh chives.  Recipe from Elise Bauer.

Benefits of Yarsagumba: Caterpillar Fungus

Yarsagumba is an expensive herb, collected by hand in both Tibet and Nepal, used to increase libido in both men and women.  It's natural Viagara.  It's been  part of Chinese medicine for centuries, first mentioned in Chinese medical books in 1694.  It is valued because of its excellent balance of yin and yang, as it contains both animal and vegetable.

It is responsible for a large percentage of the GDP in Nepal because of its price.  One kilogram of yarsagumba ranges in price from $3,000-$18,000, price of course depending on the quality of and size of the caterpillar fungus.  It can be bought on line or in health food stores or herbal shops.  Interesting that many of the medicines that we take to improve health, fitness and aid healing, are already available in nature.  We just have to know where to look.

Can We Achieve 0 Waste?

It's a lofty goal, one that  communities around the world are working toward, which is achievable.  Rather than try to reword what experts have said, here are some goals and ways to get there, to achieve 0 waste.  It's a world wide effort, one which I hope will lead to 0 waste projects becoming mainstream.

Zero Waste

Zero Waste is a concept that challenges the old way of thinking about waste as something that has no value and to be thrown away. According to the Zero Waste Alliance:

Zero waste suggests that the entire concept of waste should be eliminated. Instead, waste should be thought of as a “residual product” or simply a “potential resource” to counter our basic acceptance of waste as a normal course of events. Opportunities such as reduced costs, increased profits, and reduced environmental impacts are found when returning these “residual products” or “resources” as food to either natural and industrial systems.

Zero Waste is a whole system approach that changes the way materials flow through society and ultimately results in no waste. It involves reducing consumption, minimising wastage, maximising recycling and composting, and ensuring that products and materials are designed to use less resources and made to be reused, recycled or biodegradable.
Nature is the best Zero Waste model. There is no waste in nature and by-products produced become resources for others or are assimilated harmlessly back to the surroundings.

The Zero Waste Hierarchy

The Zero Waste hierarchy refers to the following options for managing waste (in order of priority):

1. Right in the beginning, waste should be prevented or reduced through redesign, reduced packaging and material use, and less consumption.
2. Waste should be reused, repaired or refurbished for their original use or for another purpose.
3. Waste should be recycled, reprocessed or composted into raw materials and useful resources.
4. Waste should be recovered for their energy content through waste-to-energy or incineration facilities.
5. After all of the above have been done, waste should be landfilled in a safe and sustainable manner.

Benefits of Zero Waste

The benefits of Zero Waste is that it helps to conserve our resources, reduce pollution, create jobs in waste management, reduce waste costs, increase the lifespan of our Semakau Landfill and incineration plants, and mitigate climate change.

Zero Waste is an extraordinary concept that can lead society, business, and cities to innovative breakthroughs that can save the environment, lives, and money. Through the lens of Zero Waste, an entirely new relationship between humans and systems is envisaged, the only one that can create more security and well being for people while reducing dramatically our impact upon planet earth. The excitement is on two levels: it provides a broad and far-reaching vision, and yet it is practical and applicable today. – Paul Hawken, environmentalist and author (from the publication, The End of Waste, by the Zero Waste New Zealand Trust)

Decoy Dockside San Marcos

On a warm summer evening in August, we decided to try the casual dining spot called Dockside, in Lake San Marcos.  It's one of the  prettiest views around, and if you stay around until dark, you'll see a wonderful light and fountain show.  The fountain in the middle of the lake is going all the time, but around 8pm the light show starts.  Images come out of the fountain, like stars, butterflies and dolphins.  It's worth the trip to Dockside just for the light show.

Dockside is the casual dining spot downstairs, open all around, and VERY noisy.  The food, however, is delicious.  Burgers, calamari, salads, fish tacos, all kinds of nice, light meals.  The noise is a bit of an issue for me, so if I return there, it will be during the week.  If you're in for a more formal gourmet meal, try Decoy, right upstairs.  The decor is beautiful, with the same wonderful view of the lake, fountain, and lights, but the food is expensive.  I have not eaten there but hear it is worth the money, if you're in the mood for a big meal.  The restaurant is handicapped accessible, although there are not a lot of handicapped parking places.  I had to drop Ron off and go park the car across the street.  It even has several charging stations.

Next time the evening is warm, try Dockside.  Food is good, and the light show is worth the visit.

Lasagna Pie: Easy and Elegant

I love lasagna, but it seems so much trouble to make and a mess to serve.  Here is a recipe for lasagna pie that is easy to serve and so elegant.  It's a bit of trouble, but once you have the main ingredients prepared, it's just a matter of assembly.

                                  Easy Lasagna Pie

1/4 c. chopped onion
1 T. chopped garlic
1 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper

In a pan with a little olive oil, mix the above ingredients until the meat is brown and crumbly.  Drain fat.  Add 1 can tomato sauce, one can tomato paste and mix into the meat mixture.  This is the meat sauce for your pie.  Add a little water if it's too thick.

1 large container ricotta cheese
1/4 c. chopped parsley
1 egg
salt and pepper

Mix above ingredients well and set aside.

In the meantime, cook a package  of lasagna noodles to al dente, and set aside on a platter to cool.

Assembly:  Take a large round bowl or pyrex round casserole and lay the lasagna noodles around the bowl, with about 2 inches hanging out over the top.  Sprinkle parmesean cheese on the bottom of the bowl, then add a layer of meat sauce.  Next,  cover with noodles, cut to fit in the casserole, single layer.  Then, add the cheese mixture, another layer of noodles, parmesean cheese and meat sauce.  Fold the noodles toward the middle of the bowl so that all you see is noodles.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Invert on a platter.  Cover with the following white sauce:

1/2 cup milk
3 T melted butter
2T flour
1/4 cup parmesean cheese
salt and pepper

Melt butter, add flour to make a roux, then add milk to make a creamy sauce.   Finally add the
 cheese and salt and pepper.  Pour over the top of the lasagna pie before serving.

Cut the lasagna like a pie.  It is easy to cut, and so delicious.  A twist on everyone's favorite, lasagna that is elegant and delicious.

Caviar of the South Pacific: Palolo Worms

Every year in November, the palolo worms come to the waters of the South Pacific.  In Samoa palolo worms swarm in vast numbers.  Men, women and children stand in the shallow water with Coleman lanterns and nets, like butterfly nets, to capture the worms and dump them in a larger bucket.  Men launch boats to scoop up the worms in deeper water.  Great numbers of worms, as thick as vermicelli are a South Pacific delicacy.  The hunt for the worms is over in a few short hours.  The blue and green worms are gathered up by eager Samoans, and many swallow them raw on the spot.  Most scoop them up and dump them in buckets for the next day's celebration.

After gathering this delicacy, the next day is a kind of Thanksgiving celebration feast.  The palolo worms are either fried or baked into a loaf with coconut milk on toast.  They are salty, and some say they're like caviar.  One writer described them as follows:
With the first taste of palolo I understood the Samoans’ love for it. Certainly it suggested a salty caviar, but with something added, a strong, rich whiff of the mystery and fecundity of the ocean depths.

—R. Steinberg. Pacific and Southeast Asian cooking. Time-Life Books, New York, 1970

The worms only swarm once a year, so the locals gather them and eat them right away.  Interesting to know about these worms, but for a salty taste I'll stick to the fish eggs(caviar) I know and love.

Cleaning Up Our Oceans

Climate change is partially the fault of man.  The 1.8 trillion pounds of plastic garbage found between California and Hawaii IS completely man made.  It's the result of careless people throwing was in the ocean, down storm drains, and boats and fishermen.  The result is 5 ocean garbage patches throughout the oceans of the world, that are killing ocean plants and animals at an alarming rate.

A Dutch scientist was diving in Greece at age 16 and saw tremendous garbage in the sea, more garbage than fish.  Many fish were dead, having become ensnared in fishing lines and nets.  He decided to devote his life to cleaning up the oceans.

92% of the plastic found in the oceans consists of large pieces, easier to clean up.  The remaining 8% are micro particles of plastic, once large pieces of plastic, that have been broken down and are much more difficult to clean up.  What scientists have done is created a floater that moves with the tides and forms a barrier around the debris area.  The fish can swim below the floater.  It picks up garbage, transports it to land where it is recycled and used to produce durable goods.  The floater uses solar energy, keeping it in constant touch with satellites, so there can be no interference with other activities.  This is a simplistic explanation of what the floater does and how it does it, but it does collect the garbage.

The projection is that this process could clean up 50% of the ocean debris in 5 years, and by 2050, our oceans could be ocean free.  Of course this takes everyone's cooperation.  We need to good managers of the planet, and dispose of plastic properly.  Amazing.  A young teenager's diving trip turned out to be a defining moment in his life.  Because of that diving trip, he has devoted his life to saving our oceans.  Oh, and he's only 24 years old.  What else will he do?

Go to brightvibes.com for short videos on all kinds of interesting environmental issues throughout the world.  You'll be surprised and fascinated by what's going on.

The Origins of Bungee Jumping

When Phil was 17 and went on a family trip with his girlfriend and came back telling me he had gone bungee jumping in Lake Tahoe, I was shocked.  I couldn't imagine a parent allowing an under age child to do such a dangerous activity without permission, but they did, and he lived to tell about it.  Since then, I have always been fascinated with bungee jumping, and wonder WHY anyone would do it.  When I researched the origins of bungee jumping, I found that its predecessors have been around for a long, long time.

On the island of Penecost, one of the 83 islands that make up the nation of Vanatu, land diving has been a ritual forever.  This small South Pacific island has only 17,000 permanent residents, most living on the west coast of the island.  The east coast is wild and uninhabited.  There are no real towns, mostly rural villages, with homes built of wood or bamboo.  They survive by subsistence agriculture and cash crops, including taro, yams, bananas, coconuts and island cabbage.  Pigs are highly important in Penecost, and may be given as payment during the marriage ceremony.  There are 5 indigeneous languages.  Additionally, Bisiana, a form of pidgin English is spoken by most.  These are mostly tribal groups, and land diving is one of their ancient rituals.

Land diving is an ancient ritual in which young men jump from a tall wooden platform (that looks like it might topple over at any time) with vines tied to their ankles, as a test of courage and passage to manhood.  (the men I know would take a bar mitzvah any day!).  Then, in 1979 a bunch of crazy Brits in Bristol jumped off a bridge using a cord.  From there, it spread all over the world, with New Zealand claiming the first organized bungee jumping.  In any event, the people of Penecost claim they should be compensated for what they view as unauthorized appropriation of their cultural property.   Do you think they're entitled to anything?  I don't think so, but it is interesting, at least to me, how bungee jumping got started.

Check out this u tube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjuOav9o43g

La Michoacana: New Ice Cream Shop In Town

Ritas used to be one of our favorite ice cream shops, but sadly they are gone.  Finally, a new ice cream shop is opening right around the corner from us.  It's called La Michoacana.  I was at one of their LA locations a while ago and was blown away.  They have about 100 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, paletas and lots of other goodies.  Here's a little about La Michoacana.

The Lua family started the company in Mexico about 60 years ago. They originated in Tocumbo,  in the state of Michoacan. They made milk based pops and water based pops with ingredients like mango, cucumber, lime juice and chili powder.  Recently they decided to open up shop in the US, starting in the Inland Empire.  Now they're in San Diego.  I know of two locations:  One in San Marcos on San Marcos Blvd, where I just stopped for a scoop of pineapple coconut, loaded with coconut, and strawberries and cream, with big chunks of fresh strawberries.  The other location is in Vista, on Melrose and Shadowridge.

When I lived in LA I saw the little ice cream carts on street  corners everywhere, but never tried them.  Now they have brick and mortar stores and sell the fruit paletas plus delicious ice cream.  Next time you're in the mood for ice cream or a frozen fruit bar, try La Michoacana.  You won't be disappointed.

Imperfection Vs Perfection: Both Are Important

Man and nature are imperfect, which is part of what makes us so interesting.  All creatures do not look the same.  It's the imperfections in nature that we love.  In science, on the other hand, perfection is required.  Beginning with the Industrial Revolution and its multitude of technical advances, perfection has been required.  A jet plane needs every part and element in it's right place for it to run properly.  An I phone and surgical procedures now use robots for the precision required in their work. In search of perfection, robots have replaced man for many types of jobs.  Man can make a mistake, computers and robots do not make mistakes.

I think we all figured out long ago that we are not perfect, try as we might.  A mistake in a painting that an artist might be working on becomes part of it's uniqueness.  A crafty projects that  you make a mistake on gives it character.  So much of what I personally like about people and nature are the imperfections.  Someone with a quirky personality is far more interesting than someone who is totally predictable.  The old tree that curves and swerves, is more memorable than the tall, straight tree that looks like every other tree in the forest.

Our world of technology demands perfection.  If your GPS is not assembled properly, it will not work.  If your automobile is not assembled perfectly, it will not run.  Robots have now replaced man for many tasks, because they are perfect and we're not.

In school, many students are striving for a 100% score, perfection.  Being human, most students do not achieve this.  My husband Ron always tells the story of his mom, Anita, who thought he was the smartest young man in the world.  When he'd come home with a 98% on a math test as he often did, rather than praise him for his achievement, she would ask him, "What happened to the other 2 points?"  We are imperfect, unlike robots, computers and machines, and that's what makes us human.

Men's Attitudes Toward Rape

If you are offended by these quotes by some of our leaders in congress, then get out and vote.  Show you distaste for these male attitudes by voting for men and women that have empathy for rape victims.  Vote for men and women who are not stuck in the 1950's, thinking rape is a sexual act, or that women who are raped deserve it, or even worse,  that just because a man and woman are married, he can have sex with her whenever he wants, even if he doesn't want to.

There is so much information on rape and rapists, and about the shame felt by the person raped, that everyone should get educated.  If you have ever been raped or assaulted or know someone who has been, you know that you don't just forget it.  It is something that stays with you forever, and it may be a very long time before the victim is even able to talk about it.  Don't assume that just because a man appears to be of impeccable character, that he isn't capable of bad behavior.  Get all the facts, and realize too, how difficult it is for a woman to come forward with a rape charge.  She knows that she is in for a tough time.  Only 1/3 of all rapes and assaults are even reported, so we know this is a huge social problem.

Let's hope that our voice at the ballot box will show men that they must listen to women.  Men, and I guess there are some women, with these old attitudes must not serve in congress.  Let's get rid of them.

A Day In Balboa

Several years ago our boogie boarding group decided to take a day to explore Balboa Island, just about an hour north of San Diego.  We had so much fun, we decided to do it again.  This time we invited some of the old boogie boarding group and a few others who we thought would enjoy the day.

Sixteen of us carpooled up to Balboa on a beautiful Tuesday in September.  I even got to ride in a Tesla.  What a treat.  Anyway, we first explored the town, with it's beachy upscale shops and restaurants, then walked to the ferry.  We passed $4-$10 million dollar homes, most with beautiful gardens in front.  The homes in Balboa were once little cottages, so the lots are not big, and homes are very close together.  Homes are practically on the street, with maybe only 10 feet between the house and the sidewalk.  Regardless, the houses are just gorgeous.  We took a quick ride on the car/pedestrian  ferry across to the island.  Here we got our instructions for the the two Duffy boats we rented for the next few hours.  I captained one boat, Fran the other.  We brought our lunches on board, and spent the next two hours  eating, drinking, and pretty much laughing non stop!  I don't think they'll  ask me to drive the boat again.

Driving the Duffy boat was more difficult than I thought.  I couldn't keep the damn think straight, and I was constantly turning the wheel side to side to keep straight.  I had a boat full of back seat drivers.  We had a map that was supposed to show us where all the famous people had lived, John Wayne and others, but we had trouble finding the houses, so we  made up our own stories about who lived in them.  Who would know the difference?  None of us, nor did we care.

Back on land after I nearly hit the ferry twice and a large pleasure boat once, I was exhausted.  I had a two hour workout of my upper arms.  It was a lot of laughs, and I arrived home around 4pm.  What a fun day with 16 great women.  Can't wait to go again.  We had a whole bag of water taffy to sweeten up the trip, which we all thought would never be eaten, but alas, we ate it all, and no one lost a crown!

Roma Culture Misunderstood

Why am I writing a blog about an ethnic minority that has migrated across Europe for centuries, and faced enormous persecution and discrimination?  Because I am reading a book in which a Roma fortune teller predicts the year, and in one case the actual date, of several family members.  It's a fictious story, but the Roma people are real, and I thought I would research who they really are.

They are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, consisting of 12-15 million people.  70% of them live in Eastern Europe.  There are about 1 million Roma living in the U.S.  The word Roma simply means "people."  but many call them Gypsies, although that is considered a derogatory word by many.  Roma have a rich oral tradition, and much of what we know about them is through songs and oral history.  They speak many languages, but most speak Rromanes, a language with Sanskrit roots.  Religious, they seem to take on the religion of the region they are living in.  They have strong family bonds, and stick to themselves because of discrimination.  Centuries ago they were continuously on the move as a matter of survival.  In the 20th century, many would live in cars or RV's, and contstantly be on the move.  Today, at least in the U.S., most live in homes or apartments, but do not talk about their culture.

During WW11, Gypsies were rounded up, placed in concentration camps, experimented on, and killed.  220,000 Gypsies (Roma) died in the Holocaust.

They have been known as fortune tellers for centuries.  No one really believes that they have any more ability to foresee the future than you or I.  They have a reputation for being cunning and mysterious outsiders.  In 1554, English Parliament passed a law that made being a Gypsy punishable by death.  Sounds a little like Salem, centuries later.

Fortune telling has been around for centuries.  Everyone wants to know what the future holds.  Or do they?  I'm not so sure that knowing  the future would make life any better.  I'll take it as it comes.  Good or bad, I like surprises.