How The Republican Party Has Changed

I was surfing the internet this morning and saw two stories that turned my head.  The first one was a quote from Billy Graham, Jr. regarding Bill Clinton's sexual behavior.  To paraphrase, he said this was wrong and what a terrible thing he did to his wife and daughter.  Then, he makes a statement about Donald Trump's sexual exploits, and says that what he did is between he and his wife. The behavior is just wrong for both of them, but Clinton is condemned for it, Trump gets a pass.  I find this the height of hyprocracy.

Then I find the 1956 Republican platform, when Dwight Eisenhower ran and won the presidency.   Does it look anything like the 2016 Republican platform?  If I had to guess, I would have thought it was the Democratic platform.  Here it is.  See what you think.

1. Provide federal assistance to low-income communities;
2. Protect Social Security;
3. Provide asylum for refugees;
4. Extend minimum wage;
5. Improve unemployment benefit system so it covers more people;
6. Strengthen labor laws so workers can more easily join a union;
7. Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of sex.

What's Happening To The Waters Of Bali?

Phil and his family are on a month long visit to Bali, which they are just loving.  They love the food, the culture, the beaches, and the lack of crowds.  They especially enjoyed the Gili Islands, three idyllic atolls that still have powdery white sand and turquoise clear water.  It's the called the turtle capital of the world.  There are no cars or motorbikes, just horse and buggy or bicycle.  It's a real step back in time.

Other areas of Bali however, have been greatly affected by climate change.  High temperatures and continued degradation of reefs through blast fishing, anchor damage and diver damage, have led to the decline of coral reefs and to the continued bleaching of coral.  This is a huge problem, as bleaching of the coral disrupts the food chain and will ultimately affect us all.

Trash in the water is another big problem, even as far away as Bali.  There are several organizations that are working to diminish the trash problem and keep the waters and beaches in Indonesia clean.  Maybe I'll write about that at another time.

Climate change is affecting us globally, even in faraway Bali.  There are still some places you can find that are pristine, but they're vanishing rapidly.  We have to keep climate change as an important national and international issue, otherwise the future looks bleak for our grandchildren.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxOfLTnPSUo

Click on the above website for a look at coral bleaching.

New Uses for shipping containers

p>We've all seen the huge shipping containers piled high at just waiting to be shipped.  These steel boxes, usually 20X50 feet, have a lifespan of about 30 years.  However, most are only used for about 10 years and are then put out to pasture.  They can be bought and turned into a fantastic, modern home!  Shipping container homes are being built all over the world.  They are fireproof and low maintenance.  They can lessen your clutter, give you an opportunity to live simply, be environmentally conscious, build on a budget, and do something totally modern that will wow your friends.

We've all seen the tiny homes.  Shipping container homes are about the same size, but they are permanent.  In fact, some people are buying multiple containers and building a modular house.  It can be any size you want.  The small houses (just one container) are what caught my eye.  I can't imagine what's involved in actually making the container a home in terms of permits, but it is doable.  Lots of people are doing it.   Here's a few pictures to give you an idea of what the finished home could look like.  The creativity of people is never ending.

A Great Day At Pala Casino

Are you looking for a really fun day that won't cost you an arm and a leg, unless you hit the tables?  Try Tuesdays at Pala in Fallbrook.  That's the day they have a special concert at 1pm, 30% off the lunch buffet, and more for people over 60.  Bobbie arranged for a group to visit Pala, and we had a ball.  We arrived at 11am to get our Players card, and our 60+ sticker, which allowed us to see the concert.  We  all stuffed ourselves at a delicious buffet.  I especially enjoyed the desserts.  They had lots of mini desserts, so I sampled many.  Panacotta, bread pudding, peach cobbler, creme brulee, plus cookies and cakes galore, marshmallows with a chocolate fountain, ice cream and hot fudge.  Did I miss anything?  Anyway, we then saw the Corelles, a Supremes tribute band.  They sang for about an hour, all the biggest hits of the Supremes.  Many in our group got out on the dance floor to dance, too.

Every Tuesday you can be entertained at Pala, and the entertainment was very good.  Oh!  Here's the best part.  I'm not much of a gambler, but I do love to play Pai Gow Poker, so I sat down at what I thought was a $5 table of Pai Gow Poker.  When the dealer dealt me only two cards, I knew I was at the wrong table.  I looked up at the sign and saw I was playing Mississippi Stud.  Who ever heard of that, much less knew how to play it?  I said to two very nice men at the table, "Help."  They looked at my cards, told me to put up another chip to look at the next card, so I did.  I ended up with a pair of Kings and pair of fours, and won $80.  Maybe it pays to NOT know what you're doing!  I left the table much richer and happy that my lunch was paid for.

Pala is a great way to spend some time on a Tuesday, and get some very good entertainment.  I will definitely try it again.

Nancy Sinatra Sr. Dies at 101

The first wife of Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, passed away recently at the ripe old age of 101.  She and Frank met in Long Beach, New Jersey, as teens in 1934, and  married in 1939.  They were dirt poor when they married, she a secretary, he a singing waiter.  They lived in a small apartment for several years, where two of their children, Nancy (1940) and Frank (1944) were born.

After the birth of Frank Jr., the family relocated to California, where Frank soon became a pop music sensation.  Daughter Tina was born soon after. As Frank's stardom rose, so did his womanizing.  He was a notorious womanizer, and when his affair with Ava Gardner became public in 1951, Frank and Nancy divorced.  Frank would go on to have three more wives, Nancy never married again.

Nancy raised the children alone, and devoted her life to her family and her many Hollywood friends.  She remained good friends with Frank for the rest of his life, and they had mutual respect for each other.  Frank loved her cooking, and would often ask for her to make one of his favorite Italian dishes and bring it to his home for dinner.  She was happy to do so.  Her son Frank Jr. predecessed her, but her singer daughter Nancy and film producer daughter Tina are still living.  What a long and interesting life she must have had.  Married to one of the most famous singer/actors ever, has her son Frank Jr. kidnapped and held for ransom of $250,000 (returned unharmed), and spent decades with Hollywood elites, attending charity events and working for various philanthropic organizations.  I'm surprised she didn't write a book!

Facts About Elephants

I just finished reading a wonderful book called Elephant Company.  It tells the story of Jim Williams, a British man, who spent most of his adult life working with elephants in Burma.  It was his elephants that were responsible for building bridges that ultimately led to the defeat of the Japanese in Burma during WW11.  I felt I wanted to know more about elephants after reading this interesting book.  Here's some of what I learned.

Elephants are intelligent animals who live complex social lives.  Their brain is the largest of any land animal, about 10-12 pounds.  They have the ability to use tools and to differentiate size.  In the book Elephant Company, elephants understood verbal commands and could follow instructions.  The handler might tell the elephant to pick up the large shovel, and he would do it.  They understand basic math.  Elephants also have long memories.  They can remember all herd members by sight and smell.  Wild elephants that have been domesticated for circuses have shown the ability to remember handlers whom they haven't seen in over 20 years!   Elephants live in family groups, with the oldest female usually leading the herd.  She, along with other adult females, is in charge of young elephants and males.  Males are more solitary.

Elephants are the biggest land animal.  African elephants weight up to 6,300 kg, while Asian elephants weigh 4,990.  Their tusks are actually teeth, weighing up to 100 pounds.  They are used for digging up roosts, stripping barking and clearing paths. They also have the longest gestation period, two years.  Occasionally twins are born, but single births are more frequent.  Young elephants are suseptible to predators, and are usually kept in the middle of the herd for protection.  Adult elephants have no danger from others.

In some ways they are very human like.  They mourn their dead, they can be playful, and they are great communicators.  Besides the trumpet, they elicit low noises all day.  Additionally, they have low frequency ultra sounds, which are used to communicate.

There are three species of elephant existing today:  African bush elephants, which are listed as vulnerable, with only 10,000 remaining in the wild, Asian elephants, smaller and considered endangered, and African forest elephant, found only in the Congo basin, and listed as endangered.  The wooly mammoth is the most famous of all extinct elephant family species.  Lets protect the three species we still have.  We don't want them to end up like the wooly mammoth.  They are amazing animals. 

How Memories Are Made

Look around your home.  Much of what you have held on to has a story.  Through this tapestry photos, knicknacks, art, furniture and clothing, are a lifetime of memories.  When you clean out a closet or prepare to move, you will know what I mean.  I recently showed a friend all of our artwork, and told him a story with every piece.  I have a ceramic fish from Picasso's ceramic studio in the south of France.  I bought it for $8 when I was visiting France with my first husband in 1969.  I have a paper plate designed by Roy Lichtenstein that Ron bought for me on one of our first dates.  Every time I pass by it hanging on the wall in the living room, I smile.  We had just recently met, and we went to an art show at Long Beach State, where we saw the paper plate.  It began our lifetime love of contemporary art, and was the first piece in our collection.

I have always been a lover of glass paperweights, and during our extensive travels in the 1980's and 1990's, I bought a paperweight everywhere we went.  I love looking at them and remembering our travels.  On a 1999 trip to Benin and Togo, I collected African masks, which now hang over our bed.  That trip, which I took without Ron, was a highlight of my travels, and seeing those masks every day brings back wonderful memories.

Occasionally I will open the china cabinet and straighten things out, and will look at silver flatware, which belonged to my grandmother.  It's well over 100 years old.  I have a  piece of Czech glass given to us by a dear friend who has passed away, a carved wooden eagle given to us by Ron's friend Bernie, and a beautiful horse sculpture which I bough in Paris on a trip with one of my travel agent friends.  I also have a watch from Roots, which I bought in Vancouver, on a trip to watch one of our horses run.  I have an outfit that no longer fits me, but whichI keep to remind me of our fantastic trip to Tokyo in 2000 with our whole family, and our jockey Jose Valdivia and his wife Renee.  I just can't part with it.

One of my prize possessions is a small group of letters written to me by my father when I was about 10 years old, and away at sleep away camp.  The letters are charming, and each one is signed and end with a cute little drawing.

On my trip to Cuba in 2000, I bought several pieces of folk art, which always make me smile, remembering the good times had on that trip.  I only wish I had bought more art.>P>

Of course pictures, which we all have so many of today, are great reminders of the good and bad times in life, and I love looking at them, but things, they tell such stories.  Look around your own house and see what I mean.

The Value Of Labor Unions

There is strength in numbers, and the right to workers has been received a blow from the Supreme Court.  In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that workers may not band together to challenge violations of federal labor laws.  This will ensure that owners maintain control over their workers.  No longer will a group of employees who challenge their employer, be able to band together present a class action suit.  Individual employers will have to fight their grievances individually.  Of course this will not be possible for individuals, because of the attorney costs involved.  If an employer is fighting for overtime pay that they did not receive, they will do it alone.

Unions have done so  much to protect workers.  Collective bargaining for wages, vacation pay, health insurance, working conditions and much more, has led to our nation having high standards for companies represented by a union.  With the new court decision, things may change.  At some companies, employers sign agreements not participate in any class action suit.  This is now the law.  Big business has won, and workers no longer have the bargaining power they once had.

If you think union dues are a waste of money, that the heads of the unions make too much (they probably do), think about what unions HAVE done for workers.  Here's a list.  I fear some of the advances we have made in work conditions and equality, may be in jeopardy.

Remembering Sophia Perovskaya (1860-1910)

The New York Times recently added a section to the Obituaries called "Overlooked".   I've read about numerous interesting people whom I otherwise would never had heard of.  Sophia Perovskaya is one such person.

Sophia Perovskaya was was born into an aristocratic family in 1853.  Her authoritarian father and she did not get along, and she left home at an early age.  She enrolled in the Alarchin Women's College in St. Petersburg, and joined the women's circle and became friends with other like minded men and women, with revolutionary ideas.  Eventually she joined the secret society Land and Liberty.  This group, led by Mark Natanson, demanded that the Russian Empire be dissolved, and that 2/3of the land be transferred to the peasants and organized into self governing communes.  Well, you know that this idea was never going to fly without a fight, which did come decades later.

Sophia was executed by hanging, along with her four conspirators for attempting to assassinate Alexander 11 of Russia.  She was the first woman in Russia sentenced to death for an act of terrorism.

Three decades later, Perovskaya would be the inspiration for Japanese feminist Kanno Sugako, who was involved in an assassination attempt on the emperor of Japan.  She was also executed by hanging.

Getting Your Veggies In: Cauliflower Hashbrowns

Cooks are always looking for new ways to serve veggies, especially if you are serving an audience that doesn't like veggies.  Well, I have a few vegetable recipes that you might try that will please even the pickiest eater.  Cauliflower hash brown is just one of the them.  I hope you like it.

                               Cauliflower Hash Browns


package of cauliflower rice
1/3 c. chives
1 tsp basil
1/2 c. parmesean cheese
2T. oil
salt and pepper
2 eggs

Mix the cauliflower rice and a little salt together.  Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wring out the water.  Add all the ingredients together and mix thoroughly.  With your hands, form the mixture into hash brown shapes.  The recipe should make 8-12 patties, depending on the size of the patties.  Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and arrange the patties for cooking.  Bake at 425 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until patties are golden brown.  Enjoy them for breakfast with your eggs, or serve them for dinner as a side dish with meat or fish.  Enjoy.

Around San Diego: wonderspaces.com

There's always something fun to see or do in San Diego.  Fran was told about an interesting art exhibit at the waterfront.  It was called Wonderspaces.  It's right next to the Star of India, in a big hangar.  It will be there until the end of August.  Tickets are $20, and well worth it.

I have never heard of any of the artists, which doesn't really mean anything.  They are all large installations, some of them interactive.  My favorite was The Dinner Party.  You walk into a room with a huge dining room table set for dinner for about 24 people.  Visitors to the exhibit sit at the table, put on head gear, then ear phones, and are gone for about 10 minutes on an unforgettable trip.  The installation is based on a 1964 event where a couple were supposedly abducted by aliens.  The incident has never been confirmed, but with the help of technology, you are off into space, then getting an intimate view of a dinner party.  It is fascinating and I loved it.  Other installations include big balls that are filled with helium suspended from the ceiling and on the floor.  Another was a spectacular installation of construction paper cut outs of animals, insects, trees, mountains, houses.  Amazing.

Fran, Janie, Linda and I really enjoyed the exhibit, and would encourage anyone who has the time to try to see it.  First, you have to find out what it's called.  I can't find it anywhere.  We were there on the hottest day of the year, and were sweating like crazy, but that didn't mar our good time.  Lunch afterward at Barbusa in Little Italy gave us a chance to cool off and have some delicious food, which I will blog about at another time.

Koko Dies at Age 46

The western lowland gorilla Koko, who redrew the lines of animal-human communication, died in his sleep at age 46.  Koko taught us about the emotional capacity of gorillas and their cognitive abilities. Koko was chosen in 1978 to be the center of a language research program.  Through the course of the many years, and with the help of researchers and the American Sign Language organization, Koko learned over 1,000 signs and understood more than 2,000 words.

Koko was very social.  When she met Robin Williams, she became very playful.  She enjoyed his clownish behavior, taking off his glasses and putting them on.  When Robin died in 2014, Koko grieved along with millions of his friends and fans.  Koko remembered seeing some of his movies, and when he was told Robin Williams died, he let out a loud wail, which is how gorillas show emotional pain.  He had a close relationship with his teachers and keepers.

His best buddy was Ball, a kitten who he adored.  They were together for many years, but Ball was hit by a car and killed.  (How could such a thing happen?).  Koko was despondent.

Koko could also play the recorder, information that scientists found very interesting.  Until this finding, scientists did not know that primates had the ability to control the in and out of breathing, which is necessary to play the recorder.  Koko also like to paint and listen to music.

It's hard not to see the direct correlation between primates and man after seeing both the behavior of primates in the wild and what they can learn in captivity.  They are our closest relatives and we will continue to study them .

Couscous With Apricots and Almonds

Every June Ocean Hills Country Club holds a pickleball tournament.  It is great fun.  This year, the tournament was a two day event, with a pot luck lunch after play on the second day.  I always try to bring something fresh and healthy to the luncheon, so this year I made a delicious couscous salad, with dried apricots, almonds, and mint, among other things.  Everyone tries to bring something delicious and home made, and we always have quite a feast.  Here's the couscous recipe I made, which can be served hot, cold or room temperature.  I served it at room temperature, and it was a big hit.  I hope you enjoy it.

1 cup dry couscous
1 1/2 cup warm chicken broth
1/4 cup dried apricots, diced
1/4almonds, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
1/4cup chopped mint
1/4cup chopped cilantro
2 scallions, green part only, chopped
1 T. lemon juice
pinch of lemon zest
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil as needed

Pour couscous into a bowl, mix in heated chicken broth, cover with a towel or a plate, and let sit for 10 minutes.  Fluff after 10 minutes.

While waiting for the couscous to be ready, chop onion, apricot and almonds.  Heat in olive oil until onions are translucent.  Stir regularly to prevent burning.  Chop the rest of the ingredients.  Dump everything into the fluffed couscous and mix thoroughly.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  This is great as a vegetarian main course for lunch, or as a side dish with lunch or dinner.  I made it a day ahead to give the flavors time to meld.  I haven't tried it, but you could replace the apricots with cranberries for another delicious dish.  Enjoy.

A Visit With An Old Friend

The friendships that develop in prison usually end when prisoners are released and return to a "normal" life.  There are many reason why a man you shared everything with for many months or years is no longer someone you want to see.  The relationship between inmates, and what happens to the friendship after release, would be interesting to explore at another time.

For now, I will tell you that Ron had a reunion with his friend Richard last week and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Ron met Richard, a CEO of a large electronics firm, when he was at Taft federal prison for 19 months.  It had been 7 years since they had seen each other.  They had only talked a few times, due to probation restrictions.  We met at the Katella Deli, and spent two hours reminiscing about old times.  I had only met Richard once, when I was there for visitation, but had heard stories about him and others over the years.  During their time at Taft, they explored the possibility of businesses they might pursue, but of course these are only dreams and a way to pass the time.  Ron has reestablished himself as a CPA, and has built himself a nice practice.  He loves what he does.  Richard is still looking for his next big deal.  He is scraping out a living in the meantime, but always has the thought in the back of his mind that he will hit on a business one day and get back on his feet.  As Ron says, "Richard is trying to hit a home run, while I'm just trying for singles and doubles."

Ron was never interested in keeping friendships with most of the men he met at Taft, although it was a fascinating group of people:  two mayors, many doctors (medicare fraud in most cases), a mortgage broker, several lawyers, a stock broker, another CEO of a large publicly traded company, a movie producer and many more colorful characters.   Ron stuck mainly with this group of white collar men.  Most of the rest of the population were there for drugs.  Ron's bunk mate was a guy from Pasadena who had been incarcerated for over 10 years, on drug charges.  The son of two college professors had made some bad choices.  His bunk mate was a big guy, maybe 275 pounds, and  was very protective of Ron.  It's always good to have a big guy on your side in a place like Taft.

But I digress.  I wanted to write about how quickly Ron and Richard picked up their friendship and conversation after a seven year hiatus.  Richard, who stays in touch with many of the Jewish population from Taft, told Ron how everyone was doing.  All the men Ron knew at Taft are now home, and seemingly making a good adjustment to life after incarceration.  I'm happy Ron and Richard had a chance to get together again.  I'm sure they will do so again, but the friendship they had at Taft could never be repeated in the outside world.  It's different, and perhaps I will explore that at another time.

What Do You Know About Pandas?

I was having breakfast with my friend Audrey last week, and we started talking about pandas, why I don't know.  I asked her the following question:  "Why do pandas, such a large animal, have such small babies?''  She didn't have the answer, and she thought it might have something to do with the fact that pandas have a pouch.  My research never gave me the answer, but here are a few interesting facts I did find out about pandas.
1.  Pandas are members of the bear family, although they do not hibernate.  Who knew?
2.  The species is 1-2million years old.
3.  Pandas live exclusively in China, in a few isolated, mountain regions, due to destruction of their habitat for farming and human settlement.
4.  Pandas are slow breeders, with a low sex drive.  Usually only 1-2 cubs are born, and in the wild it is likely only 1 will survive.
5.  Pandas eat bamboo, up to 30 pounds per day.  Bamboo is not very nutritious, thus the must eat a lot.  Because they eat such a fibrous diet, they poop a lot, up to 40 times a day!
6.  The breeding season is between March and May, and gestation period is 3-5 months.  Baby pandas are born without fur.

7.  There are only about 2,000 pandas left in the wild, but due to conservation efforts, that number is expected to rise.
8.  Pandas are solitary animals.  They are also lazy, doing very little all day.

So there you have it.  Pandas have become the poster child for endangered species.  Zoos have spent lots of money on breeding programs to save the panda, and it seems to have worked.  Their numbers are increasing in the wild.  Unfortunately I still don't have the answer to why they have such small babies.