Ada Lovelace: Mother of Modern Computing

From time to time I like to write about interesting people who have made a contribution to the world, but most of us don't know of.  Ada Lovelace is one such person.  Born in London, in 1915, she was the child of Lord Byron, the famous (although mad, they say) poet.  She never knew him, as he abandoned Ada and her mother when Ada was one month old.  Ada's mother was Anne Isabella Milbanke, a highly intelligent, well educated aristocrat.  She was especially interested in math and science, and wanted a good education for her daughter.  She was not a nurturing mother, and Ada was brought up by her maternal grandmother and servants.  She was home schooled, concentrating on math and science.

Because of her aristocratic status Ada met many professors and mathematicians during her youth, and became more and more excited and interested in the field of mathematics.  She discussed high level mathematics with them.  In 1842 Ada heard of a paper called Sketch of Charls Babbage's Analytical Engine, which was written in French.  She knew Babbage, and translated the paper from French-English, adding extensive notes about the analytical engine concept.  She is cited as the world's first computer programmer.  She broke new ground in computing, identifying the analytical engine as an entirely new concept.  She realized an analytical engine could go beyond numbers.  This was the first ever perception of a modern computer.

What a life, for a woman in a man's world, when women weren't even allowed into courses in math and science.  If she had not been from an aristocratic background, none of this would have ever happened, for her status opened doors to men and women of great intellect. In between all her mathematics work, she married and had several children.  Ada Lovelace was quite a woman.

What Is Red Tide?

The catastrophic loss of marine life, especially in Florida, is alarming.  It is caused by a harmful algae bloom, caused by a naturally occurring alga called Karenia brevis or K. brevis.  When this algae appears in large quantities, typically in the Gulf of Mexico, it can turn ocean water red, brown or green.  It also contains harmful toxins that can impact the nervous systems of fish, birds and mammals.

Red tide is a naturally occurring condition, but a combination of wind, currents and the presence of nutrients in the water can allow the algae to grow, some years more severely than others.  This has literally been a killer year, wiping out manatees, sea turtles and stone crabs in large quantities.

At least 400 stranded and dead sea turtles have been found since the bloom conditions began in November, as well as a manatee and a 26 foot whale shark. Most people can safely swim in red tide, but it can cause skin irritation and burning eyes.  Inhaling red tide toxins can lead to coughing, sneezing and teary eyes.  Although the medical effects of the red tide are not severe, red tide is affecting the economy in Florida.

How long the red tide will remain is hard to predict.  It could persist through 2019.  It all depends on the wind conditions and water currents.  Red tides are not a new phenomena, being first report in Florida in 1844.  Research has not found a definitive link between the severity of red tides and climate change.  We just don't know right now.

Modern Food In An Historic Setting

I love to eat out, as most of you know.  I especially enjoy family owned and operated restaurants, as opposed to chain restaurants.  Coastal Kitchen in Dana Point is one such restaurant.  Ron's friend, Steve, is the general manager, and has been bugging us to to try it for over two years.  We finally went there with Richard and Laura on a Saturday night, just before Easter.  The restaurant was bustling.

The building itself is historic.  Built as the first commercial building in Dana Point in the 1920's, it was a restaurant a bit later, and served as a stopping point for travelers going from Los Angeles to San Diego.  The developer who owned it had big plans, but the crash in the late 1920's ruined that idea.  Today, the building has been refurbished, but is still historical with lots of pictures of Dana Point years ago, into a contemporary fine dining restaurant.  The Grant family owns it.  They come with restaurant knowledge from Michael Grant's  days at Hillstone, and Christina's days as a CPA in the restaurant industry, including R-D.  (part of the Hillstone group).  General Manager Steve Sola, greeted us when we arrived, and made sure we had a perfect evening.

After we ordered drinks, our waiter Henry brought us some delicious Parker House rolls topped with butter, herbs and brown sugar.  Next, while we were still deciding what to order, Steve sent out Coastal Kitchen's famous smoked trout spread on toast.  Absolutely delicious.  That was followed by an heirloom tomato and burrata salad, with olive oil and pistachios  and the the most delicious crab cake dish I've ever eaten.  The crab cake had no bread filler.  It was all crab, seasoned perfectly and cooked to a golden brown.  The delicious sauce in which it sat was loaded with fresh corn.  Avocado slices and grapefruit wedges completed the dish.  That might have been my favorite thing, but it was all so good it is hard to decide..  By this time we had determined that ordering salads before the entree was out of the question, so we went straight to the main course.  Ron order cioppino (fish soup), one of his favorite dishes.  Laura and I ordered the halibut, fresh, flaky, and  nicely cooked, with parmesean mashed potatoes and broccoli.  Richard ordered the trout with pecans, which he loved.  Room for dessert?  You betcha.  Ron ordered the ice cream sundae with homemade chocolate sauce, which was quickly devoured.

Coastal Kitchen is on the expensive side, but portions are generous, and some entrees like pork chops and steaks can be shared.  It's a 45 minute drive from Oceanside, the same distance if you want to go to Little Italy, without the hassle and expense of parking.

Coastal Kitchen is an eating destination I plan to return to again and again, now that I know about it.  There are so many wonderful items on the menu, the ambience is delightful, and the staff friendly and helpful.  Once you try it, it will become one of your favorites in the area.

Can't Wait To Go Back To Duck Donuts

We were out with Laura and Richard one night (at the Himalayan Kitchen in Encinitas) and Laura mentioned that her real estate office had just moved into the center on Encinitas Blvd. and that there was a delicious donut place next door.  Ron was ready to drive to VG's after dinner at the Himalayan Kitchen for his donut fix, but we decided to see if Duck Donuts, on Encinitas Blvd., was open.  It was not, but Laura said she had heard it was pretty good, and so I decided I'd be back there soon.

Several days later, on a Saturday morning when I planned to walk with Fran at the Lumberyard, I stopped by Duck Donuts to pick up a few donuts for Ron.  Wow, are they delicious.  It's not a traditional donut shop.  Duck Donuts only makes a yellow cake donut that they top with just about anything you can think of.  No raised donuts, no French cruellers, just cake donuts that are warm, right out of the fryer, and so good.  You can actually see them making the batter and the donuts, regular size and minis, right there.  After you order, they prepare your donut.  Everything is made to order.

Behind the counter looks like something you would see at a yogurt shop, where they have all the toppings to choose from.  Sprinkles, chocolate, vanilla and maple frosting, bacon, coconut, cinnamon and sugar, carmel sauce, nuts and much more.  You can have one of their special donuts or make your own combination of flavors.  Whatever way, they are great.  Eat them warm if you can.  If you take them home, you can reheat for 8-10 seconds and they're just as good as they would be right out of the fryer.

Duck Donuts began in North Carolina in 2007, is a franchise opportunity now, and has over 25 locations, most in the southeast.  There are now two locations in California,  Huntington Beach and Encinitas.

Duck Donuts are expensive, about double the price of a regular donut, but they are special.  Next time you are near Encinitas Blvd and El Camino Real, stop in for something special.  (can be ordered online too).  I'm so glad my office isn't next door to Duck Donuts.  I don't know how I'd resist.  Good luck, Laura.

More Veggies You've Probably Not Heard Of

Everytime I turn around I see a new fruit or vegetable in the market.  Are these really new, or just new to me?  Most of them are just new to me.  For whatever reason, most of them have not been available in the U.S. until recently.  Here are a few NEW vegetables.


1.  Spigarello is a wavy edible green with thin fibrous stems.  It is related to both the broccoli and kale families.  You eat the leaves, not the flowers.  It's an Italian heirloom variety.  There are many recipes for it on line.

2.  Kaboucha is a Japanese winter squash, sometimes called a Japanese pumpkin.  It is slightly sweet, and could be substituted for acorn squash or pumpkin in recipes.

3.  Cardoons are artichoke thistle in the sunflower family.

4.  Crosnes is another form of artichoke native to China and Japan.  It is sometimes called Chinese artichoke.  It's name hails from Crosnes, France, where it was first cultivated in the 19th century.  (It got here when the French were trading with the Chinese).  You can eat it raw, boiled, baked or steamed, and is similar to a sunchoke, with a nutty flavor.  It's also found in upscale restaurants and specialty markets.

Now that you've heard a bit about these lesser known veggies, you will probably see them, either on a menu or in the market, and you, unlike most others, will know what they are.

"Life is about how you react when you get a bad bounce." Thomas Friedman

While reading the opinion section of the NYT a few days after Tiger Woods' remarkable win in the 2019 Masters, I stumbled across an opinion article written by Thomas Friedman, one of favorite writers and thinkers right now.  He said, "Life is about how you react when you get a bad bounce."  I said to myself, "That's it.  That is absolutely true."  If we're talking about Tiger, his life turned upside down over a decade ago, much of it his own doing, but he gathered himself together, did the work, and here he is in 2019, Masters champion once again.  Most of us don't realize what a truly difficult feat he has achieved.  Four back surgeries, endless hours of rehab, and mental toughness, made it happen for him.  So much is about mental strength.

I can't help but think of my husband Ron, and how he has reacted to his bad bounce(s).  Yes, he's had more than one bad bounce.  19 months in federal prison because of a minor tax infraction by an overzealous prosecutor, commonly treated with a tax penalty and then several years later, a diagnosis of ALS.  I'd call that a bad bounce, but he has survived.  Losing house, money, friends and family, he has survived by putting one foot in front of the other, having a plan (financial), keeping his sense of humor and knowing from his earlier achievements that success is based on honesty, integrity and hard work.  So here we are in a beautiful home, with a small circle of good friends, some old, some new, strong family support from our children and my mom, and by anyone's standards, a good life.  Yes, ALS has taken away much of Ron's ability to move, but his spirit is strong.  Ron got a bad bounce, but that doesn't mean he's out of the game, by any means.

Each one of you know someone where life has taken a bad bounce.  How one reacts is what it's all about.  Unfortunately, some withdraw from life and never recover.  Others find a way  to move forward.  Regardless of what you think of Tiger personally, and I don't think anyone condones his marital behavior that lead to his initial fall from grace, he must be admired for the physical and mental strength it took to  achieve what he has ultimately achieved.  What Ron has done is also remarkable.  He has rebuilt a business, worked hard to keep friends and family close and involved in his life, and tried every day to be the best person, and the best example of how to live a difficult life with dignity.  Above all, he wants his children and grandchildren to be proud of how he lives his life.

Who KIlled Sam Cooke?

I knew very little about Sam Cooke until I watched an original Netflix documentary about his life.  He was more than just a handsome young singer with a beautiful voice.  He was a businessman, songwriter and activist.  Why was he murdered at age 33, long before he had written or sung his best songs?  The answer is a mystery, but there are several theories.

First, there were a group of young black celebrities that were starting to stir things up in America.  Jim Brown, Mohammed Ali, Malcom X, and Sam Cooke were all involved in the Civil Rights Movement.  They were friends.  Mohammed Ali and Sam Cooke were great friends.  One thought is that the FBI, on whose watch list these four men were, might have had him killed.  He was getting too powerful, some thought.  Another thought that his manager might have had him killed, as they had had a big argument several days prior to his death and Sam was going to leave him.  Another possibility is that the hooker that was in his hotel room and the female manager of the motel were telling the truth.  It's possible that he was just considered another "black man," whose life was not  worth much.

We'll never know the answer, but as Smokey Robinson said in the documentary, "If it had been a white singer, say Frank Sinatra, who had been killed, there would have been a thorough investigation."

Toward the end of his life he started writing and recording more political songs, like "Change is a coming."  He even recorded Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind.  Although he is not thought of as an activist or civil rights leader, he was.  He refused to perform to segregated audiences and he spoke out for the black man, at a time when most were afraid to. When he was scheduled to perform on the Dick Clark show the KKK threatened to blow up the buildingbut  he went on stage He never recovered from the death of his youngest son Vincent, who drowned  in the family pool.  Shortly thereafter he started drinking and womanizing, which in part lead to his murder.  He was at Martoni's in Hollywood, eating and drinking a lot, flashing his large wad of money around, and flirting with women, one of which he picked up and took back to a motel room that fateful night.

Toast Gastrobrunch Is Great

Unfortunately Pisco didn't make it in Carlsbad, but  I'm quite sure the new restaurant, Toast Gastrobrunch will.  I was there on a rainy Saturday morning at 10am, and there was a 30 minute wait.  Not much has changed on inside.  The booths remain, and the high top tables (which is what most of the remaining tables are) are new, and bright.  What's changed is the kitchen.  They've gone from Peruvian food to very fine  breakfast and brunch food.  I  really loved the menu and what I ate was delicious, and what I saw others eating looked delicious.

Everything is made from scratch, from the fresh roasted veggies used in some dishes, to the home made batter for french toast.  Fran and I shared strawberry toast, one of several toast option on the menu.  A thick slice of toasted bread spread with ricotta cheese, then topped with fresh strawberries and some seasoning.  Very delicious, and good to split.  They also have the classic avocado toast, and several other toast selections.  We ordered the spicy chilequilles, which was delicious, but just a bit too spicy for me.  Pancakes and french toast looked amazing, as did the egg dishes.  Toast also offers many alcoholic and non alcoholic specialty drinks, in addition to good, rich, coffee.

I didn't know it before going there, but they are part of Open Table, so you can make a reservation on line.  I highly suggest that, and will do so in the future.  It's great to have a new breakfast/brunch spot in Carlsbad with a fresh, modern menu, takes reservations and has great parking.

Chinese Government Is Collecting DNA Data On Muslims

In a far region of China, the Xinjiang region, DNA samples, fingerprints and other biometric data is being collected from every resident in a region populated by 11 million Uighurs, a Muslim Turkic minority.  Why?  We don't know, but officials say it is to help deal with poverty.  The information they gather can be used for surveillance of persons because of ethnicity, religion, opinion or other protected excersice of rights like free speech, according to Human Rights Watch.

Part of the collection is being done through government-provided medical checkups, and it is unclear if patients are aware the exam is also designed to transmit biometric data to the police.
Although the checks are officially voluntary, one Uighur said local cadres “had demanded that they must participate in the physicals”. A story in a local newspaper encouraged officials to “work hard to convince them to participate”.
Nearly 19 million people have participated in the medical exams, dubbed Physicals for All, in 2017, according to state news agency Xinhua. For people determined to be “focus personnel” – a euphemism for those the government views as dangerous – their data will be collected regardless of age.
“The mandatory databanking of a whole population’s biodata, including DNA, is a gross violation of international human rights norms,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. “It’s even more disturbing if it is done surreptitiously, under the guise of a free healthcare program.

The collection of DNA can have many positive uses in the modern world, but can also be used to cause harm.  What do you think?  I find this alarming.  I hope world watch groups bring this to everyone's attention and there is some control on the collection and use of DNA worldwide.

To Tell The Truth

Watch the news today, and you know we're being lied to.  From the president, to the police, to the Catholic Church, we are constantly being lied to.  How do you know who to believe?  In the age of instant fact checking, we CAN check statements that people are being made and make up our own minds about what is the truth.

Lying by world leaders is not new.  It's been going on for centuries, but it does seem to be more prevalent and more often than in days gone by.  So, what do we tell our children?

We raise our children stressing the importance of "telling the truth."  How often did you say to your children, "Don't lie to me."  So what do we tell our children who hear us talk about the lies that the government and religious leaders are telling us?  How are they going to grow up having trust in anyone?

Everyone tells little lies, like "If Martha calls, tell her I'm not home."  This is a harmless lie, and children early on  understand the difference between a big lie and a white lie.  I don't know how parents explain the lying that exists today to their children.  I'm glad I don't have to do it.  It's an interesting issue to think about, and our discussion group at Ocean Hills tackled it this morning.  Our conclusion was that adults must fact check and investigate to see if they are being told the truth.  Thank goodness we have great investigative reporters that are tenacious and won't give up in their search to get to the truth.  How to raise children to tell the truth is a bit harder.  I fear that future generations will grow up without trust.

Why Are We Getting So Fat?

There is no simple answer, but after watching a documentary about Dr. Giles Yeo and his study of genetics in the UK, I realize that genes, environment and diet influence your weight.  Why people eat more is complex, but statistics show that people are so much heavier than ever before.  It's important to know your BMI.  If it's more than 25, you are overweight.  60% of Brits are now overweight, and it's much higher in the U.S.  Fast food is a big contributor.  Fast food restaurants have increased 45% in the last 20 years, and living near fast food outlets doubles your chance of being obese.

Genetics plays a big role in obesity.  Your FTO can be measured, which will tell you whether you have risk variants for obesity.  If you have two FTO's you are more likely to be obese, as you will gravitate to foods high in fat and carbs, and low in fiber.

Gut bacteria, of which we all have somewhere around 100 trillion in our body, can also have an influence on weight.  Donor feces is now being studied (fecal transplant) that will replace the ad bacteria one may have with good bacteria.  Also, using the feces of lean donor as opposed to overweight donors, has been found to influence GLP1, an important hunger hormone.  It's all complicated, and there are no easy answers, but science has determined that the Mediterranean diet is probably best overall.  It consists of a variety of foods, lots of fresh fruits and veggie, yogurt (good for the gut), olive oil, olives, fish and lean animal protein.  Scientists now think that bacteria may be the key to weight control.

One scientist felt sure that in the next ten years there will be a hormone injection available that will be easy, inexpensive, and pretty much end obesity.  In the mean time, millions of people world wide are struggling, many thinking it's their fault that they're fat, when in fact there are many other factors that may be contributing to their problem. 

Oceanside Restaurants, New and Old

Oceanside is becoming quite the place for some very good restaurants, some fancy, some casual.  Here are just a few.  Some of them have been around for a few years, others are quite new.

Ty's Burger House has been around for a while.  It's on Mission, and serves burgers, sandwiches and salads.  Food is good and fresh.  Carmine's is a mostly pizza restaurant on Coast Highway.  I have not eaten there, but have it on good authority that they have great THIN pizza.  That's what I like.  They also serve meatballs and good salads.  A fairly new Indonesian restaurant is Dija Mara.  I have not been there, and I'm not sure I've ever eaten Indonesian food.  The menu lists a number of items I have not heard of, so I would say it is for the adventurous eater.  Finally, a very new restaurant on Coast Highway is Exhale.  It's the brainchild of the chef and owner of LTH (Local Tap House), one of my favorite restaurants in Oceanside.  It's right across the street from LTH, and has beautiful indoor and outdoor space.  It's Mexican/Southwest food, and the menu sounds very creative.  That will be my next dinner choice in Oceanside.

Things are always changing in the food industry.  Restaurants come and go, so I will keep my eyes open for these changes, and let you know.

China's Changing Diet

For decades, China's diet has consisted of rice and vegetables, with a little protein now and then.  Things are changing, and China, with its prominence on the world stage, has gone from a plant based diet to one with more animal protein, milk and dairy.  What the Chinese middle class eat over the course of the next century will be a key factor in climate change, as the increase in animal protein and milk will be a negative factor.

Diet changes in China are felt all around the world environmentally and economically. China now feeds 20% of the world’s population and consumes half of the world’s pork. Raising more hogs, far and away the livestock of choice in China, means producing more feed domestically and importing feed from other countries—both activities have a significant carbon footprint. In addition to pork, intake of eggs, poultry and dairy products continues to grow. Interestingly, the Chinese Dietary Guidelines call for 300 grams of milk and dairy per day, which is more than 10 times what the average Chinese citizen consumed in 2007. If the Chinese come close to meeting the guidelines for dairy intake, their consumption of dairy alone would have a significant negative impact on GHG emissions, water, pollution and the environment as well as the population’s health.

There are many factors that influence climate change, but China's diet is not one I had thought of.  Of course it makes perfect sense.  More animals mean more manure which means more methane and nitrous oxide in the air, which we all know  negatively effects climate. (Greenhouse Gases).  Many Americans have changed to a plant based diet, but we are not the ones that need to do this.  Big countries, like China, India and Indonesia need to do it, and they all seem to be going in the wrong direction.The good news is that scientists are finding ways to raise and feed cattle AND reduce GHG.  We'll probably always be eating animal protein, so hopefully scientists will find ways to raise animals without producing unwanted greenhouse gases.