Dinner Tonight: Orange Spam with Couscous

I was looking at the leftovers in my fridge and wondering what I could do to maximize the use of my resources. As I rummaged through the contents, I found some leftover Spam. I don't eat Spam as I once did, but I had some left over from these wonderful crescents I made for a recent church activity. I only had about the same amount that you get in those singles packs, so I thought about what to do with that amount. Spam is like ham as far as where it comes from, I thought, so why not make a glaze and then you could serve it with your leftover couscous? Kill two birds with one stone.

I got out a few ingredients and a bowl to get started. Of course, Tashi always gets curious when I cook, so she was especially curious to see me experimenting.








I took a cup of dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup of orange marmalade, 1/4 cup honey dijon mustard, and a tbl of cloves. The marmalade is the all-fruit kind.



I started mixing this together when I got to this point and had an epiphany: "Hey, moron, since you are probably going to heat the glaze anyway, why not mix the ingredients in the pot and just skip the bowl?"


So I did just that.








While the glaze was heating, I took the Spam and cubed it. Then I placed it into a skillet to fry. I know you can eat Spam raw, something my brother always did while we were growing up. I never did that. If you're meat, you're better cooked. Period.

I turned back to the glaze to see the mixture liquifying a bit. I continued to stir this occasionally.





As I stir, I noticed that the glaze seemed a bit runny to me, so I tossed in 2 tbl of flour to thicken the mixture.





I removed the Spam from the skillet and patted it with paper towels to remove as much of the grease as I could.





Then the cubed Spam goes into the glaze mixture. I stirred just until the mixture started to boil. Then I removed from heat.





I served the Orange Spam over couscous and added in some salad and mixed vegetables on the side. The recipe makes enough for two servings, so I get the scrumdilliuptiousness of the experience repeated. Wonderful!

Who's serving who?

Last weekend I decided to take a break from the usual scene and head off to Atlanta. The trip wore me out but it was a good one. After checking into my hotel I went looking for a place to eat, and once my stomach quit talking to me, I made my way to the Atlanta Botanical Garden where Bruce Hornsby was playing a concert. The set-up was interesting; he had established the stage in front of the conservatory building, and the lawn out in front of it was where the audience seated themselves.

The concert experience overall was mediocre. Bruce Hornsby's self-deprecation was pronounced such that I could not tell if he were trying to be funny or serious. But he did dispense with the usual programming artists arrange at concerts, saying that he was taking requests. At this the crowd started shouting after every number. Some people started booing after some of the songs because their request was not honored. As the night grew long and more alcohol left the concession stands, the crowd grew more disrespectful, booing more vociferously, growing more restless, and starting to stand and block the view of those who were seated. A group of ladies blocked my view, preferring to dance and chat while Bruce was playing magnificently on stage. I didn't come just to hear live music but to see the artist perform as well. At the very end, the crowd was an even mix of cheering and booing. In my opinion, Bruce Hornsby is too talented a musician to deserve the treatment that he got that night. The idea of hearing his music in the botanical garden was delightful but not delightful enough to cancel out the disrespect displayed by many audience members to the performers as well as to others in the crowd. I left somewhat dissatisfied.

I was not dissatisfied on Saturday morning, however. I visited the MLK Historic Site and was greatly impressed by what I found. Upon entering the park, the path, called the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, contains footsteps of those who "walk in the path of Dr. King." There are also small monuments engraved with his words. I was most impressed with these: "When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice." Given the current state of affairs in our nation's history, I found these words very inspiring.

I also found a statue of Gandhi at the site appropriate. Dr. King was of course very much influenced by the teachings of Gandhi. So it did not surprise me to see his statue there. What did surprise me is to see that between a fourth and a third of the park was actually devoted to Gandhi. Not out of place, but surprising.

Those who know me well know how loathe I am to photograph inside a museum, but I just had to make an exception for the cart that carried Dr. King's body during his funeral service. I also saw a film that depicted scenes from his life and the civil rights movement, and it brought me to tears. I reflected on the persecution that my own forefathers faced because of their beliefs, and I recognized many similarities between their struggle and the one led by Dr. King.

After viewing the exhibits I saw a place where visitors could leave some remarks. I thumbed through the pages and found a typical variety, which is to be expected. Some people praised Dr. King for the work that he did. Some insulted his efforts by making insinuations against the President. Some used Dr. King's moral superiority as a platform for racial superiority. But I did find one page that had some remarks that seemed to me to be proper and appropriate. The praise was temperate and confident. It presumed that all were equal, and it made no insinuations about reparations or otherwise returning evil for evil. I was so impressed that I left a few words of my own, praising this writer and extolling the reader to temperance and love while espousing liberty and freedom for all people. When I hear Dr. King's message, this is what I hear.

There were many other things to see at the park, and I was able to take lots of pictures that I have no room for here. But I did want to share one more. This is a view of the church where Dr. King preached along with his father. The congregation still meets today, but there is a more modern building just across the street. I was deeply touched and moved by what I saw and heard at this park. I reflected upon my own life and where I am today, and in so doing the words of Dr. King ringed loudly in my ears -- "The most pressing question of life is this: What are you doing to serve others?"

I guess that was the difference between my two experiences in Atlanta this past weekend. The first was a compilation of people serving themselves, inconsiderate of others in their search of self gratification. The second was a compilation of people coming to learn about and appreciate a single man who gave of himself to serve others, a man who submitted to something larger than himself. His example continues to inspire and ennoble even today, over forty years after his death. And the effect that each of these experiences had on me was as different as night and day. Dr. King's question serves as a great resumen of that difference. "What are you doing to serve others?" It's a question that I think all of us could profit from if we thought about it a little more often. Just exactly who is serving who? Are we insisting that others serve us? Or are we insisting on serving other people?

One more thing: I actually paid out money for the lesser experience. The better experience was completely free.

Where in the world is Radio?

I missed this film when it was released and happened to watch it recently. I was so impressed with this wonderful, feel-good journey that I decided to pay a visit to Radio's hometown of Anderson. After all, it's only a 30-minute drive (give or take, depending on how many of South Carolina's finiest are out on the job) from Greenville on I-85 South. So I got online and did a quick search for Anderson's visitor center. I saw a few things that interested me and planned my trip out there.

First stop was the Anderson County Museum. Outside was this marker for a prominent community member back in the day. Inside was a whole host of items going back to the colonial days. I was very impressed to see what was claimed to be General Andrew Pickens's sword. (For those of you not in the know, Andrew Pickens led the rebel forces here in South Carolina, where more Revolutionary War battles were fought than in any other state. He's a total patriot.) There was tons of other stuff, from the totally mundane to the uniquely fascinating. And everything was from the local area. For some reason I was impressed with their education display, showing yearbooks from almost the past 100 years. I was also impressed with the textile exhibit which showed a real cotton gin (yeah, I know, I can't help it -- I'm an engineer). Next stop was the firehouse which had a special wing reserved as a museum of old fire fighting equipment. The place was closed, so all I got was the window tour, which only left me wanting more. Guess I'll have to come back another day for that one.

I found my way into the arts center, which is integrated into the vistor's center office. I have always struggled with the visual arts because I see what looks not too different from the messes I made in kindergarten earning some "ar-tiste" tons of money and I never got a penny for my work. And don't tell me my work didn't have passion. Anywho, what I saw in this museum in Anderson was what I call deomcratic art. This is art of the people because the people can connect to it, as opposed to elitist art, which is designed to serve as a marker for membership in an elite group who are the only ones who can "comprehend" and "appreciate" what is "real art." I did see a little of that elitist art in the museum. But the vast majority was democratic. I could connect to it. I was most impressed with oil paintings that looked like photographs. I kid you not!

I saved the best for last. The website for the vistor's center showed a statue of James "Radio" Kennedy erected in front of T.L. Hanna High School, and so since the film had inspired me to visit Anderson, I saw it only fitting to visit the statue. The picture here is from their website.

The high school itself looks very different from what was seen in the film. No surprises there. But the statue was nowhere to be seen. The campus itself is very small. I looked out front and even drove around back and saw nothing! What the holy Hebrew hay is this? At first I felt cheated. That vistor's center website got me all pumped up with this statue when the truth was it was all a scam! Then after I satisfied my tummy and settled down a bit, I got to thinking. There was a lot of graffiti on the road that runs right next to the high school -- you know, stupid stuff like "Joe loves Betty" and "Bubba was here '07". Maybe the statue was there at one time and then removed to protect it from vandalism -- or to protect it from further vandalism. I'm surprised that the local community doesn't try to profit from such a turn of events. They could make this board game called Where in the World is Radio? in which you take a jaunt around historic and scenic Anderson looking for Radio. You get to learn a little history and local lore while you are entertained. And the best part is that people like me could repeat what they did in real life without having all the extra expenses. Just kidding.

Seriously, though, I was a little disappointed not to see the statue there. The story behind Radio is one that both promotes the family as the premiere social institution while at the same time breaking ground for the place of disabled persons (for lack of a better term -- I used all my wordsmithing skills for my employer today, so sue me) in our society. If such a story can make it easier for people to accept and relate to disabled persons as real human beings, then that is a good thing. And with the imperfections that all of us have, we are each "disabled" in our own way. I guess I just liked to celebrate the film's celebration of humanity, of the common need we all have to love and to be loved. And I guess that is why I was disappointed not to see the statue, because in the context of the film that statue was for me the monument erected by the local community to that shared humanity. Well, at least I can say that I enjoyed the journey.

Dinner Tonight: Oriental Salad

I didn't feel like making much tonight, or eating much for that matter. Often that means salad as a meal. Lately I've been experimenting with other foods, so I thought, why not with salad too? I looked for what I had on hand and threw together what I am calling Oriental Salad.

I started with salad mix, which I typically buy in bags. You would be amazed at how cost effective that is. Buying straight iceburg lettuce salad is not so cost effective, but the other more exotic varieties are, because to buy all the ingredients to make it yourself cost way more than just buying the small amounts in the bagged version. This time I had purchased a salad mix with lettuce, radishes, carrot slices (not just the shredded slivers), and snow peas. Not bad as the base for an oriental-style salad.

Next, I tossed in some peanuts and cashews for crunch. Some people talk about how nuts are bad for you because they are high in fat, but I side with those who say you need some fat in your diet. Then I tossed in some mandarin oranges and, for the dressing, some lite raspberry pomegranate (okay, maybe not that authentic Asian, but hey, I said I was using what I had on hand). A very small handful of chow mien noodles for some added crunch (can you tell I like crunchy?), and voila! The flavors of the oranges and the dressing balanced each other very well, and this salad was both easy to prepare and tasty to eat. I'm going to have to keep this one on file to make again.

Long Live the Tash

It seems like lately I get folks asking about the cat. If family is asking, they usually follow with something about my mother's cat. If friends are asking, they usually follow with "Oh, Tashi is just so cute" and then add in details about their own cat or one they once had. So, I decided to lay everything to rest (at least momentarily) and show how well the cat is doing.

I got this Cat Sitter DVD for Tashi. Although the view in the screen didn't come out in the pic, here she is watching the birds. The other animals on the DVD don't interest her as much, but when the birds are playing, she is absolutely mesmerized. She has even attacked the monitor trying to get to the bird! (And no, for all you dog lovers, that is not a sign of lacking intelligence; rather I consider it the suspension of intelligence due to momentary obsession --- something we sentient humans succumb to as well.)

Next, I confess that my love for this animal has grown to the point where I now sing to her. At first, I adopted a song from Mary Poppins about feeding the birds since Tashi always has food on the brain.

Feed the Tashi, she's got food on the brain
Food on, food on, food on the brain
Feed the Tashi, food on the brain
Food on, food on, food on the brain

I had to meld some of the syllables together to get it to work right, but having done that with hymns in Spanish for years it was no problem. But then Coldplay came into my music collection and helped me modernize my serenade:


I came here with a load
And it feels so much ligh____ter
Now I met you
And honey you should know
I could never go____ on
Without you
Green eyes




Of course, the reason I sing is to mirror the singing she does for me. She purrs constantly. The pics that follow show but a sliver of our burgeoning relationship. Some of these pics are absolutely priceless, and in looking at them, I can almost hear Tashi speaking. I'm not sure why it is that cat lovers have this fetish with wanting their animals to speak, but I don't question that too much because I am too busy reveling in it.


"Come on, I'm the queen of FIFA--the Feline International Football Association. If you want to get the ball by me, start by giving me something to stay awake for!"





"You are getting sleepy. You cannot remember me doing anything bad."








"Now, where does he keep the turkey?"








"Can't I even get a snack without you watching? You're worse than the paparazzi!"







"What do you mean all I do is lay around the place? That's my job. Duh!"







"By touching my nose with my tongue, I ignite the magic power of my amulet. Now, kneel before me, petty human!"







"Of course I'm returning this stupid amulet for a refund. It's obviously defective."







"Enough with the computer. I'm right here!"








"Hey! I said no pictures!"









"Of course I'm the boss around here! That's why you're the one who works to pay the bills!"






And for a final pic, here we see the happy couple. I have to admit this cat is one of the best investments I've ever made. I'm so thankful to have this wonderful friend in my life. If only I knew of the real joy this animal would bring I would have adopted much sooner. But as it is, I'm happy to have her around (even if she does think that she is the real boss)!

"I shall repent in heaven"

For the 4th of July weekend I decided to take a hike at a local state park and then check out the John Adams miniseries produced by HBO. I thought that watching that would be rather appropriate given that not only was John Adams one of the Founding Fathers of the country with the role he played in promoting independence at the Continental Congress and shaping the Declaration of Independence but also he was the second President of the United States and he died along with Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1826 -- the 50th anniversary of the nation's birth.

I had some trepidations going in, based on the reputation that HBO has with its products. What convinced me to go forward was my respect for David McCullough's work. The series was based on his book.

Overall I was greatly impressed. I did not know that John Adams was the state's lawyer in the case resulting from the Boston Massacre, but his performance in that trial was impressive, and his belief in the rule of law and not man shone very brightly. He was full of passion (and in my opinion inspiration) as he participated in the events that led up to independence from Great Britain. From this point on the series seemed to drag more and more, but such was Adams's life after Philadelphia 1776. He is a fish out of water, caught in a world that he doesn't really understand and therefore cannot really relate to. His time as vice president under Washington was the same. His presidency was little different, as he spent most of his time trying to maintain some sense of balance between warring factions and parties, until there at the end he just grew so sick of the political game that he wanted nothing more to do with it. Again, a fish out of water, as the political game is best handled by those who have an agenda and work to move it forward. But I enjoyed the score.

I was rather shocked to see him sign the Alien and Seditions Acts, seeing as they were diametrically opposed to the liberty and freedom he defended so valiantly in the Continental Congress. He did hesitate because I think he sensed the danger, but he signed them because his wife told him to do so, and I think that she told him to do so because she was tired and wanted to be done with it. Disappointing to see that happen, but balanced out with the pleasure of seeing him resist Hamilton's desire for a national army as a step towards empire building.

As far as the actual production goes, the casting was incredible. I cannot think of anyone better suited to play each of the characters in the film. The score was amazing. I attached myself to it upon first hearing. And the issues that receive focused attention -- women's role in society, slavery, the balance between liberty and order, the relations within a family -- were fascinating to consider in the context of that day. Even more fascinating is how some of those issues, particularly those involving liberty and the rule of law, are still applicable to the present day. I would have liked to have seen more attention paid towards religious devotion. The dialogue contained many references to religion, but I did not see any religious acts portrayed in the film. In discussing this aspect with one friend, I was told that such inclusion in the film would have been too controversial and therefore it was not included. I have to disagree with that conclusion, given HBO's propensity to produce provacative films and series, especially those that tear at traditional religious and moral principles. So in that light, I suppose that I should be thankful that they did no more than omit demonstrations of religious devotion.

Notwithstanding that disagreement, I found the way in which they balanced the characters laudable. John Adams in real life was not the most attractive of men. He was short, stubborn, and lacked a certain diplomatic tack in his dealings with others. How do you tell the story of such a man without having other bright and glorious characters of the day overshadow your main figure? George Washington was perhaps the brightest star, but it was easy not be overshadowed by him since he was such a humble man. Benjamin Franklin too shown brightly, but he also was not threatening in that his tack for diplomacy served to highlight Adams's lack of it. Thomas Jefferson, however, posed a real problem. He did not speak much in public, but in private his true colors shone brighter than the sun at noon day (amazing how that reminds me of myself). Jefferson was also a man of many contradictions: wild yet tame, defending liberty yet owning slaves, eager to shame his enemies with scandals yet just as eager to hide his own scandals -- all of this and yet largely likeable at the same time. An inventor, engineer, architect, statesman, and scholar, Jefferson was a true Renaissance man. Such a figure could easily steal the limelight of any show, and yet the production was able to include Jefferson in a historically accurate way without overshadowing the main character. Absolutely brilliant.

The final DVD in the set contains a documentary on David McCullough that highlights some of his life and provides a brief overview of his work. That was most interesting, especially to see the small office he has behind his house where he does all of his writing on an old typewriter he bought second-hand in the 60s. I didn't think that anyone used those anymore. And it intrigued me think about McCollough's self-declared objective: to write history as literature, in essence to make the telling of history an art form. The DVDs also have an option entitled "Facts are Stubborn Things" which when selected will bring quotes and little historical tidbits on the screen as the film progresses, offering insights into life during those times. I only used that option in watching "Part 2: Independence" for a second time, but it was a very useful and enjoyable feature, unlike many added features on DVDs these days.

The film ends with some words from Adams himself: "Now, Posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it." That was the real thought provoker for me. All of the intellectual exercises I engaged previously were not as personalized as this one was. What am I doing with the freedom which my forefathers purchased for me? Am I squandering it? Or am I using it to advantage? And would that be full advantage? Those reflections alone make the film worth watching. Everything else laudable therein only adds thereto.

Bibliophiles unite!

Some time ago a friend of mine told me about goodreads.com, a place where people who love books can connect, get recommendations and reviews on books, and participate in other ways in the world of books and the people who love them. I was hesitant at first, but a year or so back I got into it and decided to use it for a special purpose. I knew that I wanted to embrace a regular reading program because I love to read and also because I knew that it would be a great way to renew my mind and learn more about the world around me. But in order for that renewal to occur, I needed to process my experience somehow, and I decided that writing a review after I finish a book and then posting it on goodreads.com would be an excellent way to do just that and also enlighten anyone who happened to read my reviews (at least I hope they are enlightened).

So now that I finished my latest tome, I decided after posting my review to goodreads.com that I would post it here as well. And if you care to see what else I have been reading, there is a link at the bottom of the post that can help you with that. Enjoy!

Fatherhood by Bill Cosby

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
So with Father's Day in June, I thought it appropriate to choose this tome for my next read. My experience was not what I expected.

I remember when I was a kid Bill Cosby had this show called Picture Pages. The show featured a workbook with pages that the kids would complete together with Bill on the tele. I never had Picture Pages, but I remember watching the show and wanting so very much to have that workbook so that I could follow along. Then as I got older I remember The Cosby Show and how funny it was. So my expectations going into this book was to laugh myself silly and have a totally fun read.

What surprised me first was that Bill Cosby's words are not the only ones in the book. There is a foreword and afterword by Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, who approached the subject of fatherhood from a rather serious point of view. I liked the sociological and psychological perspectives provided by Dr. Poussaint, but the seriousness of his writing was at odds with my expectations of laughing myself silly.

It also tempered Cosby's own style, or at least my own reading of him. Or maybe it was that I have grown and matured since I watched The Cosby Show as a teenager and what I found funny then no longer amuses me now. Granted, many of he stories he shared were hilarious. Take these words, for instance.

"You see, the wives pretend to turn over the child-raising job to us fathers, but they don't really mean it. One day, my wife said to me, 'He's your child. I wash my hands of him.' Where is this sink where you can wash your hands of a child? I want to wash my hands too, and then the boy can go free."

And to illustrate the point, Cosby tells this story. His wife awakens him at 6AM and tells him to go downstairs and fix breakfast for the kids. He naturally tries to resist, and he naturally fails. He then finishes the tale with these words:

"And so, downstairs I went, wondering about the divorce laws in my state, and I started slamming things around. I had bacon, sausages, and eggs all lined up when my four-year-old arrived, looking so adorable with her cute face and little braids.

"'Morning, Daddy,' she said.

"'Okay,' I said, 'what do you want for breakfast?'

"'Chocolate cake,' she replied.

"'Chocolate cake? For breakfast? That's ridiculous.'

"Then, however, I thought about the ingredients in chocolate cake: milk and eggs and wheat, all parts of good nutrition.

"'You want chocolate cake, honey?' I said, cutting a piece for her. 'Well, here it is. But you also need something to drink.'

"And I gave her a glass of grapefruit juice.

"When the other four children came downstairs and saw the four-year-old eating chocolate cake, they wanted the same, of course; and since I wanted good nutrition for them too, I gave each of them a piece.

"So there my five children sat, merrily eating chocolate cake for breakfast, occasionally stopping to sing:

"Dad is the greatest dad you can make!
"For breakfast he gives us chocolate cake!

"The party lasted until my wife appeared, staggered slightly, and said, 'Chocolate cake for breakfast? Where did you all get that?'

"'He gave it to us! He made us eat it!' said my five adorable ingrates in one voice; and then my eight-year-old added, 'We wanted eggs and cereal.'"

The book is filled with such stories, and I did have a good laugh. But Cosby's words also had a serious side to them, and it was that mixture that made me think as well as laugh. For example, the dedication contained these words: "And to those people with no children but who think they'd like to have them some day to fulfill their lives. Remember: With fulfillment comes responsibility." For some reason that made me think of that line from Spider-Man: With great power comes great responsibility. And while the power foremost in my mind was that of creating life and extending the generations, I also thought about the power of influence, and that is a power that we all have and therefore a responsibility that we all have also. So as I said at the start, my experience with this book was not at all was I expected. I expected to laugh and forget about life for a time. What I got instead was both laughter and a recollection of what life really can be. I recommend this book.
View all my reviews.

It takes one to H1N1

So with my recent illness and all, I mean I was away from the office for almost two weeks, I kept getting the question "Do you have swine flu?" My response: "No, I don't have swine flu. I have GE flu." (I guess you'd have to work where I do to find that funny, because those are the only people who laught at that.) But with all the buzz going around about swine flu (what scientists call "novel H1N1 virus"), I decided to do a little research to see if I did have it after all.

I started by going to Google and seeing what was out there. The top hit was the website for the Centers for Disease Control, which I already trusted as a reasonably good source of information. And the site (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm) does have some good info along with links to others sites. Here's an excerpt:

"With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65."

"So far, with novel H1N1 flu, the largest number of novel H1N1 flu confirmed and probable cases have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24-years-old. At this time, there are few cases and no deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this novel H1N1."

All very interesting, but notice how they don't give you the numbers? I'm not suggesting that they are hiding anything; it's just that me in my engineering mind was looking for the numbers in order to make a comparison which would lead to an assessment or conclusion. Like I said, there was lots of good info on the site.

Interestingly enough, I found these words buried in the site: "There is no vaccine available right now to protect against novel H1N1 virus." Wait, hold the phone! No vaccine?! "There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza." Gee, that's comforting. And somehow not all that surprising. But here's something on the site that was surprising -- a blurb about swine flu parties. I never heard of these before, so I read on.

"'Swine flu parties' are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has novel H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity to the novel H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease." And I thought they were doing it for a jolly, you know, like those idiots who inhale compressed air or glue fumes.

Somehow the words of one my former roommates came to mind: The gene pool definitely needs some more chlorine. But wait! There's more . . .

"CDC does not recommend 'swine flu parties' as a way to protect against novel H1N1 flu in the future." No? Really? You can't be serious. "While the disease seen in the current novel H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others." OK, so it has been fatal, but you won't give us the numbers. "There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus." Now there's a surprise. I can't predict with any certainty whether I'll get hit by a bus either.

"CDC recommends that people with novel H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible." I love the medical community; they have this great way of telling me what I already know and then charging me for the privilege of hearing it from them! "They should stay home from work or school for 7 days after the onset of illness or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer." Stay home from work? Alright, if you insist. Interestingly, these are the first real numbers I got that are associated with swine flu, and I like them!

Seriously, though, public health officials must be walking a fine line between informing people on the one hand and not creating massive panic and anarchy on the other. I've seen reports of other countries -- now more than 70 with reported cases -- taking this swine flu VERY seriously, lots of people wearing masks and detaining people at airports even. No one in this country is doing that (detaining people -- I have seen a few souls wearing masks). It makes me wonder why. Why aren't we taking it as seriously?


I hear lots of people discounting it, saying it is no big deal based on how many people are sick and how many are getting treatment (gee, I wish they'd share some numbers with me, because I just don't have them from the government or anyone else). Maybe they are right. But my real concern is if the virus mutates and comes back next year with a vengeance. The virus itself is a mutation of already extant flu strains. And we have already seen how quickly the virus can spread. Not a huge problem if the intensity of effect is low. But what if it mutates into a more wicked form, one that we aren't prepared to fight with our current vaccines?

Since I can't get numbers from an official source, I'll make them up. Imagine 30% of the people you work with sick with a stronger version of swine flu. If you are one of the 30%, it sucks to be you. But it also sucks to be you if you are one of the 70% because now you have to carry more than just your own weight. And if you are like me, you are busy enough that you seem to remember this thing called free time but the memories are all fuzzy and fading because that was such a long time ago.

I found lots more with Google, including this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wK1127fHQ4). At first I was totally showing old school colors. This is where you go for trusted information? But hey, lots of reputable sources are disseminating information via YouTube, so why not this? I found the linked video most interesting. It was straightforward, simple, and direct, a good summary of what to look for and precautions to take.


I had to go to the United Nations to get any numbers. I saw a chart from the World Health Organization with numbers of reported cases by country and thought that it would be interesting to see the numbers plotted on a map, but I didn't want to take the time to do it. Then I saw the link (http://www.who.int/csr/don/Map_20090626_0600.png) and realized that someone else had already done it for me. I am just listing the latest one, but if you are really interested, you can access previous updates on the WHO site and compare them to see where and how quickly the virus is spreading. They even have an interactive timeline.

I poked around some more on the CDC site and actually did find some authentic numbers for the US! They are tabulated at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm. But they aren't plotted on a map like WHO did with their numbers; the only may they show is one with relativistic categorizations -- no numbers. And as stated previously, I'm not taking the time to plot it out. But if you do know about this thing called free time, you are free to have at it.

Speaking of the gene pool needing some chlorine, the CDC website had this spicy tidbit in their FAQ section:

"Can I get infected with novel H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork?"

"No. Novel H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get infected with novel HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe."

I'm not sure that Clorox makes a product strong enough to clean this mess! And then there is this news story (http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=308788) from the Syracuse, New York, area about how people don't need to go to the emergency room just because they have flu-like symptoms. And then this one from the Kansas City area (http://www.kctv5.com/health/19349266/detail.html). These two stories are just examples of what is more common than uncommon. Talk about trying to control panic!

What did I conclude from my scenic Internet detour? I did NOT have swine flu, and from the looks of things, I don't see any reason to worry too much this year. But I thought about the great challenge public health officials must face all the time, and I wondered whether I should be preparing for something next year.

No, no, no, not the Mini!

I suppose that everyone has their dream car. Personally, I've always loved the Mini. Slick, small, sporty -- the Mini has it all. So even though I don't own a Mini (another story for another time), I do plan on acquiring one in the future. In the meantime, I subscribe to their email newsletter.

Imagine my disappointment to see this advertisement in my inbox. It's not really surprising that Mini is succumbing to the enviromental movement. They are after all owned by BWM, and the Beemer boys are doing what every international business conglomerate is doing these days. Being politically correct is just good for business, if for no other reason than that you don't have to deal with the harrassment that the environmental nutjobs will give you if you go against them.

Of course I believe in being a good steward of the planet. I just have a hard time accepting what doesn't make sense to me. So let me get this straight -- instead of using my car to do what I need to do, I should do what? Bike with the bike I don't own? Take the train that doesn't exist? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm supposed to do the Bob Marley thing -- "my feet is my only carriage." If I were feeling well, I might consider it. The fresh air and exercise could do me some good. But I am not walking to work; I live to far away to spend the time it would take to walk. And since I didn't go to work today due to a head cold (which for some strange reason now always makes me think about swine flu, which I don't have), I am certainly not going to get to the store to get medical supplies and foodstuffs in any other way but my car!

I have trouble seeing the modern environmental movement as anything but a scam. If the science is so legit, then why not have a public debate and end the controversy? Why not help everyone to see the reasoning behind the argument? Because the real reasoning behind the argument is simply a power grab on an international scale. That's why anyone who disagrees with the "scientists" on global warming gets rejected and harrassed. What I have seen so far regarding "evidence" leaves me with more questions than answers; I see too many things that don't make sense to me, that just don't jive with my understanding of scientific laws and statistical principles. And apparently some of the questions I have shouldn't be asked. Without any real substance to the argument, rhetorically the only recourse left is name-calling, hence the introduction of "global warming deniers" on par with holocaust deniers. Those who question the "science" of the cause are treated as apostate heretics in much the same way that heretics were treated in Western Europe during medieval times. Science has become the new religion of the secularist world, and its technological priesthood are not to be questioned or challenged. This combined with the diametrical opposition of the actions of leading global warming proponents to what they preach doesn't exactly create confidence in me regarding their intregity.

Despite the blemish, I can't hold too much of a grudge against Mini. After all, my employer is one of the country's strongest proponents for cap and trade. And I still want a Mini. I love their website. You can customize your new Mini right in the comfort of your own home! So every now and then I take a quick peek at my dream car -- the Mini Cooper Convertible in nightfire red! Oh, baby! I know what they say about red cars and speeding tickets, and I tend to believe it since my last car was red and I got pulled over a ton, even when I wasn't speeding. But this is a dream car, so in addition to having my favorite color it should be able to avoid tickets. Ever see The Italian Job? "You got yourself a sweet ride now." Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Silly cat, chocolate is for humans!

I had a hankering to make something chocolate, but with summer coming on I didn't want to heat up the oven and thereby my residence. I found the perfect solution. My mother has a recipe for no-bake cookies that is very good, but given my preference for some "healthier" options in recent times, I decided to adjust the recipe slightly. Here's the ingredients to my mother's recipe:

No-Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla

I decided to substitute dark chocolate baking cocoa for the baking cocoa and almond butter for the peanut butter. I also use Smart Balance spread instead of butter because of its mixture of omegas -- that way I get the benefit of eating fish without eating fish all the time. The substitution turned out alright, and making the cookies is very easy.

First, combine the sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter in a saucepan. Once you apply heat, the mixture will liquefy rapidly, so stir constantly. Eventually the mixture will start to boil around the edges of the pan, just like you see here.


Continue stirring until the mixture reaches full boil, as shown here. Boil for 1 minute (or thereabouts before the mixture threatens to escape the confines of your pan).




Next, remove from heat and add in the oats and stir.







Then, add in the almond butter (oh, I love this stuff!)







Finally, add the vanilla and stir. The cookies are made by dropping the mixture in spoonfuls onto wax paper, as shown here. (I know what some of you think these cookies look like, and all I have to say to you is get your mind out of the gutter! You know you are, and so do I!)

The cookies (30 total) take about an hour to cool. But it seems that someone just couldn't wait that long! And of course, she wants the biggest one. Silly cat, chocolate is for humans, not cats! But as good as these turned out, I don't blame her for wanting some. The consistency is a little different than what I remember Mother producing, but I attribute the difference to the change in ingredients; the oils in the products I used are substantially different. That being said, the cookies did hold up well. And it's not like that requirement is all that extensive, since an individual cookie doesn't last five seconds in my hand! Yum!