What Does Net Neutrality Mean For You?

I wasn't really sure what net neutrality meant until I attended a discussion group recently, where the topic was raised.  What is net neutrality?  It is the internet's guiding principle.  It preserves our right to communicate freely online.  Net Neutrality means an internet that enables and protects free speech.  It means that ISP's(Internet Service Providers like Comcast, ATT and Verizon) should provide us with open networks-and shouldn't block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks.  It's similar to your phone company not being able to decide who you call or what you say on that call.

Until the recent vote by the FCC to remove Net Neutrality from the internet, our expectation was to be connected to whatever website we wanted.  We expected that the phone company or cable company isn't messing with the data and is connecting you to all websites, applications and content you choose.  You expect to be in control of your internet experience.  That may all change soon.

Without Net Neutrality, ISP's will be able to call all the shots and decide which websites, content and applications succeed.  They can slow down competitors' content or block political opinions they disagree with.  They can charge extra fees to the few content companies that can afford to pay for preferential treatment, relegating everyone else to slower service.

In 2015 the FCC passed strong Net Neutrality rules, giving internet users the strongest protections possible.  This new ruling creates particularly devastating  results to marginalized communities.  (people of color, LGBTQ, religious minorities).  These groups rely on the internet to organize, access economic and educational opportunities, and fight back against systemic discrimination.

Who benefits from a more controlled internet?  Big business benefits for sure.  Small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs rely on the open internet to launch their businesses, create markets and advertise.  With the new regulation, ISP's will be able to exploit their gatekeeper position and destroy the internet's fair and level playing field.

If you believe this new regulation is damaging to our democracy, let your congressman and senators know.  Laws and regulations are being dismantled at an alarming rate, that will benefit big business and drive out small business and entrepreneurs.  These regulations threaten a fair and free internet, and ultimately our democracy.  Do something if you care about keeping the internet open and free.

What Does Doug Jones' Win Means For America?

I've been listening to reporters talk about the stunning upset by Doug Jones in the race for the senate seat in Alabama.  Yes, a Democrat hasn't won in over 25 years.  A Democrat hasn't even come close.  Was it that Roy Moore was such a flawed candidate that cost him victory?  Was it the support of Bannon and Trump?  Or was it something else?  I think it was a combination of factors.

I don't need to rehash what a despicable person Roy Moore is, and that that should have been enough to disqualify him from running.  We all know what he is, and nobody liked him, even the staunchest Trump supporter.  But his supporters would rather have a twice removed from office judge and accused pedophile in the U.S. Senate than a Democrat.  That's party above everything, if I've ever seen it.

Blacks came out in droves to vote for Doug Jones, and that really helped.  Jones had a larger percentage of the black vote than Obama got.  Democrats really got out the vote.  But it was the women that really put Jones over the top.  College educated women and women with children, although largely Republican in the past, made a moral judgement.  Mothers and educated women could not stand by and watch Roy Moore win, so they came out an voted.  Many former Republicans crossed over to a candidate whose morality they could relate to.  This was a win not just for Doug Jones, but for women.  Women should now understand that they CAN make a difference.

In staunchly Republican states like Alabama, women often voted however their husband voted.  Women are developing a voice.  They are understanding that they can think for themselves, and when they go into the voting booth, they can make their own decision and help determine outcomes.  It's a new era for women, and hopefully they will come out in droves next year and vote for the best candidate, regardless of party.  I'm hoping that the Alabama election is the first of many elections around the country where citizens reject bigotry and misogeny, and vote for the best candidate.

Great Mediterranean Food In An Unlikely Place

Hidden inside the North Park Produce Market in Vista (a few blocks from Costco Vista), is a fabulous Persian restaurant.  It's called Aladdin Grill, and although it's not really a great dining experience, the food is great.  I went there with Audrey (a vegan) for lunch one day, and not only had a great lunch, but did some fun shopping.

I love shopping in ethnic markets.  The Asian and Korean markets have always been favorites of mine.  I love a great Italian market.  North Park Produce is a full supermarket, with a strong emphasis on foods from the Middle East.  Imports from Iran, Turkey, Israel, Poland and Scandinavia are common.  I had to refrain from buying spices and pickled vegetables and breads of all sorts.  I only bought a few persimmons, delicious baklava (5 kinds to choose from) and some herring fillets from Scandinavia.  The array of prepared foods is impressive.  You won't be able to refrain from buying something!

Lunch was delicious.  I ordered the beef shwarma plate.  For $4.99 (special of the day) I got a huge plate of Persian rice (delicious) piled high with beef shawarma, and nice salad with lettuce and tomatoes, and some soft, warm, lavosh.  I could barely finish half, so I packed up the rest and took it home to Ron for dinner.  He loved it, and can't wait to go back for another meal.  Audrey ordered the falafel wrap, again, more than one person could eat.  Lots of shish kebob, chicken and beef, cooked over an open fire.  They looked great.  Lots of bread of all kinds.  The most interesting one was a big ball of dough cooked over an open fire that puffed up.  I could hardly resist it, but it was so big I didn't know what I would do with it all.  Hummus, babaganoush and other Persian salads were also on the menu.  If you're in the area around lunch or dinner time, stop by North Park Produce, and eat at Aladdin Grill.  You will love it.

When Western Medicine Fails You

All of us have probably faced a situation where our doctor is unable to cure what ails us, or make us feel any better.  I have had a condition for over 20 years, and am no closer to resolving the problem now than I was in 1996 when it first appeared.  Out of nowhere, I started clearing my throat, and multiple doctors and tests later, I am still clearing my throat all the time.  Western medicine has failed to find an answer.  What should I do next?  Here's what others have done when Western medicine has failed them

  My friend was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 15 months ago, and has been suffering terribly.  After seeing a top rheumatologist, taking drug, after drug, after drug, with no relief, she  was depressed and desperate.  She found another medical doctor who used diet, rather than drugs, to help her.  Within a month of stopping all drugs, and changing to a diet that eliminated gluten, sugar, milk and egg products, she is pain free, inflammation free and HAPPY.  I know it sounds too good to be true, but when Western medicine failed her, she turned to something so simple, it's amazing.  One more thing.  She takes turmeric every day, but that will be the subject of another blog.

The day after I heard the story about my friend with rheumatoid arthritis, I heard another similar story.  An acquaintance of mine used to be a harpist.  She has not been able to play for months because of arthritis, in this case osteoarthritis.  She too, went from doctor to doctor, drug to drug, in search of relief.  She finally started taking 1,000 mg of turmeric everyday, and within a month she was pain free and back to playing the harp.

These stories sound too good to be true, and if I didn't know the people involved and what they had been through, I might think they were "fake."

Another friend has a grandchild who was diagnosed with a rare "orphan" disease.  (I can't remember the name of it right now).  She went to specialists, and was treated with many drugs, including chemotherapy.  It wasn't until her parents, who did hours of research, put her on a special diet, that she got significant results.  She is off gluten, and she possibly has other dietary restrictions.  She is now in remission and doing well, all from a change in diet.

So,when Western medicine is not helping, look elsewhere.  Do research, ask a million questions, learn about foods, and what causes inflammation, a source of many of our health problems.  Learn about herbs and supplements.  Don't accept that feeling bad, achy, tired, etc. are just because of age.  We can do something about these conditions, and if your Western doctor doesn't know what to do, look at nutrition, acupuncture, or  other alternatives.

For me, Western medicine is always the first place to look for answers.  But there are many conditions that can be helped through diet, herbs and supplements, something most American trained doctors know little or nothing about.  If one thing doesn't work, try something else.  I plan to try to get my throat clearing dealt with soon.  I need to do research and perhaps see another doctor with a different perspective.

Taking Life One Step At A Time

Ron and I are going through some health issues that we never saw coming.  After being diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, having serious business difficulties  from 200-2010, being diagnosed with ALS in 2015, we thought our difficulties were behind us.  Not so.  Several weeks ago Ron was diagnosed with Stage 2 bladder cancer, so we now have another battle to fight.  As we've done with all difficulties in the past, our approach is to take one day at a time.

I call it "peeling away the layers of an onion."  It's daunting to think about the future if you think about all the obstacles.  My idea is to take each day, each issue as it comes, and not think too much about all the things you are going to go though.  First, we had to get all our doctors on board, consult with them, and determine a course of action.  Next, we had to set up appointments.  Then, we had to take each day and deal with whatever happens.  Each day,  peeling each layer of the onion, gets us closer to the end of treatment.  We are just getting started, and I will not write much about the process, but I just wanted to talk about my feeling that taking things step by step keeps you from getting overwhelmed.

Many years ago Ron had a business problem that was extremely complex, and I mentioned to him at the time that taking each step to completion before going on to the next was the best way to approach the problem.  It worked.  He took it one step at a time, and the project was completed and things were fine.  I'm hoping that approach will work for him now.  We're just getting started on this difficult road, but one step at a time is our approach to getting to the finish line.

Homemade Cracker Candy: An Easy Sweet Treat

When you need an easy sweet treat for home use, or a hostess gift, or to take to a pot luck, look no further.  This chocolatey, nutty brickle, is just the thing.  Here's the simple recipe.  The only thing that takes any time is cooling it before breaking it up!

                                   Homemade Cracker Candy

40 saltines (one sleeve)
1 c. butter
1 c. + 2 T. firmly packed brown sugar (I like light brown sugar)
 1 bag chocolate chips
chopped nuts (your choice)

Spread saltines side by side on a cookie sheet, filling the entire sheet.  Boil butter and brown sugar for five minutes, then spread on top of the saltines.  Melt the bag of chocolate chips and spread on top of the butter and brown sugar mix.  Then sprinkle with nuts, pushing them into the chocolate a little.  Place tray in freezer and cool until mixture is hard.  Break into pieces like brittle, then store in an air tight container.  This won't last long, it's so delicious.

Caramel Oranges

It may not look like much, but this easy dessert, an Italian favorite, is delicious.  I rediscovered this wonderful dish recently, in the new magazine 177 MilkStreet.  This is the newest endeavor of Christopher Kimball, formerly the host of  the PBS TV show,

Cook's Country.  He has a web site with recipes, a magazine and a cookbook, and an online store.  His recipes are great.  I saw this recipe in the most recent edition of the magazine, and it reminded me of a trip Ron and I took over 40 years ago.

Our very first trip to Europe was in the early 1970's.  We went through a tour company booked through May Co.  We were poor, and the trip was for those on a budget.  We had two weeks in London, a meal card at restaurants near our hotel, and the rest was on us.  We stayed at Holiday Inn Swiss Cottage, about a 15 minute tube ride from central London.  There was an Italian restaurant near the hotel that we could eat at with a voucher given to us by the tour company, so we ate there several nights.  They had the caramel oranges for dessert there, and it was the main reason we kept going back.  It was so good that I remember it all these years later, and so does Ron.

So I made it tonight, and hope it lives up to my expectations.  You know how it is when you remember something from years ago.  It never seems to be as good as you remember it.  In any event, it's an easy dessert I hope you'll try.

                                   Caramel Oranges

6 naval oranges, peeled, pith removed, and sliced thin, about 6 slices per orange
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 T. butter

Prepare the oranges, and arrange in a round pan, with rounds slightly overlapping.  Make the caramel sauce by melting the sugar with the cinnamon sticks and 1/4 cup of orange juice.  Cook over medium heat until frothy and bubbly, then it will start to turn darker with smaller bubbles.  Continue cooking until caramel is copper colored.  Remove from heat, add the rest of the orange juice.  The mixture will bubble up.  Keep stirring and incorporate all the orange juice, then add butter to finish.  Pour mixture over oranges.  Cover dish with plastic wrap, and cool for 3-6 hours.  Now, it's ready to serve.  Serve as is, or, pour over vanilla ice cream or pound cake.  You'll love it.