tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49929911101250210712024-03-09T02:13:49.468-08:00Thinking Mole's BlogA selection of articles on many topics written by a very curious scientist.mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-2674592126899406982012-10-11T19:34:00.000-07:002012-10-11T19:37:12.817-07:00Blues Roots: LeadbellyThere was one time I saw someone on the usually very liberal political website Daily Kos arguing that once a person kills another person they have given up the right to be treated like a human and so should face the death penalty. The person arguing this was NOT a rabid Republican. Nor is support of the death penalty only a radical Republican position (I do not oppose it per se, merely the horrible and unfair way it is applied). But the statement was horrible and I responded by asking if THIS person had given up the right to be treated like a human:<br />
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Leadbelly (Huddie William Ledbetter) was a founding force for a great deal of modern music. For those who have no room in their heart for people serving prison terms, Leadbelly was sentenced to at least two prison terms. The first was for illegal gun possession (he escaped from that prison term), and the second for killing a relative, ostensibly over a woman.
He was pardoned from his murder sentence partly because of his musical talent. Is it right that he only served seven years for killing a man? Perhaps not, but his pardon allowed him to set the foundations for modern music from blues to R and B to Rock and Roll. I believe American music would have been far less than it was without this one man's voice.<br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought.</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-34381010198312904212012-10-11T19:18:00.000-07:002012-10-11T19:28:07.092-07:00Blues Highlights: James Booker This guy is a new find for me, thanks to Pandora Radio. James Booker was born in 1939 in New Orleans and was part of the long and ongoing tradition of kick ass music in that town. He died in 1983. He died waiting in an emergency room from renal failure, something that could probably have been headed off if we had us some decent healthcare in America. Booker's most famous student is Harry Connick Jr.
I only learned about him today, proving there is always more great music to find. His piano work is excellent. His singing is okay but it is his piano work that stands out.
James Booker doing St. James Infirmary, a song that goes WAY back, and which I mostly associate with Cab Caolloway, though Louis Armstrong made it popular:<br />
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James Booker in action, singing "True":<br />
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And playing "Sunny Side of the Street": (shows off his piano skills particularly well on this one)<br />
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And finally "Good Night Irene," another OLD song (though nowhere near as old as the roots of St. James Infirmary) originally made popular by Leadbelly. This version is different from the standard<br />
Leadbelly/Pete Seeger etc. version:<br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought.</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-62996691418985720802012-10-11T19:06:00.001-07:002012-10-11T19:24:06.470-07:00Blues Highlights: Koko TaylorOne of my favorite blues singers is Koko Taylor. She has one of the greatest voices in American music and she seemed to genuinely enjoy performing. For those who don't know her, I'd like to introduce you to Koko Taylor.
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I think the best place to start is with the classic Koko Taylor's kick ass Wang Dang Doodle. First is the version I know best. Second shows Koko in action.<br />
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Lyrics:<br />
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<blockquote>Tell automatic Slim<br />
Tell razor totin' Jim<br />
Tell butcher knife<br />
Toting Nanny<br />
Tell fast talking fanny<br />
We're gonna pitch a ball<br />
Down to the union hall<br />
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We're gonna romp<br />
And trump till midnight<br />
We're gonna fuss<br />
And fight till daylight<br />
We're gonna get your<br />
Wang dang doodle<br />
All night long (5x)<br />
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Tell cooda-crawling Ray<br />
To tell abyssinia Ned<br />
To tell old pistol Pete<br />
To tell everybody he meets<br />
Tonight we need no rest<br />
We're gonna really<br />
Throw a mess<br />
We're gonna knock down<br />
All the windows<br />
We're gonna kick down<br />
All the doors<br />
We're gonna get your<br />
Wang dang doodle<br />
All night long (5x)<br />
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Tell fats<br />
And washbone Sam<br />
Everybody gonna jam<br />
Tell shaking boxcar Joe<br />
We got<br />
Sawdust on the floor<br />
Now tell Peggy<br />
And Colin Die<br />
We're gonna have<br />
A heck of a time<br />
Now when the fish<br />
Scent fill the air<br />
There'll be<br />
Snuff juice everywhere<br />
We're gonna get your<br />
Wang dang doodle<br />
All night long (8x)</blockquote><br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-1258867202079098212012-08-02T17:30:00.002-07:002012-08-02T17:30:25.891-07:00Funny Flashback to the depths of the Bush years...I always found this extremely funny...<br />
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At the depths of the Bush years, when the economy was starting its nose dive, when censorship became common, when our freedoms were compromised routinely by Republicans, when Bush and Cheney let Osama bin Laden go free to dance on American graves...Eric Idle of Monty Python came up with this little number protesting Bush/Cheney attacks on American freedoms:</div>
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To anyone who complains about Barack Obama, let's remember how awful the Republicans are when they have power. Censorship, a ruined economy, failed foreign policy and self-righteous attacks on basic American freedoms are all Republicans have to offer us.</div>
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</div>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-22265601917254425072012-06-30T09:49:00.001-07:002012-06-30T09:49:21.263-07:00Shalom, Salaam, Peace: Coffee, Unity and Sustainability from UgandaMy wife and I are coffee lovers. Our main sources of coffee have varied over the years. For a long time we purchased 5 lb. bags from <a href="http://www.deansbeans.com/">Deans Beans</a>, all very good coffees at reasonable fair trade prices. We particularly liked their <a href="http://www.deansbeans.com/coffee/RING.html">Ring of Fire</a> and <a href="http://www.deansbeans.com/coffee/UP.html">Uprising</a> blends. We then got into their <a href="http://www.deansbeans.com/coffee/NOCO2.html">No CO2</a> supposedly "carbon neutral" coffee.<br /><br />
When we joined our local <a href="http://foodcoop.com/">Food Coop</a>, it became cheaper to buy our fair trade coffee there...in addition we found we could re-use the coffee bags several times, reducing our waste. So that is our main source of coffee these days.<br /><br />
But there is one source that I want to plug that is an amazing coffee, called <a href="http://www.mirembekawomera.com/cooperative">Mirembe Kawomera</a> (Delicious Peace) from Uganda with an amazing story that has just recently gotten even better by seeking to maximize sustainability. That coffee is grown by a farmers' cooperative of Bantu Jews, Muslims and Christians working together in an otherwise tense and intolerant part of the world. It grew out of a movement initiated by the local Jewish population to build schools, with the help of the American Jewish organization <a href="http://www.kulanu.org/">Kulanu</a>, which would be open to not just the Jewish community but also the Muslim and Christian communities. From that initial connection among otherwise mutually suspicious communities, came the inspiration to cooperate (again with help from Kulanu) to market their coffee at fair trade prices. Finally, recognizing the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on their own livelihoods, these communities are now initiating a carefully thought out sustainability project (with the help of the Dutch NGO Progreso) to reduce their environmental impact while improving their economic livelihood.<br /><br />
It all started in the end of British colonialism in what became Uganda. Christian evangelicals were part of the British push to dominate Uganda. Semei Lulaklenzi Kakungulu was one of the products of this evangelical push and he is in many ways not a sympathetic figure, but it was his initiative that led to a native Jewish community in Uganda.<br /><br />
Semei Lulaklenzi Kakungulu was a military strong man and part of the Christian evangelical movement. He fought on behalf of the Buganda King against both Muslims and Catholics in the religious wars at the end of the 19th century. The British supported his efforts because they saw it as part of their goal of unifying the region under British influence. Kakungulu's military efforts allowed British influence to spread without large scale use of British troops.<br /><br />
Kakungulu's goal, however, was to become a local king under a British aegis. But the Brits didn't go for it. So instead Kakungulu focused on evangelical Christianity of a particularly strict kind called "Katonda omu ayinza byona" which means "God is omnipotent" and believed in a very strict interpretation of the Bible. They also tended to be anti-colonialism so it fit with Kakungulu's conflict with the Brits.<br /><br />
But Kakungulu took that strict interpretation beyond what the founders of Katonda omu ayinza byona had intended. Kakungulu felt that true devotion to God meant putting the Old Testament ahead of the New Testament and he began to compile a list of rules and prayers for his followers with in the Katonda omu ayinza byona evangelical movement that looked more like the rules that Orthodox Jews follow than they did Christian doctrine. By 1919 Kakungulu and his followers were outright rejecting the New Testament in favor of "Moses' Commandments". In essence Kakungulu reinvented Judaism from what he read in a Protestant version of the Old Testament. He called his breakaway community the Kibina Kya Bayudaya Absesiga Katonda (the “Community of Jews who trust in the Lord”).<br /><br />
This put him at odds with both the British and the local community. But it also put him in contact with a Jewish traveler referred to as "Joseph." Joseph introduced a more standard, Talmudic version of Jewish practice into the Kibina Kya Bayudaya Absesiga Katonda community.<br /><br />
When Kakungulu died in 1928, the Kibina Kya Bayudaya Absesiga Katonda community split. One branch reverted to Christianity. The other branch maintained their Jewish identity, becoming the community that is today called the Abayudaya. Because of widespread anti-Semitism, particularly during the Idi Amin period, the Abayudaya isolated themselves as much as possible.<br /><br />
During Idi Amin's dictatorship, some 80% of the Abayudaya were killed or forced to convert to Christianity. It was, needless to say, a low point in the development of their community. Roughly 300 survived, keeping their Jewish identity secret. From that small community, the modern Abayudaya community of about 1000 grew.<br /><br />
In a strict sense the Abayudaya are not Jewish. However, with the help of American and Israeli rabbis (mostly Conservative and Hasidic) official conversion of many Abayudaya has begun. The Abayudya welcome official Jewish recognition and are willing to undergo the conversion process. This is in contrast with Ethiopian Jews who consider themselves Jews by birth (DNA evidence is conflicting here...older data suggests they are NOT descended from Israel, but more modern evidence suggests they are) so there has been conflict between Ethiopian Jews and mainstream Israeli Jews with considerable insensitivity shown by mainstream Jews towards Ethiopian Jews.<br /><br />
But to me the Abayudaya are more Jewish than I am. Here are Abayudaya versions of Shema Israel and L'cha Dodi <br /><br />
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That is the background. The origin of the Abayudaya and the overall negative view of them within the wider Muslim and Christian culture of Uganda meant that the Abayudaya were always faced with prejudice. In the 21st century they came in contact with the American Jewish group Kulanu, which has helped integrate them into the wider Jewish world but also came up with a wonderful idea.<br /><br />
They started helping the Abayudaya build schools. In Uganda, as in much of Africa, schools are often very far from the local villages and they are not free. Kulanu and the Abayudaya started building schools in the villages where the Abayudaya live and covering the costs of children attending, even providing some meals. But Kulanu and the Abayudaya went one step further. They invited their Muslim and Christian neighbors to send their kids to the schools as well. This introduced a cooperation between the Abayudaya and their neighbors that helps everyone in the community. Even more fundamentally, the sharing of these schools helped establish trust among the Jews, Muslims and Christians in in the area.<br /><br />
Which brings us to my wife's favorite beverage in the whole world...coffee.<br /><br />
Coffee accounts for about 90% of Uganda's revenues from international trade. Worldwide, coffee is second only to oil as being the most traded commodity. But the prices very enormously from year to year and the path from grower to your cup is extremely circuitous, bringing in many middlemen who take their own profit. In general, of what you pay for your coffee, almost none of it makes it to the grower. With Fair Trade coffee, the amount that makes it from your wallet to the grower is still small, but it is often 3-5 times more than on the regular market, and that makes a huge difference for the growers. It makes the difference between near slavery and making it (even if barely by our standards). It makes the difference between sending their kids to school or not. It makes the difference between saving money versus accruing debt.<br /><br />
Fair Trade is often flawed, and not always as fair as we would like, but it DOES make a difference.<br /><br />
The Abayudaya and their Muslim and Christian neighbors also grow coffee. And were getting almost nothing for their efforts. Until the current leader of the Abayudaya community decided to do something, and the first thing he did was go to his Muslim and Christian neighbors. From the <a href="http://www.mirembekawomera.com/cooperative">Thanksgiving Coffee website</a>:<br /><br />
<blockquote>I brought the idea to my fellow friends, Muslims and Christians, and I said we should make a co-op selling our coffee but as well as spreading peace in the world.<br /><br />
They were all so happy so we called it Mirembe, which means peace, Kawomera, which means that even our coffee must be of quality.<br /><br />
Then we made that cooperative.<br /><br />
— JJ Keki, founder & director, Peace Kawomera</blockquote><br /><br />
It was a great idea. And it would have failed except for two things. One was the efforts of Kulanu. And the other was the whim of one man, the CEO of Thankgsgiving Coffee.<br /><br />
Kulanu had been working with the Abayudaya for some time, including in their reaching out to their Muslim and Christian neighbors when it came to developing local schools. So it was only natural that they work together on this coffee project. But neither the Abayudaya nor Kulanu had much experience in this. Which is why the whim of the Thanksgiving Coffee CEO was so critical. Again, from the Thanksgiving Coffee website:<br /><br />
<blockquote>I was at my desk, it was late afternoon. The phone rang... “Hello, my name is Laura Wetzler” came the voice from the other end...<br /><br />
It turned out that Laura Wetzler was, and still is, the Ugandan Coordinator for an all volunteer Jewish NGO called Kulanu in Washington DC. She called to ask me if I would buy five sacks of coffee from a cooperative she was working with. I rolled my eyes and thought, “Another starry-eyed idealist who went to a poor country to build a school, discovered coffee in the midst of poverty and decided that it was the answer to all the community’s woes.”<br /><br />
Over the past 20 years I have fielded many such calls. Although my heart goes out to these volunteers, I explain to them that coffee is not bought under such novice circumstances. “There is a well-established infrastructure of exporters, brokers, importers,” I explained, “And of course, there are the issues of quality and price.”<br /><br />
I asked Ms. Wetzler if she had called any other roasters and she told me she had called over 50 but had sold nothing. “Everybody wants a sample to taste but I have none,” she told me. “I was just there but didn’t know I needed samples to offer.” I began to settle in to the conversation and asked her to tell me about the work of Kulanu. Being Jewish myself I thought it unusual for her to be working with Jews in Uganda. “Jews in Uganda? Tell me more!”<br /><br />
Laura told me about this community of black Bantu Jews that she has been working with since 2002. She helped them organize a coffee cooperative, become Fair Trade Certified™, and now, with their first crop sitting unsold in a Uganda warehouse, she was calling US coffee roasters trying to sell the coffee. She had a list, it was in alphabetical order, and when she got down to the letter T she called Thanksgiving Coffee and I picked up the phone. By the time she got to me she had been rejected 50 times.<br /><br />
The Jewish Bantus of Uganda caught my attention, but it was when she described the other two-thirds of the cooperative that my heart really began to pound. “There are Muslims and Christians in this coffee cooperative,” she continued. “They are all working together. It’s one community. The co-op president is Jewish, the vice-president is Christian, and the treasurer is Muslim. There are hundreds of families all together; they have one container to sell and soon this year’s crop will be coming. The people are desperate!” she exclaimed...<br /><br />
“I’ll buy it all,” I said. “All or nothing. I want the entire story. I don’t want any other coffee company to have a single bag. I want to bring this story to the world.”</blockquote><br /><br />
So the coffee project took off. The coffee is certified fair trade and is shade grown next to other plants that provide the local community with food or income. However success particularly with other crops grown alongside the coffee started having an environmental toll. Soil erosion, global warming, and environmental degradation started taking its toll on the area. The Abayudaya decided to face the problem head on (unlike, I should add, most of the world). They decided to find a way to a.) make their own practices more sustainable, b.) reduce their impact on climate change, and c.) protect their livelihoods from climate change. They took three years to put together a proposal that just this May got funded by a Dutch NGO.<br /><br />
From the <a href="http://www.mirembekawomera.com/blog/?p=473">Thanksgiving Coffee website again</a>:<br /><br />
<blockquote>Given the above, the farmers are searching for strategies they can employ to adapt to these changes without sacrificing their livelihoods. This is happening at the time when farmers are anxious to reap a lot out of their coffee due to its regaining reputation on the international scene, increasing market price and increasing differential and quality premium through the specialty coffee market and the good price from US-based Thanksgiving Coffee Company, a buyer since 2004.<br /><br />
The above-mentioned activities of environmental degradation are mainly driven by economic need arising from high rates of unemployment locally. Therefore, this project seeks a two-pronged strategy to increase the value and production of shade grown coffee, and interventions to fortify the ecosystem against the impacts of shifting weather by planting valuable grasses in swale formation, increasing the intercropping of strategically important shade trees in coffee plantations, and reforestation of hill tops and ridges to create a conducive micro climate for coffee. This fortified ecosystem will be better able to protect coffee from severe rains because of increased canopy cover, and will be able to reduce erosion by controlling runoff. Additionally, through the selection of appropriate shade trees, the project will increase the production of high-mulching organic matter which will improve soil quality, a critical step towards improved coffee quality and production, as well creating habitat for the biological control agents here referred to as natural enemies of the pests.<br /><br />
Agro forestry provides additional sources of income especially from sales of fruits from the planted trees, sale of harvested grasses from swales, sale of firewood and of seedlings from the nurseries to other communities.<br /><br />
This will also reduce the gap of unemployment and improve on food security for the area’s farmers by increasing the diversity of foods immediately available to farming families. Protecting and restoring the environment will reduce the impacts of climate change, enhance biodiversity, and improve on ecological systems which are all aimed at improving coffee production and food security.<br /><br />
The project will be built around a package of incentives designed to facilitate and inspire quick uptake in action by individual farmers. The methodology will be driven by the established network and practice of the Farmer Field Schools. Led by the project manager, a team will create local seedling nurseries and begin the process of educating individual farmers through the FFS groups. After an 6 month period, the leading farmer in each FFS group (determined by objective pre-established criteria around tree planting, swale construction, soil and water conservation) will be given a female goat. These goats produce manure which is high in nitrogen which can be incorporated back into the fields for improved soil fertility. After an additional 6 months the next leading farmer in each FFS Group will be rewarded a goat based upon the established criteria. These goats will be expected to reproduce so as time goes on, the kids will be given out to other members who come second, i.e. responsibility will be upon farmers to know that if such a farmer`s goat kids, the offspring will be expected to be designated by the project to the next recipient farmer. This process of review and award will be conducted 4 times (6, 12, 18, and 24 months. It is estimated that the project will need to purchase 252 female goats (63 FFS Groupsx4 cycles) to get the inventive program off the ground and to a point of self-sustainability.</blockquote><br /><br />
The project is ambitious and complex. Which is probably exactly what they need to handle a complex web of problems. They came up with the solutions themselves and I am sure if/when problems come up in the implementation they will adapt the plan to deal with those problems.<br /><br />
So you start with British colonialism starting a wave of rather unappealing military strongmen and evangelical Christian movements. You move through a highly unlikely re-invention of Judaism among Bantus in Uganda and the even more unlikely survival of those Jews through the Idi Amin brutality. Then you have cooperation between those unlikely Jews and their Muslim and Christian neighbors first for public education, then for fair trade coffee, then for environmental sustainability.<br /><br />
All in one cup of coffee called <a href="http://store.thanksgivingcoffee.com/categories.aspx?Keyword=Mirembe+Kawomera+Uganda&op=Search">Mirembe Kawomera which you can buy right now</a>. I should note that I have seen this very coffee listed as "best coffee I have ever had" on several websites. I would not go quite that far, since I think the best coffee I ever had was a New Guinea coffee in a fancy coffee house in Santa Cruz, California. But Mirembe Kawomera coffee is up there!<br /><br />
<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/consumer-advice.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page</a>. <br /><br />
<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-32772816012014442402012-06-16T13:59:00.001-07:002012-06-16T13:59:49.274-07:00Five Guys Got Together to Make Some Burgers and FriesI don't eat beef much because of all the meats it is the most environmentally destructive. But I do like a good burger. Among my favorites is a local places in Brooklyn called "<a href="http://bonniesgrill.com/">Bonnie's Grill</a>" which has really good hamburgers and the best fries I have ever had at a reasonable price.<br />
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But for really low priced but tasty burgers, it is hard to beat <a href="http://www.fiveguys.com/">Five Guys</a>. Though a chain they do a good job of using fresh ingredients, cooking to order, and giving a good product. I also like the fact they offer free peanuts in the shell, which is a good way to kill time while they are cooking your burger. Their fries are quite good (the cajun fries leave me a bit flat, but the regular fries are good), but my son and I actually prefer ordering burgers and munching on the peanuts instead of getting the fries. But that's just us. My wife and step daughter always want to get the fries and though the size of the fries order looks small, they tend to way, way over load it so you wind up with a huge amount of fries even with the small order. The burgers come with a good selection of toppings. The grilled mushrooms and the grilled onions are particularly good.<br />
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My son also likes the hot dogs there, though I have never tried them.<br />
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It has also always struck me that the workers at Five Guys always seem much happier than most fast food places I go to. Turns out there is a reason. Five guys, almost unique among fast food burger joints except for maybe In-n-Out, actually treat their workers well. They offer paid sick days (again, unusually) and good opportunities for advancement. They get a "Gold Prize" from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://rocunited.org/">Restaurant Opportunities Centers United</a>, an organization advocating for restaurant workers.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Now if I want to pay more for a better burger, I go to <a href="http://bonniesgrill.com/">Bonnie's Grill</a> in NYC or <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/los-angeles-restaurant-reviews-umami.html">Umami Burger</a> in Los Angeles. They are definitely better than Five Guys, but also 2-3x the price. For a good, satisfying, cheap burger, nothing beats Five Guys.</span><br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a></div>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-65479026166893264032012-05-23T18:45:00.003-07:002012-05-23T18:45:59.718-07:00Yes, Virginia, There WERE Gas Chambers<br />
Awhile back I encountered at a local NYC blog a form of Holocaust Denial that was new to me: the claim that yeah the Holocaust happened and Jews were killed (among other targeted groups, I would add) but there were no gas chambers.<br />
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Funny how you'd expect the Nazi perpetrators of the Holocaust would have disputed this particular form of Holocaust Denial. But they don't!!! Quite the contrary! In fact now it seems their admission goes right down to family photographs and the stories remembered by their descendants.<br />
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Now there are many sources of evidence for the gas chambers. And <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/evidence-of-holocaust.html">I have discussed them before</a>.<br />
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There are two main sources of evidence in any crime scene, and the gas chambers were, quite simply, massive crime scenes. Those types of evidence are eyewitness testimony and forensics. Good criminal cases are built up using both.<br />
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Eyewitness testimony is in itself almost overwhelming. Eyewitness testimony doesn't come from the perpetrators or inmates so much as liberators who may have misinterpreted what was a crime scene where the perpetrators tried hard to cover their tracks. But there are camps like Belzec, Sobibor and Treblinka where the evidence is very strong, where both the number and consistency of eyewitness testimony is overwhelming. <a href="http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ar/argaschambers.html">You can find eyewitness testimony here in some detail</a>.<br />
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Further testimony can be found here:<br />
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ar/arperpsspeak.html<br />
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More confessions by perpetrators can be found here:<br />
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ar/arperpsspeak.html<br />
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And of course an excellent eyewitness testimony by an inmate <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374500010/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=moleshomepage&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374500010">can be found in Elie Wiesel's Night, where he describes the journey he and his family through the concentration camps</a>.<br />
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As the allies closed in on Germany in 1945, there was a concerted effort to destroy evidence. Even before that, in cases where things went wrong the Germans systematically destroyed evidence of their crimes. The prime example of this is the extermination camp at Sobibor which was the scene of one of the very few successful prisoner revolts which led to a mass breakout. To cover up, the Germans dismantled the camp with the stated intent of hiding what had gone on there. This makes it harder to prove by forensics what happened. Archaeological analysis can identify areas that look like they were gas chambers and crematoria and basically give evidence completely consistent with the eyewitness testimony. That alone helps, given the overwhelming and consistent eyewitness testimony from inmates, perpetrators and liberators.<br />
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Some of the forensic evidence (documents, film footage, etc) supporting the eyewitness testimony <a href="http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/holocaust-investigation">can be found in this article on forensic science used in Holocaust investigation.</a>.<br />
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Forensics also shows traces of cyanide gas in the very remains that eyewitnesses claim were gas chambers and that archaeology suggests were gas chambers. These chemical data basically prove they were gas chambers. <a href="http://www.holocaust-history.org/auschwitz/chemistry/iffr/report.shtml">The key study was done by Polish scientists at the Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow</a>. The authors are chemists. The first author became Director of the Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow.<br />
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More evidence can be found discussed in <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/genocide/deniers_01.shtml">this BBC article</a>, and <a href="http://www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/neamane/history210/essays/gregory_auschwitz.html">this article</a> from the University of San Francisco, and <a href="http://www.whale.to/b/shermer.html">this article from Skeptic Magazine</a>.<br />
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But there is another bit of evidence that I didn't take into account the last time I wrote about this. The evidence that may not be direct eyewitness testimony but is direct testimony of those who lived in the shadow of and prospered from the extermination camps. BBC News has an article on descendants of Nazi war criminals that directly addresses this issue. From BBC News:<br />
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<blockquote>When he was a child Rainer Hoess was shown a family heirloom.<br />
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He remembers his mother lifting the heavy lid of the fireproof chest with a large swastika on the lid, revealing bundles of family photos.<br />
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They featured his father as a young child playing with his brothers and sisters, in the garden of their grand family home.<br />
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The photos show a pool with a slide and a sand pit - an idyllic family setting - but one that was separated from the gas chambers of Auschwitz by just a few yards....<br />
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His grandfather Rudolf Hoess (not to be confused with Nazi deputy leader Rudolf Hess), was the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp. His father grew up in a villa adjoining the camp, where he and his siblings played with toys built by prisoners.<br />
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It was where his grandmother told the children to wash the strawberries they picked because they smelled of ash from the concentration camp ovens.</blockquote><br />
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So family members not only admit to the existence of the gas chambers, but washed their produce because of the ashes that came from the crematoria,,,I mean how much more evidence does anyone need??? Eyewitness testimony from BOTH sides, forensic evidence, AND documentary evidence running through the families descended from the war criminals.<br />
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It is rare that you get such clear evidence of a crime!<br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/07/history.html">Return to Mole's History Page</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a><br />mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-67653546586764417872012-05-19T16:13:00.001-07:002012-05-19T16:51:28.112-07:00History in the Making: The Nation of Malawi Goes Progressive<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="60" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=26&l=ur1&category=books&banner=0GDEZK2MM2XGCEH7M202&f=ifr" style="border: medium none;" width="468"></iframe><br />
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A funny thing happened in Malawi. And it happened more by happenstance than by any plan.<br />
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You see a woman was elected Vice President of Malawi (putting them ahead of America where only men have been VP). I am sure people figured that woman would never get beyond VP because across the world, throughout history VP is kind of a useless position. In fact on my apartment building's co-op board I SOUGHT being VP because it was the least onerous office. I wound up with treasurer! Go figure.<br />
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So Joyce Banda, a woman, was elected VP of Malawi. Then came the death of 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika...and suddenly Malawi, by accident, became the second nation in Africa to have a woman lead the country...the first being Liberia, but THAT is another story...one that can be found here:<br />
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Again let me be clear that Liberia and Malawi are ahead of America here in terms of having a woman lead their nation. We have only had men.<br />
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Today Joyce Banda, the second woman to lead an African nation, took a HUGE step and I a afraid many people missed it. The second woman to lead an African nation has just come out in support of legalizing homosexuality, something that VERY few African leaders have been willing to do. Joyce Banda deserves our support...and NEEDS our support.<br />
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Most of Africa considers homosexuality a crime. Some nations even are trying to institute the death penalty for homosexuality. In Uganda, as covered by Current TV, the push for the death penalty for homosexuality probably originated in the United States: (sorry, it starts with an ad)<br />
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But death penalty aside, there are few nations in Africa where homosexuality is legal. In Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Tanzania and several others, all homosexual acts are illegal. In some other nations like Kenya and Zimbabwe male homosexual acts are illegal but female homosexual acts are legal. Even where homosexuality is technically legal, equality is far from a reality. South Africa is about the only African nation where homosexuals are given pretty much equal rights, beating America on many levels.<br />
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Malawi is one of the nations where male homosexual acts are illegal while female homosexual acts are legal. And there is no real equality.<br />
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Today Malawi President Joyce Banda has announced that she supports legalizing homosexuality in Malawi. This is, of course, just one step forward when it comes to a barbaric policy, but for the second women leader in Africa to take this step is a HUGE deal. I actually hope Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (where homosexuality remains illegal) takes notice and follows suit.<br />
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From BBC News:<br />
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President Joyce Banda has said she wants Malawi to overturn its ban on homosexual acts - the first African country to do so since 1994.<br />
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Two Malawian men were sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2010 after saying they were getting married...<br />
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Mrs Banda took power last month after her predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika, died of a heart attack.<br />
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She has since reversed several of his policies, including devaluing the currency, in a bid to get donor funding restored...<br />
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In her first state of the nation address to parliament, Mrs Banda said: "Some laws which were duly passed by the august house... will be repealed as a matter of urgency... these include the provisions regarding indecent practices and unnatural acts."<br />
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The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in the main city, Blantyre, says the president has the support of a majority of MPs and so should be able to get parliament to overturn the law.<br />
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However, he says it will be an unpopular move with many church leaders, as well as the wider population in this conservative country...</blockquote>
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This is a brave move by an African leader whose hold on power may be tenuous. She deserves our support.<br />
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In honor of Joyce Banda and her move to legalize LGBT people in Malawi, I have donated to the <a href="http://www.boostmalawi.org.uk/index.asp">Boost Malawi Fund</a> (UK based) and the <a href="http://www.raisingmalawi.org/">Raising Malawi Fund</a> (US based). I ask you to give a small amount to one or both of these funds to help support a brave woman who is standing up for the LGBT community in Africa.<br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/07/history.html">Return to Mole's History Page.</a><br />
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<a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-20680770466297271802012-03-18T09:19:00.001-07:002012-03-18T09:19:33.935-07:00As the tipping point looms we have to actAbout 5 years ago, one of the top climate scientists, Jim Hanson, declared we have no more than 10 years left to mitigate the effects of global warming before we just have to take the consequences of our stupidity. He got some criticism from this even among climate scientists, but the gist of his warning is valid: we have a limited time and it is NOW, like RIGHT NOW that we have to deal with this crisis.<br /><br />Since he made his warning, the pace of global warming has only accelerated. So we might even have LESS time than Jim Hanson suggested. Which means we have about 5 years.<br /><br />Is this excessively precise? Yeah, in a way it is. We can't know precisely how much time we have left, but I don't think it is far off. We are in 2012. Arctic ice volume is expected (at current rate of decline) to reach zero (ice free Arctic Ocean) around 2015. As that happens we WILL reach a tipping point in approximately the same time frame.<br /><br />Now I don't think the supposed tipping points mentioned are always valid. But there is one very clear, very frightening tipping point that will occur approximately the same time frame as an ice-free Arctic Ocean, which means around 2015. That is the release of methane that is frozen in the Arctic. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17400804">From BBC News</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>"In 2007, the water [off northern Siberia] warmed up to about 5C (41F) in summer, and this extends down to the sea bed, melting the offshore permafrost."<br /><br />Among the issues this raises is whether the ice-free conditions will quicken release of methane currently trapped in the sea bed, especially in the shallow waters along the northern coast of Siberia, Canada and Alaska.<br /><br />Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, though it does not last as long in the atmosphere...<br /><br />"With 'business-as-usual' greenhouse gas emissions, we might have warming of 9-10C in the Arctic.<br /><br />"That will cement in place the ice-free nature of the Arctic Ocean - it will release methane from offshore, and a lot of the methane on land as well."<br /><br />This would - in turn - exacerbate warming, across the Arctic and the rest of the world.</blockquote><br /><br />The release of this much methane into the atmosphere is one of the more frightening things to me in our near future. And even if it isn't right at 2015 that it happens (I do agree these estimates are too precise) it WILL be this generation. And to prevent it we have to act right now. And we all have to act.<br /><br />We look to government to solve major problems like this, and we definitely have to get governments around the world to act. Some have. Not enough. Lobbying your local, state and federal government reps to cut back on the carbon footprint of America is something we all should be doing. Writing letters to the editor as well. Public transportation and making driving inconvenient can do a lot...NYC residents have about a third the carbon footprint of most Americans because we don't drive so much (among other reasons). Plus such projects cut back on local pollution and create jobs. So lobbying for this kind of stuff helps us all.<br /><br />But we all have individual, personal responsibilities to cut back our carbon footprints. We are consumers and creating the markets for energy efficiency and alternate energy should be top of our list for making decisions as consumers. We don't have any more time. The next dozen generations will depend on our personal, as well as national, decisions when it comes to energy use.<br /><br />Energy use is part of everything we do. Every bite we eat, every purchase we make has an energy cost and hence a carbon footprint. Which means on the one hand everything we do adds to the problem. On the other hand it means we have a lot of ways we can make good decisions and reduce our footprint.<br /><br /><br />My wife is a climate scientist and I have been following this issue for some 25 years, so we have been deliberately reducing our carbon footprint for more than a decade. When Jim Hanson gave us our 10-year warning I took it a step further and started offsetting our carbon use even further. I owe it to my kids to do all I personally can to prevent this looming tipping point from happening.<br /><br />What can we do as individuals other than letters to the editor and letters to our politicians? Well, LOTS of stuff. Some save money, some cost money. Some cost a LOT to start but save you even more in the long run.<br /><br />Energy use is a huge deal and the thing you can do the most to reduce. And I usually start with that. But let me first discuss something I usually only refer to without details: food consumption. This is another large part of our carbon footprint. <br /><br />YOUR ATMOSPHERE IS WHAT YOU EAT:<br /><br />I have intended to do a detailed article about how our eating choices affect our carbon and water footprints, but haven't gotten around to it. So let me just make a few basic suggestions to help everyone make good choices. Carbon use estimates from: <br /><br />http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/40934/title/Science_%2B_the_Public__AAAS_Climate-friendly_dining_%E2%80%A6_meats<br /><br />or from: http://timeforchange.org/eat-less-meat-co2-emission-of-food<br /><br />Buying local and organic are important, of course. Those are local solutions for which I can only really advise for NYC. But as a first approximation shopping at your local food co-op can be a great way to cut your carbon footprint a bit, save money, and eat a healthier diet. My wife and I joined our local food co-op some 6 years ago and though it has been a tad inconvenient (work requirements, long lines, etc.) we are eating much better, getting better quality produce and meat, shopping more locally, and overall saving some money. To find local food co-ops, <a href="http://www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm">try this directory</a>, though it is incomplete and somewhat out of date.<br /><br />But short of buying from your next door farm, generally your choices are going to be more what kinds of food you eat. Here are some guidelines based on the carbon estimates above.<br /><br />BEEF: 13-19 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kg of beef. And I think the actual impact would be higher if you include the methane from waste products.<br /><br />CHEESE: 8.5 kg carbon emissions per kg hard cheese. Soft cheeses are better <br /><br />PORK: 3.25-4.8 kg carbon emission per kg meat (not sure this takes into account the methane release from the waste which is quite high and can actually be a major source of fuel for energy production!) <br /><br />CHICKEN: 3.5 kg carbon emission per kg meat<br /><br />EGGS: 2 kg carbon emissions per kg eggs<br /><br />YOGURT: 1.2 kg carbon emissions per kg of yogurt<br /><br />MILK: 900 g carbon emission per kg milk<br /><br />Vegan diets are, in general, the lowest in terms of carbon emissions. But just looking at meat, replacing beef with chicken can significantly cut your family's carbon foot print. And what strikes me is, coincidentally, the lower carbon emission meats tend also to be healthier and cheaper. So with chicken you cut the carbon footprint by about 75%, lower cholesterol, and at least where I shop save a fair amount of money. Leave out the cheese and bacon from your egg sandwich in the morning. Or better yet have a yogurt.<br /><br />Now I eat beef from time to time (LOVE a good burger), but I stopped cooking it at home. I do pork (from a local farm!) or chicken as pretty much the only meat I use. When I use meat I use less of it, more like a flavoring than a major ingredient. And honestly about half the dinners I make are more or less vegetarian.<br /><br />Let me add here that for ANY meat you get, please choose ones that are LABELED as being raised without antibiotics. This is another issue but one of almost equal importance.<br /><br />Another more fun source for calculating the carbon impact of a meal can be found here: http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/#<br /><br />Some lessons from that site: a chicken and cheese burrito has half the carbon footprint of a beef and cheese burrito. A burrito with rice, cheese and beans is even less.<br /><br />An individual cheese pizza is about half the carbon footprint of a cheeseburger.<br /><br />A chicken sandwich or turkey burger is even half of carbon footprint of the pizza. <br /><br />And a falafel even half the carbon footprint of a chicken sandwich.<br /><br />When ordering sushi salmon has a lower foot print than tuna which has a lower footprint than shrimp<br /><br />And again I think in terms of health many of the lower carbon emission foods are healthier and often cheaper.<br /><br />What you eat affects the climate, plain and simple. And you don't have to be vegan to significantly cut back your carbon footprint, though even a meat lover like me admits they generally are doing better in cutting back their carbon than I am.<br /><br /><br />ALL ABOUT ENERGY USAGE:<br /><br />Oil, coal and gas industries are telling us renewable energy CAN'T meet global energy demands. They each tell us that only THEY can fuel our needs. Well, the world's top climate scientists beg to differ. Simply put, starting now we can use renewable energy to fuel our increasing energy needs, in the process mitigating many environmental problems, including global warming and urban pollution. And what is often left out is the fact that many of these solutions create local jobs. If we just listen to the scientists and tell the oil, gas and coal advocates to shut up, we can do it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13337864">From BBC News:</a><br /><br /><blockquote>Renewables can fuel society, say world climate advisers<br /><br />Renewable technologies could supply 80% of the world's energy needs by mid-century, says the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).<br /><br />In <a href="http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/">a report</a>, it says that almost half of current investment in electricity generation is going into renewables.<br /><br />But growth will depend on having the right policies in place, it says...<br /><br />The report analysed 164 "scenarios" of future energy development; and the ones in which renewables were most aggressively pursued resulted in a cut in global greenhouse gas emissions of about one-third compared with business-as-usual projections by 2050...</blockquote><br /><br />And from <a href="http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=11585">a Spanish organization, REVE</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Renewable energy can exceed global demand, according to IPCC<br /><br />“The report clearly demonstrates that renewable technologies could supply the world with more energy than it would ever need, and at a highly competitive cost,” said Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council.<br /><br />The IPCC studied six renewable energy sectors – bioenergy, direct solar energy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy. Renewable energy sources are expected to contribute up to 80% of global energy supply by 2050, according to a new report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Following a review of 164 scenarios, the IPCC found that renewables will play the major role in any successful plan to combat climate change...<br /><br />Renewable energy sources and technologies considered in this report<br /><br />Bioenergy can be produced from a variety of biomass feedstocks, including forest, agricultural and livestock residues; short-rotation forest plantations; energy crops; the organic component of municipal solid waste; and other organic waste streams. Through a variety of processes, these feedstocks can be directly used to produce electricity or heat, or can be used to create gaseous, liquid, or solid fuels. The range of bioenergy technologies is broad and the technical maturity varies substantially. Some examples of commercially available technologies include small- and large-scale boilers, domestic pellet-based heating systems, and ethanol production from sugar and starch.<br /><br />Advanced biomass integrated gasification combined-cycle power plants and lignocellulose-based transport fuels are examples of technologies that are at a pre-commercial stage, while liquid biofuel production from algae and some other biological conversion approaches are at the research and development (R&D) phase. Bioenergy technologies have applications in centralized and decentralized settings, with the traditional use of biomass in developing countries being the most widespread current application.<br /><br />Bioenergy typically offers constant or controllable output. Bioenergy projects usually depend on local and regional fuel supply availability, but recent developments show that solid biomass and liquid biofuels are increasingly traded internationally.<br /><br />Direct solar energy technologies harness the energy of solar irradiance to produce electricity using photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), to produce thermal energy (heating or cooling, either through passive or active means), to meet direct lighting needs and, potentially, to produce fuels that might be used for transport and other purposes. The technology maturity of solar applications ranges from R&D (e.g., fuels produced from solar energy), to relatively mature (e.g., concentrated solar energy), to mature (e.g. passive and active solar heating, and wafer-based silicon PV).<br /><br />Many but not all of the technologies are modular in nature, allowing their use in both centralized and decentralized energy systems. Solar energy is variable and, to some degree, unpredictable, though the temporal profile of solar energy output in some circumstances correlates relatively well with energy demands. Thermal energy storage offers the option to improve output control for some technologies such as CSP and direct solar heating.<br /><br />Geothermal energy utilizes the accessible thermal energy from the Earth’s interior. Heat is extracted from geothermal reservoirs using wells or other means. Reservoirs that are naturally sufficiently hot and permeable are called hydrothermal reservoirs, whereas reservoirs that are sufficiently hot but that are improved with hydraulic stimulation are called enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Once at the surface, fluids of various temperatures can be used to generate electricity or can be used more directly for applications that require thermal energy, including district heating or the use of lower-temperature heat from shallow wells for geothermal heat pumps used in heating or cooling applications. Hydrothermal power plants and thermal applications of geothermal energy are mature technologies, whereas EGS projects are in the demonstration and pilot phase while also undergoing R&D. When used to generate electricity, geothermal power plants typically offer constant output.<br /><br />Hydropower harnesses the energy of water moving from higher to lower elevations, primarily to generate electricity. Hydropower projects encompass dam projects with reservoirs, run-of-river and in-stream projects and cover a continuum in project scale. This variety gives hydropower the ability to meet large centralized urban needs as well as decentralized rural needs. Hydropower technologies are mature. Hydropower projects exploit a resource that varies temporally. However, the controllable output provided by hydropower facilities that have reservoirs can be used to meet peak electricity demands and help to balance electricity systems that have large amounts of variable RE drinking water, irrigation, flood and drought control, and navigation, as well as energy supply.<br /><br />Ocean energy derives from the potential, kinetic, thermal and chemical energy of seawater, which can be transformed to provide electricity, thermal energy, or potable water. A wide range of technologies are possible, such as barrages for tidal range, submarine turbines for tidal and ocean currents, heat exchangers for ocean thermal energy conversion, and a variety of devices to harness the energy of waves and salinity gradients. Ocean technologies, with the exception of tidal barrages, are at the demonstration and pilot project phases and many require additional R&D. Some of the technologies have variable energy output profiles with differing levels of predictability (e.g., wave, tidal range and current), while others may be capable of near-constant or even controllable operation (e.g., ocean thermal and salinity gradient).<br /><br />Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air. The primary application of relevance to climate change mitigation is to produce electricity from large wind turbines located on land (onshore) or in sea- or freshwater (offshore). Onshore wind energy technologies are already being manufactured and deployed on a large scale. Offshore wind power technologies have greater potential for continued technical advancement. Wind electricity is both variable and, to some degree, unpredictable, but experience and detailed studies from many regions have shown that the integration of wind energy generally poses no insurmountable technical barriers.</blockquote><br /><br />And from the <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/renewable-energy-likely-climate-solution-0539.html">Union of Concerned Scientists</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>If the full range of renewable technologies were to be deployed, levels of heat-trapping emissions could be kept to concentrations lower than 450 parts per million. This level could help keep global temperatures from rising more than 2°F from current levels, the temperature beyond which scientists have predicted would likely lead to the most serious consequences of climate change.<br /><br />The report points out that the renewable energy transition is already underway. Nearly half of new electric generating capacity added globally in both 2008 and 2009 was from renewable sources. The same was true in the United States, with wind, solar, and other renewable technologies providing more than 40 percent of the new generating capacity.<br /><br />"This IPCC report makes it clear that renewable energy has tremendous potential to meet our energy needs and confront the challenge of climate change. But we must do much more to scale up clean energy sources," said Rachel Cleetus, UCS climate economist. "Many renewables are already economically competitive with fossil fuels and nuclear energy, especially when you take into account all the hidden costs of conventional energy—such as public health risks, air and water pollution, global warming emissions, and security risks."<br /><br />In a 2009 analysis titled “Climate 2030: A National Blueprint for a Clean Energy Economy,” UCS concluded that by adopting a comprehensive package of climate and clean energy policies in the U.S., renewable sources could provide 25 percent of the nation’s energy supply and 50 percent of electricity generation by 2030. When combined with investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, according to the UCS analysis, could help reduce heat-trapping emissions in 2030 by 56 percent from 2005 levels and save consumers money in every region of the country.<br /><br />“To reach a low-carbon global economy by 2050 requires making smart policy choices and investments today,” said Steve Clemmer, UCS Director of Energy Research and Analysis. “Here in the U.S. we can make serious progress by building on what the states have already done and adopt strong national renewable electricity and energy efficiency standards, and a price on carbon. That’s a sure way to transition to a clean energy economy while driving down costs and significantly reducing emissions.” </blockquote><br /><br />One problem with the info from the coal, oil and gas industries is that they only tend to take into account two or three renewable sources. Most places can take advantage of multiple sources which complement each other, at least largely addressing the issues of variable availability of sources like solar and wind.<br /><br />Now is the time. The report focuses on policy makers, and this is critical. But we, as consumers, also have to step up to the plate. YOU can make a difference and if you do it right, you can save money in the process. There are three basic actions you can take that together will greatly help the environment while saving you money.<br /><br />First, get a home energy audit. This is the best way to find ways to save energy and save money. The US Department of Energy has suggestions for <a href="http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170">a do-it-yourself</a> (cheaper but not as effective) audit as well as how to get a <a href="http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11180">professional audit</a> (costs money but will find more effective ways of saving you money in the long run).<br /><br />You should also switch your light bulbs from the old, inefficient incandescent bulbs to new, cleaner, MUCH more efficient <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UYF80S/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=moleshomepage&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000UYF80S">compact fluorescent bulbs</a>. When my wife and I did this our energy bill went down by 30% immediately. We saved a huge amount by making the switch. Compact fluorescents are a bit more expensive than incandescent, but they last MUCH longer and use MUCH less energy so you save a lot in the long run. It is important, however, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflrecycling.html">to dispose of them properly</a>. Could be an excuse to <a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/preventing-pollution/1114">go to your local IKEA</a> and have some Swedish Meatballs...er, I mean some chicken while disposing of your CFLs.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000UYF80S&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />At the same time that we switched to compact fluorescent bulbs, we also switched to all green energy (in our case all wind). This cost a tiny bit (a few pennies) more per kilowatt-hour of energy usage, but this was way offset by the savings using compact fluorescents. Together we went all green energy and saved money. You can find out about <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-5403436-10915746" target="_top">100% Green Energy Plans</a><img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-5403436-10915746" width="1" height="1" border="0"/> or <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/what_you_can_do/buy-green-power.html">click here</a> for other options. To see what green pricing options are available in New York through Con Ed <a href="http://www.conedsolutions.com/">click here</a>. <br /><br />Take these three steps to saving money and going green. You can be part of the solution, reducing pollution AND creating American jobs.<br /><br />CARBON OFFSETS:<br /><br />There is some controversy here, largely because there have been some scams associated with carbon offsets. And also there is no question that cutting back your carbon usage to start (see above suggestions) than offsetting, but I do some offsets as well.<br /><br />Best carbon offset program according to <a href="http://www.greenamerica.org/livinggreen/carbonoffsets.cfm">GreenAmerica</a> (formerly Co-op America, a group I have had dealings with for many years and I trust): (other ones listed there don't seem to be available anymore)<br /><br /><blockquote> <a href="http://www.nativeenergy.com/">NativeEnergy</a> takes an innovative approach to selling green tags as offsets. Instead of offering them from existing green energy facilities, it sells green tags from facilities that are yet to be built, representing the environmental benefits these future projects will generate. In this way, green tag and offset purchases through NativeEnergy help fund construction of new wind turbines and other projects. Better still, these green energy projects are all owned and operated by Native American tribes and small-scale farmers in the US, providing economic benefits to these populations.<br /><br />In short, NativeEnergy’s model makes new green energy facilities financially viable that would have otherwise lacked the capital to go forward, increasing clean energy generation capacity and building the infrastructure for a low-carbon future.</blockquote><br /><br />Best offset programs from <a href="http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/top-carbon-offset-companies.html">Planet Green</a> based on a Tufts University study (not sure how good a source they are, but some of their suggestions I know are goo):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nativeenergy.com/">Native Energy</a>: ...offset a ton of carbon for only [$12]. They are the least expensive of the best. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.atmosfair.de/en/">Atmosfair</a> (German company?) received a ranking of Excellent from Tufts. They will reduce one ton of CO2 for $17.30.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.climatefriendly.com/">Climate Friendly</a> (Australian company) also received the ranking of Excellent from Tufts. They will offset one ton of carbon for $14.50.<br /><br />Carbon Fund and TerraPass are also ones I am familiar with and they seem good. They tend be cheaper than the above listed ones but don't get the same high marks from independent agencies. They are better than not doing it at all, but Native Energy sounds the best balance of price to effectiveness.<br /><br /><br />So there you have it. Eating, energy use and carbon offsets are ways you can become part of the solution and help put off or even prevent that looming tipping point. There is no more time to put it off. ANY positive change you can make is worthwhile. My wife and I use public transportation, CFLs, wind energy, shop at a food co-op, and offset. We do this for our kids more than anything else, but it also just feels right.<br /><br />And don't forget to write your elected officials and media advocating for green energy and environmental policies that address global warming.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-726937953771290492012-03-13T07:09:00.005-07:002012-03-14T04:27:10.178-07:00East African Mystery Disease: Nodding SyndromeI just heard about this recently, despite having considerable interest in East Africa and being a biologist. This is one of those medical mysteries that can take many years to solve and may well represent something new medically.<br /><br />East African children, particularly in Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan, are being hit with a devastating disease called "Nodding Syndrome" after one of its early symptoms. Stimuli like eating or cold seems to trigger an involuntary nodding motion of the head which often stop when the triggering stimulus stops. However, these motions can also be the precursor to much more severe seizures such as complete freezing or grand-mal seizures. Only familiar foods trigger the response. Children presented with unfamiliar foods do not go into seizures. The disorder leads to stunted brain development and atrophy and stunted overall growth and is usually ultimately fatal. Direct damage to the brain, injury during a seizure, as well as malnutrition due to difficulty in eating because of the seizures triggered by eating are main causes of death.<br /><br />The cause is unknown and there is no treatment except to try and mitigate the symptoms.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LwOUzE03xm0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This disease was first recognized in the 1960's by Dr. Louise Jilek-Aall in an isolated area of Tanzania. It got little attention until recently now that it has spread into a much wider area. In some ways the political focus on South Sudan has brought the disease wider attention and recent attempts by the CDC to identify the cause focused on South Sudan. This attempt found a high correlation between the disease and infection with a parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus, the nematode worm that causes "river blindness" disease. However in other villages there was no correlation between infection with this worm and nodding syndrome. To my eyes this sounds like an unlikely causative agent, but so far it remains the best candidate. If so it represents new evolution within the worm because it seems not to have caused this kind of disease before. So something in the host-parasite relationship has changed.<br /><br />However, I also wonder if this might be a new manifestation of a prion disease, a type of disease (like "mad cow disease") that affects the nervous system and which can be incredibly hard to identify the causative agent. It is not clear to me if the brain pathologies have been tested for prions but it seems like it would be something that could be at least quickly ruled out. To me it sounds like it has some aspects in common, but this could easily be a superficial resemblance. I have seen prions brought up as a possible causative agent but I have seen no data related to this hypothesis. However, one aspect does not fit: most prion diseases are caused by people eating meat from an animal that had a prion disease. Since the prion protein is from another species, the change in the human nervous system is slower to develop and usually only manifests in old age. The fact that this mostly affects children suggests either that it is not a prion disease or that the source is from an animal whose prion protein is more similar to our own. Some have suggested the bushmeat trade as a source, but here why is it almost exclusively children? That is a question that all the hypotheses have trouble answering. No matter what the causative agent is it seems to mainly affect the DEVELOPING brain and not the adult brain. This is different from prion diseases and other seemingly similar disorders like Alzheimer's.<br /><br />Viral causes that have been tested for have proven negative, but this probably is not an exhaustive study, so there may well be virus families that could be the causative agent.<br /><br />The World Health Organization has these recommendations for treatment:<br /><br /><blockquote>Recommendations so far made by the team include: Children with nodding syndrome be given antiepileptic drugs given that children with NS also have seizures that are responsive to antiepileptic medications. The current mass treatment program be supplemented in areas of apparent high Onchocerciasis endemnicity and Children with NS be psychologically and socially supported.</blockquote><br /><br />More info here:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17350567<br /><br />http://www.who.int/hac/crises/sdn/sitreps/10june2011/en/<br /><br />http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v18/n3/full/nm0312-334.html<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-65162055997652700582012-02-19T16:00:00.000-08:002012-02-19T16:02:01.790-08:00Forced Mormon Conversion of Catholic and Jewish DeadThis is an amazing affront to people of all religions. The Mormons appear to have this little habit of baptizing dead Jews and Catholics, among others, without ANYONE'S consent. This is a HUGE presumption and HUGELY insulting to most Jews, Catholics, and other non-Mormons. But now we learn that they went so far as to baptize Simon Wiesenthal's parents as well as Elie Wiesel (prematurely?) and members of his family. Of course they are apologizing now and claiming it was the work of one rogue individual, but given that this was a deliberate policy such apologies and claims strike me as complete bullshit.<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17036046">BBC news</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Jews Asher and Rosa Rapp Wiesenthal were baptised in proxy ceremonies in the US states of Arizona and Utah in January, records show.<br /><br />Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Michael Purdy said the Church' s leaders "sincerely regret" the actions of "an individual member".<br /><br />The Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center denounced the news.<br /><br />"We are outraged that such insensitive actions continue in the Mormon temples," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, a spokesman at the centre...<br /><br />Evidence that Wiesenthal's parents had been baptised was found by Helen Radkey, a researcher and former Mormon, AP reported.<br /><br />She regularly checks the Church' s database, and also recently found the names of Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and several family members on the Mormon list...<br /><br />"The only way such insensitive practices would finally stop is if church leaders finally decided to change their practices and policies on posthumous baptisms, a move which this latest outrage proves that they are unwilling to do," he said.<br /><br />The Catholic Church has also objected to posthumous baptisms of its members.</blockquote><br /><br />[NOTE: I am not sure if the inclusion of Elie Wiesel on the list is a mistake on the part of reporters or on the part of the Mormons...Elie Wiesel isn't dead yet!]<br /><br />For the Mormon church to claim that it is just the error or misbehavior of one member ignores the fact that this kind of posthumous baptism is CHURCH POLICY. Given that it has been Mormon church policy, it is something that Romney should be challenged on and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/elie-wiesel-mitt-romney-mormon-church_n_1276148.html?ref=politics">Elie Wiesel has called on Romney to speak on the issue</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><br />Wiesel said that the situation has gotten so out of hand that the most prominent Mormon in the country should speak out about it.<br /><br />"I wonder if as a candidate for the presidency Mitt Romney is aware of what his church is doing. I hope that if he hears about this that he will speak up," Wiesel said, noting that a presidential candidate "should comment on everything."<br /><br />Supporters of Romney have accused the media of linking him to controversial church practices even as they give other Mormons, such as Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, a pass. The Republican frontrunner has said that he has personally performed proxy baptisms as part of the Mormon Church.<br /><br />HuffPost reached out via email to the Romney campaign for comment. In an email accidentally sent to the reporter, spokeswoman Gail Gitcho suggested that the campaign ignore the request.</blockquote><br /><br />Yes...Romney has performed such disgusting "conversions" HIMSELF and his campaign is trying to ignore the issue. And his campaign is STUPID enough to accidently send that info to the press (I assume pressing "reply" instead of "forward," something I have done but not with sensitive info!!!).<br /><br />For more on this issue <a href="http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html">read this article from Jewishgen.org</a><br /><br />And <a href="http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=27825">here is a statement from the Vatican on this issue</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a><br /><br /><a href="http://lubankunkel.blogspot.com/">Return to my Genealogy Page</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-84460551046771932622012-02-15T17:09:00.000-08:002012-02-15T17:21:43.971-08:00Musical Discoveries: The Evolution of my Son's Tastes in MusicMy son has always had an affinity for music, though sometimes that affinity has taken strange and unexpected turns. Most recently he happened to notice something I was reminding myself of after Clint Eastwood's Superbowl ad (I was listening to the theme song to Kelly's Heroes) and he IMMEDIATELY loved it and wanted to learn the lyrics.<br /><br />Many of these songs he for awhile picked up the lyrics (where there are lyrics and even if in a language none of us knew). Partly I just love the variety. And many are things that he helped me discover.<br /><br />Highlights of my son's musical tastes over the years (Pokemon songs NOT included!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kodo Drummers of Japan "Iromori" and "Lion": (1-2 years old)</span><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sSi7PyJMj3A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HVCziwV4Rps" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0000020FP&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Okay...now one of his VERY first songs to actually sing (he couldn't do the words yet, but he got the tune) was...well, this: (<1-2 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JKDtUzRIG6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5 6 7 8's "Woo Hoo": </span> (1-2 years old) He was VERY into this every time a Vonage commercial came on, and ultimately got us interested in Vonage (which we finally switched to recently after MetTel screwed us three months in a row).<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7DJv0rx5g-c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0001F6WU6&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Afia Mala (Royal Princess of Togo) singing Segne:</span> (2-3 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fs_ZWEiWCe4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00000JG1L&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bob Marley "Three Little Birds":</span> (3-4 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kIjkW6iyXNo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0000669JL&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Woodie Guthrie This Land is Your Land:</span> (3-5 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wxiMrvDbq3s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000001DJY&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"L'cha Dodi" sung by the Abayudaya, Jews of Uganda:</span><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uKFGk2XNWME" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0000CDL6K&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tom Lehrer The Elements:</span> (4-6 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DYW50F42ss8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And my son singing the same song at the age of 5: (yes with some air guitar as well)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xiB9mS1GrWY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Clash Lost in the Supermarket:</span> (4-5 years old) (sorry this one has an ad before the music)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/adwgph7EVWQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0045VVW5W&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" and "Welcome to the Machine":</span> (4-5 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cN-72wAlw8U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L5jRewnxSBY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000024D4S&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gogol Bordello "Immigraniada":</span> (6 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BtLjyRq2waY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003IFL4QS&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Matisyahu "Youth":</span> (6-7 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/12qtTuvWQSI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000BYCOD6&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Ode to Joy" by Beethoven</span>...okay this isn't the version he knows but I couldn't resist (he does like the song, though!)<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xpcUxwpOQ_A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />And his sister got him briefly into Bohemian Rhapsody...and I think THIS should be the canonical version:<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sz9MXziI1U4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />And, most strangely perhaps, his most recent favorite: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Mike Curb Congregation "Burning Bridges"</span> (which happens to come from one of my old favorite movie classics): (7 years old)<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WBr2Xh599ZI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />I am amazed at the variety of what catches his attention and we seldom (with a few exceptions like the Elements Song, which came after he was already obsessed with Chemistry) can predict what he will latch on to.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/music.html">Return to my Music Page</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-44492659419182636932012-02-06T08:11:00.000-08:002012-02-06T08:46:00.578-08:00Best WW II Movie EVER:Kelly's HeroesOne of my all time favorite movies is Kelly's Heroes, a 1970 WW II classic starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sotherland, Carrol O'Conner and many other wonderful actors.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00004RF9L&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/beAQVm1j56w?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The plot is basically some American GI's learn of a relatively unguarded bank containing a huge amount of gold behind German lines and decide to sneak in and steal it. Their efforts are misinterpreted by an American general (played by Carrol O'Connor and loosely based on Patton) as an unexpected American offensive into German occupied territory. So the GI's have to race against the actual American advance and negotiate with the small but strong German garrison in order to steal the gold.<br /><br />It was one of many movies of that era with a similar superb cast and well executed (if not always historically accurate) plots. Where Eagles Dare may be one of the most historically inaccurate of the genre (but still fun) and Battle of the Bulge may be one of the top classics of that genre.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0007TKNGA&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />But for me Kelly's Heroes, with a bank robbery as its goal but by no means its main theme, is the best of the best. Simple plot but with wonderfully elaborated details and amazing acting. Not to mention a wonderful soundtrack:<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LbOsCbruxqg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />AND, not to mention, some cool and very well thought out tank encounters:<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T1eFePf6mWM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Along with the Dirty Dozen and Where Eagles Dare, Kelly's Heroes is a MUST OWN WW II classic.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001PO556E&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/books.html">Return to Mole's Book Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-16094382551702411552012-02-01T19:53:00.000-08:002012-02-01T19:54:39.639-08:00Revisting: Preventing and Dealing With Bed Bugs<a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-5403436-10813943" target="_top"><br /><img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-5403436-10813943" width="125" height="125" alt="Best bed bug mattress cover for bedbug infestation" border="0"/></a><br /><br />Once again I see that this problem is SPREADING and people still are mostly ignoring what they have to do to prevent problems. PLEASE spread the word so bed bugs don't keep spreading.<br /><br />The plague of bed bugs continues to spread in America, even though it is not THAT hard to prevent spread of these pests. But no one seems to be paying attention to the ways that bed bugs can be kept at bay. Every day I am seeing more and more mattresses, entire beds, and other furniture thrown away because of bed bugs. But people CAN limit their risk if they put their minds to it. With information you can save time, money and stress. But very few people are doing it.<br /><br />All of America is at risk of bed bug infestations. Many very fancy hotels are already infested. Many homes are infested. But your risk can be reduced and there are many things you can do to limit your chances of getting these pests.<br /><br />In 2006 I <a href="http://www.dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/bed_bugs_0">wrote an article</a> about a relatively new but spreading problem: bed bugs. Since I wrote that article the problem has gotten bad enough that it has sparked a whole industry of detection and extermination of bed bugs and has led to hundreds of articles all over the mainstream media reporting on this growing problem. But this has led to misunderstandings and some shady businesses as well. This article is designed to help you avoid bedbugs if possible, and get rid of them if you do get them. The problems continues to get worse. Every week I see sveral mattresses and couches wrapped in plastic laid out (<span style="font-weight:bold;">unnecessarily!</span>) on the street to be discarded, probably due to a bed bug scare or infestation. The last few weeks alone I saw some 20 mattresses as well as considerable amount of bedding and a couple of couches all tightly wrapped up and being needlessly thrown out. I assume most of these are due to bed bugs.<br /><br />In 2010 the building I live in had a bed bug scare. It seemed at first as if several apartments were affected with possibly two separate initial infections (at opposite ends of the building). Turns out that probably only one apartment ever had them, but had the building's managing board not acted rapidly it would have spread. As it was the managing board spent tens of thousands of dollars to pinpoint possibly affected apartments and proactively treat them. During that time we became quite informed about the pests. More recently we had another scare. That turned out to be nothing. But it reinforced our knowledge of the issue. More recently an alert shareholder saw a single bed bug in their apartment. They caught it and put it in a bag so it could be identified. So far it seems like that is the only bed bug to make it in, but the building is spending hundreds of dollars to make sure.<br /><br />The bad news is the problem continues to spread and a lot of what is being done about it is actually the wrong approach. For example, throwing away your mattress if it has bed bugs is unnecessary and it helps spread the problem because you have just put the bed bugs out on the street where they can get on people's shoes (including your own to re-infest your own home). The good news is there are some very simple things you can do that will prevent them from coming into your living space. Three relatively simple and inexpensive methods greatly reduce your chances of getting them: mattress covers, diatomaceous earth, and rubbing alcohol.<br /><br />First, the problem...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vector/vector-faq1.shtml">From the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website:</a><br /><br /><blockquote> Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless and rusty red colored, and have flat bodies, antennae and small eyes. They are visible to the naked eye, but often hide in cracks and crevices. When bed bugs feed, their bodies swell and become a brighter red. In homes, bed bugs feed primarily on the blood of humans, usually at night when people are sleeping...<br /><br /> Typically, the bite is painless and rarely awakens a sleeping person. However, it can produce large, itchy welts on the skin. Welts from bed bug bites do not have a red spot in the center--those welts are more characteristic of flea bites...<br /><br /> Although bed bugs may be a nuisance to people, they are not known to spread disease.</blockquote><br /><br />That is also good news. Bed bugs are not disease vectors like mosquitoes. They are just irritating in the extreme...and they can really infest an apartment if not properly addressed. But no one gets sick or dies from bed bugs.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=192890&u=531686&m=24102&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/468x60-244.gif" alt="click Here to View Our Selection of Bed Bug Products" border="0"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WHY NOW?</span><br /><br />The problem first became wide spread in NYC in 2005...after a lull of about 60 years where there were few or no reportings of bed bugs in NYC, one of the current epicenters. Since then the epidemic has taken off. Now I have heard from one professional that one out of every eleven apartment units in NYC has bed bugs. Let me emphasize that I was sounding the alarm early on this one!<br /><br />Why the sudden epidemic? There are several possible reasons. Some have tried to blame it on immigrants. That is almost certainly not true since here in NYC we have a pretty constant influx of immigrants and the influx of bed bugs has never correlated with influx of immigrants. If this was going to be a major source of spread, there would not have been a 60 year lull. NYC has always been a major immigrant hub (I know my ancestors came through here) but the upswing in bed bugs seems to have only started around 2005 for NYC. But elsewhere in the country the upswing started more like 2000, according to a an article from <a href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1136937,00.html">Time Magazine</a> back when I first looked into this. Blaming immigrants is just plain unfounded.<br /><br />One aspect of the sudden rise of the bed bugs is simple evolution. I have often reported on how the <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/your-health-antibiotic-resistant.html">misuse and overuse of antibiotics, particularly in animal feed, has led to a huge emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria</a>. This has been a huge problem and is one reason why I now only buy meat and chicken raised without antibiotics. Well the same thing happens with insects. Overuse and misuse of pesticides in America and abroad has led to bed bugs that are resistant to most pesticides. For the record, same goes with lice. Those horribly toxic shampoos used for lice are mostly useless by now because the lice have evolved resistance against them. The proper use of a lice comb and careful removal of eggs is the only truly effective way to remove lice. And many treatments for bed bugs are ineffective for the same reason. In fact, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16010179">many scientists believe that over use of insecticides is exactly why we are having our current influx of bed bugs</a>.<br /><br />Another aspect that I suspect may be going on is global warming. Simple fact is that most insects prefer warmer temperatures. I want to emphasize that this is speculation. The evolution of pesticide resistance is not speculative but pretty much established fact. But global warming HAS been shown to be the cause for the spread of many pests, and it almost certainly will eventually be shown to play a role for many more. So I am betting that rising temperatures have helped the bed bug infestation spread.<br /><br />So what can you do? I'm going to work backwards, from treatment to detection to prevention. Why? Because if I give you an idea about how awful the treatment and expensive and potentially inaccurate the detection, prevention will sound much better to you. And honestly the more we all work to keep these things under control the more likely it will be we can limit them. Remember that if your neighbors get them, you will probably get them too if you aren't actively trying to prevent them (diatomaceous earth is the best way to prevent spread from a neighbor!).<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=250096&u=531686&m=24102&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/24102/468x60.gif" alt="click here to learn more" border="0"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TREATMENT</span><br /><br />There seem to be three main treatments. All three are horrible to go through and hugely expensive. They are basically heating, freezing, and poisoning. I guess there is a fourth which you can use for any items that can't stand up to the other treatments: bag everything for 2 years. That is about how long it takes to kill bed bugs by starvation. I did notice that the more convinced exterminators were that we didn't actually have them, the more they backed off that number. Eventually they seemed to settle on 6 months. But there has been research that showed even after a year sealed in a bag with no food or water, the researchers could still find bed bugs not just living, but actually reproducing! They are tough SOBs. So sealing them off requires two years to be absolutely sure. One exterminator suggested adding moth balls to the bag you put things in can help speed up the process, but I have not confirmed that. Probably 6 months with mothballs in the bag is good enough, but not as certain as 2 years.<br /><br />Also, I notice many homes in NYC with mattresses thrown out. I suspect this sudden increase in mattresses being thrown out is due to bed bugs. But there is no need to throw out a mattress because mattress covers will seal them in, away from you, until they die. Mattress covers are necessary anyway (see below) so just put them on and keep the mattress. It saves money and keeps them from spreading to other parts of the neighborhood. Mattress covers are cheaper than a new mattress!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bedshield.com/products.php?PARTNER=#####"><img src="http://www.bedshield.com/images/banner4.gif" border="0"></a> <br /><br />Treatment usually involves bagging almost everything you own for months to years, punching 1 inch diameter holes in many of your walls, then either getting poison all over everything, including inside your walls (and it takes WEEKS to fully clean up), or raising the temperature in the whole apartment above what bed bugs can tolerate, or lowering the temperature in the whole apartment to below what they can tolerate. Only bathrooms and kitchens are largely left untouched (as long as you seal them off so the poison doesn't get in them). All of these treatments are horribly inconvenient, expensive and disruptive. Best to avoid them if you can by preventing bed bugs altogether!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">DETECTION</span><br /><br />Detection has issues as well. Usually what is first obvious is the itching from the bites. Then people will notice the bugs' very dark droppings (basically like dried up flakes of blood...yeah...your blood if you've got itching bites). By the time you are noticing them, it is likely that you have a pretty bad infestation. People won't always see them because they mostly come out at night, but a really bad infestation they will be everywhere, day and night. The earlier you catch the problem the easier it is to deal with.<br /><br />There are two expert methods of identifying them: trained people and trained dogs. The dogs have been getting a lot of press these days, and they CAN be very effective. The dog's nose is an amazing thing, and they really can be trained to sniff out anything and tell you about it. There are bomb sniffing dogs, drug sniffing dogs, and now bed bug sniffing dogs. The flaws are that they are extremely expensive and, though potentially extremely accurate, they are in practice sometimes very inaccurate. Dogs basically want food and attention. They don't care about accuracy...they just want to be rewarded, so they are easily distracted. We are pretty sure that our building had many false alarms because of a dog whose handler was less than professional. I am not saying it is a scam (though that can happen if the same company offers detection and treatment!) or the dog was poorly trained. It just has a built in inaccuracy which has to be kept in mind. The dogs are VERY accurate IF AND ONLY IF they are properly trained and handled and not distracted.<br /><br />When my building had a second scare I had the chance to better understand a good vs. bad use of a bed bug sniffing dog. I bet most of these dogs are almost as well trained as bomb or drug sniffing dogs, so have a lot of potential. But the handlers also have to be properly trained. The first time I personally witnessed a bed bug sniffing dog and handler team doing its thing I felt both dog and handler were performing for an audience and I felt they were giving false positive readings because of it. It seemed very unprofessional. Was the handler inexperienced? Or simply unprofessional? Or was it an outright scam to drum up business for his company? I don't know.<br /><br />The second year we had an issue a different dog and different handler came (though from the same company). This time they seemed MUCH more professional and the handler limited the number of people around the dog to limit distractions. He did not detect bed bugs in our building. The difference was very clear between a handler who was showing off and one who was doing his job.<br /><br />Bottom line is this: the dogs are potentially really accurate, but the handlers are variable, even from the same company. My advice is a.) get an inspection from a different company than you will hire to deal with any infestation and make that clear from the start. Otherwise the company you hire to detect a problem will be the same company that handles the problem, creating a conflict of interest. And b.) watch the dog and handler...if they seem to be playing to an audience there is a problem. If they seem to be open to one person observing but focused on keeping the dog from being distracted, then they are more trustworthy. Beware of show offs, whether dog or handler.<br /><br />What about human detection? People will miss the very beginning of an infestation that a dog could catch, but they do the inspection in a smarter manner and so can be more accurate overall once an infestation has gotten going beyond the first stages. Dogs are potentially more accurate but sometimes people do the inspection in a smarter way. So it's a toss up which to hire.<br /><br />But the bottom line is if either a dog or a person with training in detection tells you you have them, it is really hard not to say yes to the treatment because far, far better safe than sorry. The earlier you catch it the easier it is to stop, so if you want to wait and see if the dog or person is right, you may find yourself with an out of control infestation which will be even harder and more expensive to deal with.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=280955&u=531686&m=24102&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/24102/468x602.jpg" border="0"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PREVENTION</span><br /><br />Oh, and is now a good time to mention bed bugs are ALL OVER THE CITY? One out of every 11 apartment units in NYC. Hotels. In the UN building. In places of work. In movie theaters. The good news is that they don't really move around so much except at night, so they aren't jumping from person to person much. Though the darkness in movie theaters is a concern...when you come back from a movie, be particularly careful about your shoes, coat and pants cuffs. Treatment with rubbing alcohol (mentioned below) will help.<br /><br />The main vector is bringing into your apartment items that have already got them living inside them...furniture, books, etc. But one exterminator I talked to believed people's shoes are a major vector. So they aren't spread so much directly from one person to another (like lice) but by bringing infested things into your building.<br /><br />So what can you do to prevent them from coming into your living space?<br /><br />First be really, really careful scrounging anything, particularly furniture. Now I have scrounged a lot of stuff in my time...still do from time to time, but now I am highly careful. If a book has bed bugs, it is pretty easy to detect...if you look. You will see the black specs that are their droppings. Furniture can be harder, but there are treatments if you really want to bring a scrounged piece of furniture into your apartment. Heating (if you can), rubbing alcohol, or diatomaceaous earth (see below). But my wife figures the safest is to not scrounge at all.<br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&offerid=179320.10000049&subid=0&type=4"><IMG border="0" alt="Bed Bug Kit Banner" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&bids=179320.10000049&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=1"></a><br /><br />Mattresses and pillows can be sealed up. This costs some money, but if you get good mattress and pillow covers, even if you have an infested mattress or bed you can just leave it in the cover and they will eventually die and you keep the bed from being their favorite habitat. These covers are the most recommended action you can take. When exterminators heard we already had them, they were 90% sure we couldn't have a problem. So covering your mattresses and pillows with high end versions of these covers will really protect you. This is a cost you probably don't want to skimp on. And a good cover shouldn't be uncomfortable. It also keeps you from having major dust mite problems, something almost all beds have and can make allergies worse. So the mattress and pillow covers are good all around, reducing chances of bed bug problems and reducing allergies.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bedshield.com/products.php?PARTNER=#####"><img src="http://www.bedshield.com/images/banner4.gif" border="0"></a> <br /><br />But shoes are an issue as well. One exterminator said you should always take your shoes off when you come in and if possible place them in a container with diatomaceous earth (again...see below). He believes that (scrounging an infested bed aside) this would prevent almost all spread of bed bugs. Not sure if that is true, but it certainly would help. Another exterminator I and others talked to suggested buying 90% or higher rubbing alcohol (a higher percent than the usual stuff you get, which is 70%) and putting some in a spray bottle in your entryway. Spraying your shoes every time you enter your home (particularly after being in a movie theater), your luggage when traveling (inside and out, before and after traveling), and any furniture you bring in can greatly limit the chances of bringing bed bugs into your home.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001B5JT8C&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Now we come to some amazing stuff that I was dubious about but have seen in action. <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/pest-control-advice-diatomaceous-earth.html">Diatomaceous earth</a> is one of the best treatments to protect your home from ANY crawling bug, from ant to cockroach to bed bug, from entering. Diatoms are tiny animals that live in the ocean and create a silica shell. These shells are beautiful (if you have a microscope to look at them with), elaborate, and very sharp. These animals die, fall to the bottom of the sea, and form thick beds of diatom skeletons. When plate tectonics (earthquakes and continental drift) brings these deposits up above sea level, they can be mined. These deposits of tiny silica skeletons of long dead diatoms are called diatomaceous earth. It is a white powder of very tiny sharp skeletons. To us the sharpness, at worst, will irritate our skin a bit. It can't really harm us (in fact some people eat the stuff to cure or prevent intestinal parasites, but I am not sure this is okay!). But to something small like an insect, it is like the death of a thousand cuts. The coating around an insect that helps keep in moisture gets pierced and they dry out and die.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00127Q860&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />You can get diatomaceous earth online or in a hardware store. It isn't that expensive. If you even get so-called "food grade" diatomaceous earth it can be used in a kitchen because it is considered so harmless.<br /><br />We got diatomaceous earth and I basically spread it around the entire perimeter of every room in our apartment, making sure to get it into every crevice. The problem is this stuff gets everywhere. I found it irritating to my lungs at first, but once most of it settled and we vacuumed up anything not around the edges of a room (this is also good for making sure your vacuum isn't infested!) that went away. Next time I use it so liberally I will wear a face mask. For months after I spread the stuff around, the diatomaceous earth was still visible in the crevices and corners around many of the rooms but isn't a problem in any way.<br /><br />And the effectiveness? Within one day of spreading it around every single crawling insect, including ants, confused flour beetles, and cockroaches, just disappeared from our apartment. And they didn't come back for about a year. We live in a basement apartment, so we get insects every year and always have a kind of on going war with them. Nothing major, but we have to be vigilant. But after spreading diatomaceous earth, all crawling insects disappeared for a full year.<br /><br />This year we started seeing some ants again and I spread diatomaceous earth next to the sliding glass door and our basement windows. And again all crawling insects just disappeared. I still see plenty of ants outside, but none have come inside. And no cockroaches for a more than year now! In NYC...almost unheard of. The stuff works.<br /><br />So if most of NYC put their mattresses and pillows into bed bug covers, took off their shoes and put them in containers of diatomaceous earth or sprayed them with 90% or higher rubbing alcohol when they got home, and spread diatomaceous earth around the edges of their apartment walls, I am betting they would find many pests would be greatly reduced from their apartments. Bed bugs, ants and flour beetles are hard to get rid of. Diatomaceous earth does it. And it isn't the kind of thing that is easy to evolve a resistance to so it won't lose its effectiveness over the years.<br /><br />So there you go. Together we can all fight bed bugs. Hope this helps!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/health-and-wellness.html">Return to the Health and Wellness Blog</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-24844363481393391422012-01-25T20:29:00.000-08:002012-01-25T20:33:13.499-08:00Booze and Biofuels Meet: Making Whiskey and Fuel Side by Side<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&offerid=208108.10001708&subid=0&type=4"><img border="0" alt="Gaiam logo_145X80" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&bids=208108.10001708&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=0" /></a><br /><br />Now this is the kind of entrepreneural spirit of innovation that I wish we had more of in America. But it falls to Scotland to start the process. A Scottish company is setting up to use the waste products from the whiskey industry to make a biofuel that can be used in existing car engines with a far smaller carbon footprint than using petroleum based gasoline. Good for the environment, good for energy independence, good for the economy, and it creates jobs as well (see, THAT'S how it's done!). From <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-16701335">BBC News</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>A new company has been formed to commercialise a process for producing biofuel made from whisky by-products.<br /><br />Edinburgh Napier University's Celtic Renewables Ltd will initially focus on Scotland's £4bn malt whisky industry to develop biobutanol and other chemicals.<br /><br />The company said biobutanol could be used as a direct substitute for fossil-derived fuel...<br /><br />Celtic Renewables is now working with Scottish Enterprise to produce the biofuel from sustainable resources on an industrial scale.<br /><br />Its fermentation process uses the two main by-products of whisky production - 'pot ale', which is the residue left in copper stills, and 'draff', the spent grains...<br /><br />Research has suggested biobutanol provides 25% more power output than the traditional bioethanol.</blockquote><!--break--><br /><br />Hear that? Why aren't we doing this in America? You don't even have to have specially modified engines to use the stuff. It can directly substitute for the stuff OPEC and their Republican allies have addicted us to. The article does include a small dig at the rest of the world:<br /><br /><blockquote>Mr Ewing said: "Turning our whisky industry's by-products into raw materials for sustainable biofuels which can be used to power ordinary family cars is an example of the sort of innovative thinking Scotland excels in."</blockquote><br /><br />Yep...I really think America, led by the anti-education, anti-science, anti-small business Republicans, has lost the innovative spirit it had through most oft he 20th century. Republicans just want us to keep on being addicted to oil and want most of the profit to go into the pockets of the 1%. And they are willing to cut education and science to do it.<br /><br />But maybe Jack Daniels wants to sign up to be next in line. They can help the planet and create local jobs in Tennessee. I'd certainly drink to that!<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-22810284632982208902012-01-04T17:32:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:15:02.383-08:00Musical Discovery: The Music of MaliThe Putumayo collections of music are a wonderful way of discovering new music from parts of the world you have never thought of. I was introduced to them, interestingly, by my son back when he was 3 and 4 years old. When we visited California we would always visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. And we would always stop at the gift shop and my son would consider whether he would spend his souvenir option there or somewhere else. More recently he has moved on to other sources of souvenirs (always interesting) but initially he was always interested in listening to the various samples of Putumayo CD collections and he would pick one for his souvenir.<br /><br />During his excursions into the Putumauyo CD collection, the African selection, the Women of Africa Selection and the Mali selection each caught his attention, and I tip my hat to his choices because they all are amazing collections. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00000JG1L&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0001DD0DU&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0007TV67U&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />All three are fantastic...but today I want to highlight music from Mali. One artist from the Women of Africa collection I have highlighted before is <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/09/afia-mala-royal-princess-of-togo.html">Afia Mala, a Royal Princess of Togo and Benin</a>.<br /><br />Perhaps surprisingly, Mali is one of the more democratic nations in Africa. A co-worker of mine was surprised that Mali is where the famous city of Timbuktu is...a city I would love to visit someday even though I hear it has declined from its former glory. Timbuktu was once a rich, major trading site along the Niger River, connecting sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, where salt, gold, ivory and slaves were traded in huge amounts.<br /><br />Mali cuisine seems mostly to be a mixture of North African dishes (like Couscous) and Senegalese dishes. It is very much the juncture between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Sadly, I don't think I will have much chance of trying some of the wonderful sounding dishes from Mali, short of cooking them myself (an option I may well attempt!) or visiting Mali itself (again, an option I would like to explore if I get the chance).<br /><br />Now Mali is something of a backwater, and yet it manages to be one of the most democratic and forward looking nations in Africa. Though predominantly Muslim, it is also one of the few nations in Africa where homosexuality is not outright illegal. This does not mean that Mali is a paragon of civil liberties in a global context, but it does manage to be one of the more democratic nations despite its poverty. It has some dangers because of attempts of al-Qaeda related groups to establish themselves in the country, but so far Mali has done wonders at keeping such groups at bay. Mali may be one of the few Muslim nations of North Africa I would, as a Jew, feel fairly comfortable visiting.<br /><br />But what strikes me is that when I listen to the Putumayo collection of music from Mali, I absolutely LOVE each and every song. There is not one song on that CD that I am even ambivalent about. It is one of my favorite CD's of all time. Generally I have no idea what they are singing about, but the sound of it is amazing.<br /><br />Seemingly the most famous musician from Mali is Habib Koite...and here is a haunting, beautiful song from the Putumayo collection.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XlZQK-w4G9Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />He also has a gorgeous song on the Putumayo Africa collection:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PzHk9uWKfrE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />One of my favorites from the album is Moussa Diallo's Maninda:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zw9X5GqTDI0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Then there is Amassakoul 'N' Tenere by Tinariwen which strikes me as more generally "Musilm" in sound, if such a generalization is even close to valid, and slightly less uniquely Mali...but it is still super cool:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q2eT9LqvHJg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Here Kélétigui Diabaté's version of a traditional piece, Koulandian: <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M6KoVZjqYng" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Habib Koite also performs this piece (not from the Putumayo collection), though I personally like Kélétigui Diabaté's version better:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6qcoweiyg6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This one is amazing (not from the Putumayo collection)...Gershwin's Summertime performed by two of Mali's top musical geniuses, Keletigui Diabate and Habib Koite:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rc9xqgd-r48" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I am blown away by that one!<br /><br />Another haunting one, by Boubacar Tranore, is this one:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QSs6yrn-pr0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I urge my readers to explore the Putumayo collections. I don't connect with all of them, but they all are quality collections of amazing artists. The African ones in particular have greatly expanded my musical tastes, and the Mali collection is quite possibly my favorite. And it led me to look into the nation of Mali more than I might have. If I ever have the time and money, it is one of the nations I would love to visit, not least for the chance to visit Timbuktu!<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/music.html">Return to Mole's Music Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-31965126895800147092012-01-03T07:19:00.000-08:002012-01-03T07:20:11.699-08:00Silly Christian Brawls, History and the Crimean WarWhen my wife and I traveled through Greece, Turkey and Israel, we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This is one of the holiest places in Christianity, supposedly the site of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. There is even a supposed post-hole where the cross was thought to be placed.<br /><br />We were told an odd story about this church. It seems that several Christian sects cooperate, if that is the right word to describe the rivalries that result, to take care of the church. We were told that these various sects actually sometimes get into physical fights over who gets to sweep what parts of the church. I always assumed this was an exaggeration, but it seems it is literal, since the exact same kind of rivalry, this time between the Greek and Armenian Orthodox churches, erupted into a very silly brawl this very Christmas season, 2011, and was caught on film. From the church where Jesus was supposed to have been born in Bethlehem:<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5RnVfXFd5MU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This isn't the first time, by ANY means that this has happened. From 2007:<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WjogvDivTRM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Let me just say that this is the kind of thing that makes me so skeptical about organized religion...is THIS what Jesus was all about? Let me emphasize that THIS kind of crap makes organized religion (and it isn't just Christianity...brawls between Mitnagdim and Hasidic Jewish groups in the old country in the 19th Century were no different!) look outright stupid.<br /><br />But these stupid, broom battles between Christian clergy have at times been part of international struggles leading to outright war. Specifically, it strikes me that this kind of stupid broom battle is a distant echo of some of the issues that led to the Crimean War. The Crimean War represents an early stage to the lead up to WW I and is one of the first instances of Britain and France acting as allies rather than enemies, something that became critical for WW I and WW II. Prior to the Crimean War, France and Britain were rivals or outright enemies for centuries, with only occasional moments of cooperation. The Crimean War, partly sparked by these kinds of stupid broom battles between clergy in the "holy" land, was the moment where France and Britain became firm allies, initially against Russia, and later along with Russia against Prussia/Germany and Austria.<br /><br />The Crimean War was the result of the slow, steady decline of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was one of the longest living superpower of all history, spanning roughly 600 years. But that 600 years included about 250 years of strong, dominant expansion, some 100+ years of tenuous holding on to prestige as Europe caught up and surpassed the Turks, and then another 100+ years of clear decline. During the declining years of the Ottoman Empire, they were often kept alive by the fact that the European powers, generally Britain, France, Russia, Austria and Prussia/Germany, couldn't decide how the spoils would be divided if the Ottoman Empire actually collapsed. So rather than fight it out over the spoils, the European powers, in the last 100 or so years of the Ottoman Empire, preferred to prop up that failing Empire. So although various territories (like Wallachia, Serbia, Greece, etc.) might be detached from the Ottoman Empire and made part of another empire or made an independent state, the European powers refused to allow the entire Empire to fail simply because it would lead to a world war among the dominant superpowers over the remnants of the Ottoman territories.<br /><br />So at various times Austria and Russia, Germany and Russia, Britain and France, Britain and Russia, etc. discussed how the Ottoman Empire should be carved up, usually no solid agreement could be reached that would avoid war, so the Great Powers helped the Turks survive. This is not to say that the Turks themselves played no role in this diplomatic and military game. They at times were very skilled at playing the Great Powers against each other to secure their own existence. But there were times where they were unable to act effectively and were saved only by the actions of outsiders.<br /><br />Russia had long had designs on Turkish territory. Russia envisioned itself the rightful ruler of the Balkans (in opposition to both Austria and the Ottomans), the rightful protector of ALL Orthodox Christian sects (many of whom hated eachother, as the broom battle video above illustrates today), AND the rightful heir of the Roman Empire and thus of Constantinople/Istanbul itself. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great particularly articulated these claims and tried to carry them out, with only limited success. The Ottoman Empire was already declining at these times, so both Peter and Catherine the Greats could enforce some of their claims. But by no means all because the Ottomans still had some fight in them and no one else wanted Russia to be so powerful.<br /><br />Nicholas I was another Tsar who wanted to exert Russia's claims over the Balkans, over Orthodox Christians world wide, and over what was once the Byzantine Empire. He tried making deals with Britain (then ruled by Queen Victoria), his main ally against their mutual rival France (ruled by Napoleon III) to divide the slowly failing Ottoman Empire between them. Britain was not ready for this to happen, so no deal was made between these two Great Powers. Austria was another power that wanted to carve up the Ottoman Empire, but already at this time Russia and Austria were competing, in the name of Orthodox vs. Catholic, Slavic vs. Germanic rule, over who would dominated the Balkans. So Austria and Russia were already starting the collision course that would ultimately spark WW I. But where everyone else fell was not yet clear. France tended to side against Russia. Britain tended to side against France. Prussia tended to also side against France. So had WW I happened before the Crimean War, you might have had Britain, Russia and Prussia against France and Austria with Turkey and Italy falling where ever they had the temporary advantage. But in the 1850's this all began to change. Not that the alliances that fell into WW I were yet formed so early, but one key alliance was formed, first in opposition to Russia and in support of Turkey, that later became the key to WW I. France and Britain, whose rivalry formed the basis of most wars and diplomatic interactions up until then, started forming a firm alliance.<br /><br />The rivalry between France and Britain was initially a Medieval issue, where rulers from both sides had claims on the same territories due to competing feudal claims. The British royal family were originally the Dukes of Normandy, so had claims in France. The French royals also had ties to key noble families in England who had claims to the throne. So for centuries France and Britain were at odds. It was one of the dominant themes in European politics from roughly 1066 until the 1850's. Roughly for 800 years the British-French rivalry was THE key theme in Europe and beyond. Even the American Revolution was a sideshow of this rivalry and our independence is due to the intervention of France against Britain in their long rivalry.<br /><br />Tsar Nicholas I, whose main rival was France and whose main ally was Britain and whose main enemies were Austria and the Turks, tried to arrange with Britain a division of Turkey behind everyone else's backs. It was from this discussion that the famous term "Sick Man of Europe" was coined to describe the Ottoman Empire. Britain and Russia disagreed on what was needed. Russia felt that Turkey needed a surgeon to carve it up and Britain felt that it needed a physician to cure it. Russia's insistence on carving up Russia ultimately drove a wedge between it and the rest of Europe, and that wedge started to form the alliances that would lead to WW I even though those alliances evolved over the years between the Crimean War and WW I.<br /><br />The Russian view was that the end of the Ottoman Empire was inevitable, so why not plan in advance and carve it up. If Russia and Britain cooperated in this, then France and Austria could be excluded and Prussia would probably go along with the winners. This really was no different from what many other European leaders had seen for decades, including Napoleon I, Metternich, and many others. The decline of the Turks had gone on for a long time and the end was seen as inevitable for at least 100 years. So Russia was not unreasonable in their views, even if they were greedy. But no more greedy than Austria, Britain or France, all of whom wanted spoils from the Sick Man of Europe. Prussia was the only country that stayed SOMEWHAT peripheral to this interest in carving up the Ottoman Empire.<br /><br />But Britain was not willing to see ANYONE get the upper hand in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, not even their ally Russia, so they opted for a continuation of the Sick Man. Tsar Nicholas I was not willing to see that happen, so did everything he could to force war on Turkey on Russia's terms. Overplaying his hand, he slowly forced Britain into an alliance with their arch-rival France against Russia. That Anglo-French alliance, inconceivable in the early 1800's, has essentially persisted until today and was a key factor in the Crimean War, WW I and WW II as well as the Cold War. Tsar Nicholas I and his desire for Russia's traditional claims against Turkey established one of the enduring and dominant alliances of the 20th century.<br /><br />But what was the main issue? France had traditionally claimed to protect, as a dominant Catholic force, the Christians within the Ottoman Empire. This was the basis of a long-standing alliance between the Ottoman Empire and France dating back to the expansionist days of Turkey. But Russia's very existence depended partly on its claim to be the protector of all Orthodox Christians in the world, particularly in the Ottoman domains. This claim had generally been at odds with what the Ottomans themselves thought as well as with the French claims. So when the Latin and Greek clergy in Bethlehem and Jerusalem got into a conflict over who had the right to sweep the floors and fix the facades of the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Russia used this as a way to exert its dominance in Ottoman territories. Needless to say the Ottomans objected. France, which had kind of ignored its claims of protection over Christians in the Ottoman Empire, awoke to the Russian threat and started preparing for war. So Russia and France were ready to go to war over sweeping rights, as it were, within Christian Holy sites within the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans were desperately trying to claim sovereignty over their own territory despite their near collapse. And Britain was trying to preserve peace, prevent anyone from taking an unfair share of Ottoman territory, and so wanted to prop up the Ottoman Empire.<br /><br />When Russia clearly became the most belligerent power, using its naval force against Turkey, Britain felt compelled, against tradition, to side with France to preserve Turkey. From this came the Crimean War that embarrassed Russia, preserved Turkey, and cemented an alliance between France and Britain that was to dominate politics for the next century. So far the other alliances that initiated WW I (Germany and Austria, Germany and Turkey, France and Russia, Britain and Serbia) had not formed. But the French-British alliance that was to be critical to WW I and WW II and beyond was forged in the lead up to the Crimean War, in vague support of a traditional claim of France to protect the Catholic right to sweep floors in the churches in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. So those broom wars helped forge this key alliance.<br /><br />The fact that Russia's other key rival was Austria started to form the Central Powers of WW I. The Russia-Turkey and Russia-Austria rivalries, combined with the battles over who would dominate the Balkans (Austria, Turkey or Russia, with Serbia one of the main local players) set the stage for WW I. Between the Crimean War and WW I the French/Russian and the British/Serbian as well as the Prussian/Austrian alliances were yet to form. And it was only because Prussia was allying with Turkey against Russia that Austria accepted Turkey, its traditional enemy, as an ally in WWI. Russia, as a traditional supporter of the Serbs, was MORE of a threat to Austria than Turkey in its decline ever could be, so Austria sided with Germany and Turkey against Russia. The French-British alliance, forged initially AGAINST Russia in the Crimean War, sided with Serbia against Germany and Austria, formalizing the sides in WW I. Italy could have gone either way, siding with France and Britain almost last minute.<br /><br />Those alliances were NOT the same as in WW II, but they did set that stage. The French-British alliance continued and strengthened its ties with Russia despite the fall of the Tsars. The German/Austrian alliance became a key event in the lead up to WW II when Germany claimed not just Austria itself, but also some of Austria's German speaking territories (e.g. Czechoslovakia) for its own Empire. British protection of former Ottoman territories led to its ties with Greece, where the first Allied victories over the Axis occurred when the Greeks, with British weapons and uniforms, soundly defeated the Italian and Albanian allies of Germany. That Albanian-Greek fighting was something that was already occurring when various Albanian and Greek warlords were fighting for dominance as Ottoman control faltered.<br /><br />So the silly broom battles among rival Christian sects in churches in Bethlehem and Jerusalem were one of several conflicts (the rise of Balkan nationalism and the fights among Austria vs. Russia, Albanians vs. Greeks, Greeks vs Greeks, Russia vs. Turkey) that led directly from the lead up to the Crimean War to WW I and through WW I to WW II and the Cold War. The key alliance that linked them all turned out to be the unexpected and new alliance between once arch-rivals France and Britain.<br /><br />Among the sources for this article are:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0688080936&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0826430813&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0375700455&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/books.html">Return to Mole's Book Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-29280506449773934272011-12-04T06:05:00.000-08:002011-12-04T06:36:36.550-08:00CHILDRENS' CLASSIC BOOK REVIEW: Watership Down and Tales from Watership Down<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=26&l=ur1&category=books&banner=0GDEZK2MM2XGCEH7M202&f=ifr" width="468" height="60" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />From childhood until today, one of my favorite books ever is the classic book <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> by Richard Adams. There was a time when I would read it once a year, and even today there are parts where I know practically every sentence.<br /><br />And the odd thing is it is a very long adventure story about rabbits. Often compared with the <span style="font-style:italic;">Wind in the Willows</span>, it is really nothing of the sort. <span style="font-style:italic;">Wind in the Willows</span> is more a true children's story with little appeal for most adults other than nostalgia for childhood and has more in common with <span style="font-style:italic;">Winnie the Pooh</span> than it does <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span>. I would say <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> is more comparable to Tolkein's <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hobbit</span>. The level of adventure, the appeal to most children as well as most adults, and the sheer epic nature is similar between these two books and sets them way apart from something like <span style="font-style:italic;">Wind in the Willows</span>.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0743277708&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Watership Down follows a set of rabbits whose personalities are as distinct as any characters in a novel can be. These characters, led by a somewhat George Washington style leader named Hazel, leave their threatened home to find a safe place to live. In the process they encounter predators, humans and other rabbits. The encounters with other rabbits play out with just as much cultural and political depth as any story about human interactions might have. And yet these are not simply humans with rabbit masks on. Richard Adams consistently keeps behavior and understanding of the world believably on the level of what rabbits would care about.<br /><br />The writing is exquisite, the scenery vividly beautiful, and the adventure at times heart-stopping. Chapters like "The Thunder Breaks" and "Bigwig Stands His Ground" are as exciting as some of the battle scenes in the <span style="font-style:italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>. And the tragic events of chapters like "The Shining Wire" and "Fiver Beyond" surpass the emotional depth of, for example, Boromir's death in <span style="font-style:italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>.<br /><br />In my day <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span>, like the <span style="font-style:italic;">Hobbit</span>, were solidly children's books but with great appeal for adults. In today's somewhat more timorous era towards raising children, some will consider both of these books more for pre-teens because there is violence and, at least in <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span>, a realistic view towards biological functions like excretion and reproduction. But to me the lessons of both books are very valuable for children, pre-teens, teens and adults alike, and, depending on the personality of the child, they are perfectly appropriate.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> was written in 1972, and reflected even then some old fashioned views of society. So it has been criticized as sexist, though I knew one ardent feminist who loved it so much she forgave its sexism even while pointing it out. It also has descriptive passages that, while extremely evocative and effective, reflect a colonialist paternalism that today would border on racist. It is clear both in <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span>, and particularly in its much later sequel, <span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Watership Down</span>, that Richard Adams was neither sexist nor racist, but held values that at the time were acceptable, if a tad old fashioned, but today would not be acceptable. And it is clear that Richard Adams took these criticisms to heart and in <span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Watership Down</span> he took a much more modern approach and deliberately instilled environmental and feminist values as well as ideas of tolerance into the stories. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0380729342&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Watership Down</span> is not as evenly excellent as <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> itself was. Some of the chapters reflecting environmental values seem a bit forced, though because they evoke memories of the original <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> most fans will still enjoy reading them. But the later chapters, where feminism and tolerance and even issues of rebellious youth are taken up, have almost the same wonderful excitement and exquisite style as the original book. It doesn't have quite the same level of adventure, perhaps because by the time Richard Adams wrote <span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Watership Down</span>, the values of society had started to frown on exposing children to the level of suspense and danger books like <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hobbit</span> contained. But <span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Watership Down</span> remains a pleasant read for anyone who reaches the end of <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> and, like me, always wants more.<br /><br />I should add that, sadly, the other books by Richard Adams do not, in my mind, live up to the quality of <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span>. While the length of <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> was justified by the pace and style of writing, his other, often even longer books, just plain are tedious in their length. One, <span style="font-style:italic;">Shardik</span>, I did my best to wade through, but ultimately put down in disgust even though I was 9/10 of the way through just because I didn't like it, didn't care about the characters and, in fact, wished they had all just been killed off long before and be done with it. I am not sure why Richard Adams did his best writing about rabbits, but simple fact is only the <span style="font-style:italic;">Watership Down</span> books are worthwhile. But they are classics worth reading over and over, and worth reading to your kids and passing on to them for them to cherish and pass on to their kids.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/books.html">Return to Mole's Book Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-41062589966671401492011-11-19T10:43:00.000-08:002011-11-19T10:50:08.106-08:00Alternative Holiday Gifts to Match Your Values<a title="Play Freerice and feed the hungry" href="http://www.freerice.com?icn=banner&ici=bb-freerice728x90" ><img width="728" height="90" alt="Play Freerice and feed the hungry" src="http://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/728x90_new_freerice.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Tired of the holiday fights over the latest dumb toy? Not sure what to get? Want your gifts to match your values? Well, here are some ideas for gifts for anyone on your list who would appreciate a gift with real values rather than just another thing.<br /><br />These are gifts that help people and help the world. They sure beat another necktie or useless tchotchke that will just collect in the back of a drawer or closet.<br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&offerid=208108.10001708&subid=0&type=4"><img border="0" alt="Gaiam logo_145X80" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&bids=208108.10001708&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=0" /></a><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards#/print">KIVA.ORG GIFT CERTIFICATES</a>:</strong><br /><br />Kiva is...<br /><br /><blockquote>a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/about/how">Learn more about how it works.</a></blockquote><br /><br />My personal involvement with Kiva gave me my second chance to meet Bill Clinton...I was almost on a discussion panel with him, thanks to the folks at Kiva.org. But in the end I just got to shake his hand and talk with him.<br /><br />And speaking of Bill Clinton, here's what he has to say about Kiva:<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dQtHEnEUbIk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Kiva Gift certificates are a great gift. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards#/print">Give someone the tool to directly help someone else in the world fulfill a dream.</a><br /><br />Plus <a href="http://kivastore.org/">there are other Kiva.org gifts</a> which help fund the organization and raise awareness about them. (The Kiva piggy bank looks particularly cool!)<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.prettybirdwomanhouse.blogspot.com/">PRETTY BIRD WOMAN HOUSE:</a></strong> <br /><br />Pretty Bird Woman House was a woman's shelter that was attacked and looted and was going to have to close. The Netroots saved it with a massive outpouring of support.<br /><br />Here is their story:<br /><br /><blockquote>Jackie Brown Otter created The Pretty Bird Woman House after the brutal rape and murder of her sister, whose Lakota name means Pretty Bird Woman.<br /><br />PBWH provides emergency shelter and advocacy support for women on the Standing Rock reservation who have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. It opened on January 5, 2005.<br /><br />In the fall of 2007, the Pretty Bird Woman House was forced to move out of its original location after a number of break-ins through the exterior walls left it in such bad condition that the women could not safely remain there. <br /><br />Well, the incredibly generous netroots really came through for them, and by the end of December of 2007 we had enough money to get them a new house! Pat yourselves on the back, and keep those donations flowing.</blockquote><br /><br />A "video" about saving the shelter:<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HsAmmfBU_NU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />There are some material items they need if you want to donate that way in someone else's name:<br /><br /><blockquote>What the shelter needs: Pretty Bird Woman House will always be in need of the following items: towels and washcloths, twin and queen size sheets and blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, women's hygiene items, diapers of all sizes, baby wipes, first aid kit items, and analgesics such as ibuprofen and aspirin.<br /><br />The women seem to run through shampoo and diapers the fastest, so it would be helpful when you are considering material donations to prioritize those 2 items.<br /><br />New or gently used clothing for women and children, as well as all kinds of toys, are always appreciated. For the women's clothing, M-XXL are the most common sizes.<br /><br />There is also a continuing need for new sweat suits, underwear and bras for women who have been sexually assaulted, since they often must leave their clothes behind at the hospital as part of the evidence gathering process. In one incident, a hospital released a woman in only her hospital gown and blanket. Sheesh!<br /><br />Send the items to this address:<br /><br />Pretty Bird Woman House<br />211 N. First St<br />McLaughlin, SD 57642</blockquote><br /><br />Or you can donate money to help keep them going:<br /><br /><blockquote>Pretty Bird Woman House<br />P.O. Box 596<br />McLaughlin, SD 57642<br /><br />Phone: 605-823-7233<br />Fax: 605-823-7234<br /><br />Pretty Bird Woman House is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.</blockquote><br /><br />Donate to Pretty Bird Woman House in someone else's name and connect them with women who really need your help.<br /><br />I would also like to expand that theme a bit.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.nativeshop.org/">NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN'S HEATH EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER:</a></strong><br /><br />I would like to highlight another Women's shelter and health center in the Sioux Nation that could use help. The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center was set up on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in 1988 and added a women's shelter in 1991. Here's a bit about what they do:<br /><br /> <blockquote> The Resource Center has expanded to include many programs benefitting people locally, nationally, and internationally. Some examples are the Domestic Violence Program, AIDS Prevention Program, Youth Services which include the Child Development Program and the Youth Wellness Program, Adult Learning Program, Environmental Awareness and Action Project, Cancer Prevention, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Program, Clearinghouse of Educational Materials, Food Pantry, Wicozanni Wowapi Newsletter, Diabetic Nutrition Program, Scholarships for Native American Women, Reproductive Health and Rights, "Green Thumb" Project, and Community Health Fairs.</blockquote><br /><br />This is another center that needs support in another part of the Sioux Nation. They support themselves by selling items to support the center. <a href="http://www.nativeshop.org/native-shop/products.html">Purchases made through this site will support their efforts.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&offerid=228989.10000156&subid=0&type=4"><img border="0" alt="Sierra Club Logo" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=jUiiRl5U*AQ&bids=228989.10000156&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=0" /></a><br /><br />Next I want to highlight a wonderful Alternative Gift Site:<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.altgifts.org/">ALTERNATIVE GIFTS INTERNATIONAL:</a></strong><br /><br /><blockquote>The gifts offered in "My Shopping List for the World" are unique. They are like no other gifts in our world today. They are gifts of peace and justice, gifts that are sustainable and that build security. These alternative gifts multiply and grow, sometimes exponentially, and offer hope and new life to people facing grave crises and need. They challenge the trivia of our modern culture. These are authentic gifts that people really use and cherish. They always fit and are never thrown away.</blockquote><br /><br />They have an ever changing <a href="http://www.altgifts.org/projects/">list of amazing gifts you can give</a> in someone's name. Here are just a few:<br /><br />In the United States:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="https://www.alternativegifts.org/projects/project15/">Training Women for Self-Sufficiency:</a><br /><br />Domestic abuse and unemployment are daily realities for many women across the USA. Organizations that provide job training and social services enable them to secure sustainable, living-wage jobs, support their families and safely transition from poverty to economic self-sufficiency.<br /><br />Featured here are two such organizations. LA MUJER OBRERA (The Working Woman) in El Paso, Texas, uses a women-centered curriculum that provides Mexican immigrant women with job training for the 21st century. This innovative approach to education combines community organizing with the creation of economic alternatives and bilingual workforce development. The WOMEN’S INITIATIVE NETWORK (WIN) of Wichita, Kansas, serves women escaping domestic violence. Survivors of abuse are provided with emotional support as well as educational and employment opportunities througha social services model that fosters healing, self-worth, and self-sufficiency.<br /><br />$180 - 1 week of job readiness and life-skills training<br />$9 - 1 hour of job readiness and life-skills training</blockquote><br /><br />In Latin America:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="https://www.alternativegifts.org/projects/project28/">Save a Forest and Feed a Family:</a><br /><br />Produce like tomatoes and carrots are considered to be foods only wealthy people can afford, but a lack of access to these nutrition-rich fruits and vegetables contributes to malnourishment in children in Central America. Their meals often consist of only rice and beans. Farming families are desperate to learn ways of growing produce without resorting to slash-and-burn practices that destroy their environment.<br /><br />SUSTAINABLE HARVEST INTERNATIONAL (SHI) provides these struggling families with the materials and training they need so they can grow food while protecting the environment. SHI has provided more than 2,100 families with the seeds and training needed to grow foods such as cucumbers, cabbage, and onions while generating income. Over 90% of the families working with SHI have started organic gardens next to their homes. Children are now getting the essential nutrients they need and families are able to increase their income by selling<br />excess produce.<br /><br />$17 Supports family’s training with field trainer for 1 week<br />$7 Plants 10 fruit or hardwood trees on a family’s farm</blockquote><br /><br />In Africa:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="https://www.alternativegifts.org/projects/project33/">Sustaining Lives with Solar Cooking:</a><br /><br />In developing countries of Africa, the demand for wood as a fuel for cooking leads to the rapid loss of trees. This loss contributes to the erosion of soil and polluting of waterways. AHEAD (Adventures In Health, Education and AgriculturalDevelopment Inc.) works to reduce deforestation by teaching communities how to harness the sun for solar cooking. Solar panel and box cookers can reduce the use of wood by as much as 50% by using the sun’s energy. These devices coupled with rocket stoves and "heat retaining ovens" may further reduce the need for wood. Solar cooking helps villages reduce their reliance on wood as a fuel and in turn, reduce emissions of toxic fumes and smoke. With an average of 1,500 people per village, AHEAD is currently teaching individuals in seven villages in The Gambia and four villages in Tanzania to use solar energy topurify water and prepare meals.<br /><br />$17 - 1 solar oven<br />$6 - Water pasteurization indicator</blockquote><br /><br />They currently have 35 projects you can donate to as gifts in someone's name.<br /><br />And speaking of Solar Cookers, here is a project that not only saves wood, but saves lives in a war torn area.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.jewishworldwatch.org/projects/ontheground/sudan/solar-cooker-project">JEWISH WORLD WATCH'S SOLAR COOKER PROJECT:</a></strong><br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ou61_Wtu5TY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote>The Solar Cooker Project of Jewish World Watch is committed to protecting refugee women and girls from rape and other forms of violence. Women and girls who have fled the genocide in Darfur, Sudan are particularly vulnerable while performing the critical task of collecting firewood for cooking. Our mission is to reduce the frequency of these heinous crimes by providing women in refugee camps with an alternative cooking option: the solar cooker.<br /><br />One Woman's Story<br />When we met Imani in the Iridimi refugee camp in Chad, we promised to tell the world her story. After her harrowing escape from her village in Darfur where she witnessed the murder of her husband and two sisters she hid for days from the savage Janjaweed militia and survived with only water in the unforgiving sun. Imani walked over 300 miles until crossing the border into Chad, finally arriving at the Iridimi refugee camp. Without sufficient fuel to cook her meals, she had to leave the relative safety of the camp to collect firewood. At the refugee camp, she learned to use a simple sun-cooker to prepare her meals and no longer has to risk her safety. Imani told us that because she no longer has to leave the camp she now feels protected and secure.</blockquote><br /><br />So help the environment and help refugees survive in safety with <a href="http://www.jewishworldwatch.org/projects/ontheground/sudan/solar-cooker-project">a Solar Cooker for Darfur refugees.</a><br /><br />And I want to end with one of my all time favorites. This organization combines so many excellent projects in the United States, Haiti and Latin America. Tree planting, solar cookers and solar heating projects throughout the region. Let me introduce you to:<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/">TREES, WATER, PEOPLE:</a></strong><br /><br /><blockquote>Trees, Water & People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1998 by Stuart Conway and Richard Fox, and is staffed by a group of dedicated conservationists who feel strongly about helping communities to protect, conserve, and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term well-being depends. Our work is guided by two core beliefs:<br /><br /> * That natural resources are best protected when local people play an active role in their care and management; and<br /> * preserving local trees, wetlands, and watersheds is essential for the ongoing social, economic, and environmental health of communities everywhere.<br /><br />TWP develops and manages continuing reforestation, watershed protection, renewable energy, appropriate technology, and environmental education programs in Latin America and the American West. TWP's international programs have been recognized nationally and internationally, receiving the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy, the Rio Tinto Prize for Sustainability, and the UNEP Sasakakwa Prize, as well as awards from Kodak, The Conservation Fund, and eTown, the nationally syndicated environmental radio show. TWP's programs have been featured on National Geographic Television, CNBC, CNN, National Public Radio, and in the Christian Science Monitor.</blockquote><br /><br />Among their projects are <br /><br /><a href="http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/support/support_donate.htm">So give a valuable gift helping forests, watersheds and people</a>. (Usually you can <a href="http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/catalogRedirect.htm">donate to specific projects</a> but that function seems down right now, but <a href="http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/support/support_donate.htm">general donations</a> support all the excellent projects).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FROM A READER:</span> A reader recommended adding this one...<br /><br />The <a href="http://okiciyap.yolasite.com/">Okiciyap Food Pantry</a> is in desperate need of donations to help relocate a donated building to house the food pantry, and is only $825 into the $20000 they need for Dec 23 according to their site meter. There was an earlier NAN diary about it that didn't get enough eyes.<br /><br />Now let's face it. Many people want THINGS as gifts. And I am shopping through Think Geek and Wireless and such places to get some cool gifts for the more material people on my gift list. But for those who appreciate gifts that reflect values, the organizations I list above are excellent options.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-52560084769277960912011-11-17T18:46:00.000-08:002011-11-17T18:51:03.062-08:00Passover and Jewish Origins<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0684869136&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Every year at Passover I write a diary focused on the origins of Jews. Passover celebrates, supposedly, the escape of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. It is an origin myth and, much like Thanksgiving, it has much about it that is mythical and some that is likely to be true. The escape from Egypt is considered one of the defining moments in Judaism, perhaps THE defining moment. Into this event is placed the entirety of the ancient Jewish identity, supposedly divided into "12 tribes," as well as the defining of Jewish religious law. That is a lot to put into one holiday! But there is a more general theme, that of the struggle for freedom that many cultures can relate to.<br /><br />The problem is that the bible account is internally inconsistent and is clearly a mixture of several traditions and myths. That does not mean that there aren't kernels of truth in it, but it is not clear how many events are covered by the Exodus story and what times those various events took place, or if any of the characters involved were real people. What is clear is that the story was written LONG after the events it claims to describe took place, which is common for ancient legends. The bible cannot be taken literally because it is often internally contradictory. That is odd if it is the revealed word of God, but it is very understandable if it is the collected lore of a small group of semi-nomadic people (Hapiru? Shasu Bedouins?) who eventually established a small state or collection of tiny states and were desperately trying to define their identity in relation to their often much stronger and very aggressive neighbors.<br /><br />Most of the bible was never written down anywhere close to the events that are described. Much of the Torah (the first five books of the bible) did not form a coherent text until much later, probably the reigns of King Hezekiah or Josiah when the single Kingdom of Judah was trying to lay claim to the entirety of Jewish tradition at the expense of the then conquered and exiled Israel (which was probably the origin of the biblical and modern Samaritans). So the bible has about as much historical merit as, say, the Iliad or the story of Jason and the Argonauts or the Hindu Bagavad Gita. It cannot be ignored because historical people, places and events are there in the background, but it must be taken with Lot's wife's weight in salt.<br /><br />The bible account of Exodus is now thought to conflate at least two (and maybe many) separate stories: one about an escape from Egypt (or, as I will mention later, maybe from Egyptian control rather than from the state of Egypt per se), and one about a forced expulsion from Egyptian territory. Neither of these events is recorded in Egyptian records, but the structure and narrative of the biblical story clearly involves both an escape and a forced expulsion. This suggests that two groups of proto-Jews came from an Egyptian background of some sort.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=080613108X&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />I have read about a dozen books on the subject, but I find that the two most convincing are Jonathan N. Tubb's book <i>Canaanites</i> (1998) and Israel Finkelstein's book <i>The Bible Unearthed</i>. Both use primarily archaeology and only occasionally try to fit biblical stories to the archaeological facts. Most other books start from the bible and try to smoosh in archaeology to make sense of the biblical chronology. Needless to say, as a scientist, I prefer an approach that gets facts on the ground first and only afterwards tries to fit in the bible. To these two main sources I also add a casual observation from the book <em>Salt</em> by Mark Kurlansky.<br /><br />In the bible, the Hebrews are a coherent group of about 12 tribes (really the number and the names vary over time) who often look to a single leader (something that probably never happened until the Maccabees, if even then) and who migrated from Babylon to Canaan to Egypt then back to Canaan. Archaeologically, the Hebrews were a group that evolved <em>in situ</em> from the native Canaanite population. There is almost no archaeological evidence for a Babylonian or Egyptian origin, yet it is interesting that these two empires played a powerful role in the early history of the Jews, so influences and even people from both of these empires clearly helped shape Judaism even if the bulk of the Jewish population were basically native Canaanites.<br /><br />Passover celebrates a man named Moses leading "his people" out of Egypt against the wishes of the very powerful king of Egypt followed by the reception of "THE LAW" and the entry into the "promised land." This is the foundation myth of Judaism. It is, quite simply, a myth with many false leads and dead ends...but it also hints at historical facts.<br /><br />So just who was this "Moses?" He is the central character of the Passover myth, but who was he? Was he real? There is no corroborating evidence that any such person existed. But the name is intriguing. It is absolutely NOT a Jewish, or even a Canaanite, name. In fact it is only half a name at all and it is very clearly Egyptian. The nature of the name may give a hint at the origin of the Jewish religion.<br /><br />There is no question that "Moses" is the same as the Egyptian "Mose" which means "born of" as in the names of the Pharaohs "Ahmose" (born of the moon) or "Tuthmose" (born of Thoth). The entire story of Moses, including his partially recorded name, suggests Moses was an Egyptian or an acculturated foreigner, fully integrated not just into Egyptian society, but possibly into the Egyptian royal family. He was buddies with a royal prince (of which there often were very many) and may well have been brought up educated within the royal sphere (as many Egyptian nobles and foreign princes were). Moses may or may not have had foreign origins (a minor Canaanite prince?), but he was culturally Egyptian and had an Egyptian name. So when we look into his beliefs, we have to look to Egypt and the situation in Egypt to understand him.<br /><br />What was his full name? The most common names based on "Mose" were Ahmose and Tuthmose, neither of which would fit with Jewish ideas of who their leaders should be since both imply Polytheism. Either one is a possible real name for Moses, though I favor another somewhat more far-fetched possibility. Maybe something like "Atmose," a name I essentially make up based on what had recently happened in Egypt. His name probably was NOT Atmose, but it might have been and it would really explain a great deal about Jewish origins. But more on that later.<br /><br />Let's start with three solid facts, really about the ONLY solid facts there are regarding the Jews at this early stage. These three things are the ONLY things we can be sure of:<br /><br />1. Genetic studies show that almost all modern Jews are descended from a population that lived in the area of ancient Canaan, quite closely related to modern Palestinians. Jews and Palestinians (as well as Lebanese, most likely) are modern day Canaanites and are probably descended from the earliest inhabitants of the region. There certainly were groups who came from Babylon or Egypt who mixed with the Canaanite natives to form the Hebrew culture. And there certainly were Greeks who mixed with the Canaanite natives to form the Palestinian culture. But there is no genetic evidence for this to date. Y-chromosomal studies indicate that modern Jews, including Sephardim, Ashkinazim and Sabra, and to a much lesser degree even Ethiopian Jews and the South African Lemba, are a genetically homogenous group (compared with most populations which show more genetic diversity) that originated in the area of Israel and Palestine. Modern Jews and modern Palestinians show remarkable genetic relatedness, indicating both populations derive from the same ancient stock in the Levant. The genetic evidence puts Jewish origins precisely where the bible puts it at about the time the bible puts the formative years (the same time Phillistines/Palestinians are becoming an ethnicity). As a side note I should mention some recent evidence that shows that links between Jews and other populations can be two ways. A recent study shows that about 20% of the modern populations of Spain and Portugal also are genetic descendents of ancient Jews. This shows either that there was considerable intermarriage between the Sephardic Jews and the Iberians prior to the expulsion of the Jews or, more likely, that the Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism by the Spanish became a significant part of the population of Spain.<br /><br />2. The very first historical mention of "Israel" was during the Egyptian 19th dynasty, in the reign of Pharaoh Merneptah (the son of Ramesses II and hence soon after the Exodus supposedly took place). This inscription refers to the complete destruction of a group of people (not an organized nation or city) called "Israel." This earliest written mention of "Israel" gives us an almost unique fixed point in which to place ancient Jewish history. Whatever the origins of the Jews, a unique people who were the genetic ancestors of modern Jews existed in Canaan by the reign of Merneptah and got their collective ass kicked by Merneptah's armies. Again, they were a group of people or ethnicity, not a nation, at this time, based on the grammar used in the inscription. I should also note that the first mentions of Philistines (and/or related groups, collectively called "Sea Peoples") occurs at about the same time.<br /><br />3. The archaeological evidence for this period (as outlined in Israel Finkelstein's book <i>The Bible Unearthed</i>) is also interesting. In the region that became the earliest core of the Israelites, what is now the highlands of Israel and the West Bank, archaeology shows us there was a very typical, if somewhat impoverished, Canaanite population. This population has typical Canaanite pottery, typical Canaanite religion (with many deities including El (same as Elohim), Yahweh and Astarte, names seen in the bible being worshiped by the Jews), and almost a typical Canaanite diet. This Canaanite archaeology is not interrupted by any invasions. There is no obvious large scale new influence from either Babylon or Egypt. But there is one, and only one, change in the archaeology of this region during this period: pig bones disappear from their garbage dumps. At the point when Israel is supposed to first be forming according to the bible, and just about when Merneptah kicked some proto-Jewish ass, the future Jews still worshiped many gods and were in every way Canaanites, but they gave up eating pork. For a long time I found this fascinating, but not a critical aspect of the search for the origin of Jewish beliefs. It is evidence that confirms the genetic evidence that modern Jews are descended from Canaanites, but I never realized that it could also help determine the origin of Jewish beliefs. But later I will show why this really is a key bit of evidence, along with the name "Moses" pointing to an Egyptian origin of Jewish beliefs even if most proto-Jews were Canaanites. Jewish Monotheism and pork aversion may really come from Egypt as the Passover myth suggests.<br /><br />So we have an ethnic group called "Israel" that gave up eating pork in the exact place and time that the Israelites were forming an ethnic identity according to the bible. And this population seems to be the true genetic ancestors of most modern Jews. And they were definitely Canaanites.<br /><br />The bible story from Joseph to the Exodus, whatever truth there is in it, took place during one of the most interesting periods of Egyptian history, spanning the so-called 15th through 19th dynasties of Pharaohs.<br /><br />The 15th dynasty was considered a huge disaster and embarrassment by the proud Egyptians, because it was a dynasty of foreigners. In fact, this dynasty, the so-called Hyksos, were primarily Canaanites (probably with some non-Canaanite, maybe even Indo-European, elements). So Canaanite rule in Northern Egypt predates the Exodus and somewhat corresponds with the period that Joseph was supposed to be entering Egypt. This Canaanite dynasty was ousted by the native Egyptian 17th dynasty, which then became the famous 18th dynasty once it reconquered all Egypt. Also predating the Exodus, during the late 18th dynasty, was a brief and controversial period of official monotheism in Egypt, the period many people know because it was founded by the Pharaoh Akhnaten and ended during the reign of Tutankhamen, the Pharaoh perhaps best known by the world because his rather hastily and shoddily assembled tomb goods were discovered almost intact. The Exodus, whatever it was, is thought to have taken place during the early 19th dynasty, during the long and glorious reign of <a href="http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/ancestors_whos_your_great_great_great_great_gra">Ramesses II</a>. And the first ever reference to "Israel" (see below) occurs during the 19th dynasty reign of Ramesses II's son, Merneptah. This is the general historical outline. Now lets look at details.<br /><br />Some time before the Exodus, during Egypt's so-called Middle Kingdom in the Middle Bronze Age, Egypt saw a large influx of Canaanites into it's Northern area (the Delta). Entire settlements are Canaanite, rather than Egyptian, in character. At some point either this foreign element destabilized Egypt, or took advantage of existing instability due to other causes, and the Egyptian Delta was taken over by a group of people known as the Hyksos. The meaning of Hyksos is debated, but may mean "foreign kings." Archaeologically, the Hyksos are clearly Canaanites with a hint of other non-Semitic influences. But in essence, the Hyskos rule over Egypt was a Canaanite dynasty and Canaan and Egypt became far more closely linked than ever before. Some think that this might be the time that Joseph entered Egypt, if there ever was such a single event. It does fit the timing suggested by the bible for when Joseph lived and it was a time when Canaanite advisers would certainly have risen to great power. At some point, though, the southern, native Egyptians expelled the Hyksos and re-established not only native control over Egypt, but Egyptian control over Canaan. <br /><br />One possible theory, though not well accepted, is that the expulsion story contained within the Exodus story may just possibly be an echo of the expulsion of the Canaanite Hyksos rulers out of Egypt. I tend to see this as unlikely just because the timing seems off. However, Canaanite domination of the Superpower Egypt would certainly have made a lasting impression on all Canaanites, including the people who became the Hebrews, and could easily have influenced later myths. If Haiti took over the United States for awhile and then was expelled, you can be sure that Haitians would remember that period of dominance for centuries to come! It would become legendary. So a Hyksos/Hebrew link, though tenuous, may have some validity and just might form the basis for the expulsion story within Exodus.<br /><br />At all times of Egyptian history the population was diverse and there was room for advancement even for prisoners of war. Three different groups were always part of the Egyptian melting pot (with other groups appearing more sporadically): Native Egyptians (probably related to the Berbers), Nubians/Kushites from what is now the Sudan, and "Asiatics," who were essentially Canaanites of various sorts. The life of a man named Urhiya and his son Yupa illustrate how "Asiatics" (in their case maybe Hurrians, not Canaanites, though both groups mixed during the Hyksos period) could attain the highest ranks of Egyptian society (described in <em>Lives of the Ancient Egyptians</em> by Toby Wilkinson). Urhiya was a first generation immigrant to Egypt with a foreign name, yet he rose to the rank of Army General and High Steward to Ramesses II, the Pharaoh most often thought to be the one reigning during the Exodus. Urhiya's son, Yupa, rose to even greater rank, in the full confidence of the Pharaoh.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0500051488&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />The story of Joseph can be considered in the context of two known aspects of Egyptian history: the ability of foreigners to rise to the top ranks of Egyptian society, and the period of Canaanite rule in the Egyptian delta, the 15th "Hyksos" dynasty. At about the right time according to the bible for Joseph to have lived you had the Canaanite rulers of Egypt. And you have the fact that even when native Egyptians ruled you had ample chances for Canaanites to reach the highest ranks of Egyptian society, you have very real precedents for people like Joshua. I think it is very likely that a group of Canaanites linked to a major adviser to pharaohs (Hyksos or native or both) may have been part of Jewish origins.<br /><br />There is then a gap in the biblical story that spans exactly the period between the Hyksos and the 19th dynasty. From Joseph to Moses and then Joshua, there is nothing much mentioned. And this is supposed to cover precisely (almost too precisely!) the period that separates the Hyksos from Ramesses II. We have no idea from any source what might have happened in this period. To me this suggests that Joseph had nothing to do with the Hyksos, but rather was a 19th dynasty Canaanite who, like Urhiya, made it big in Egypt among a group of Canaanites who sometime later left under an Egyptian or Egyptianized Canaanite named SomethingMose (Moses). If so, Joshua probably SHOULD be among Egyptian records and so could be part of Urhiya's family...maybe. If Joshua was a real person and really was powerful in Egypt, his tomb should be out there. On the other hand, there currently is no existing evidence for a high ranking Canaanite named Joseph and that suggests he may well have been remembered from Hyksos times, a period that later Egyptians preferred to forget and expunge from the records. OR...and here is a key thing, maybe he was a Canaanite who made it big during the 18th dynasty reign of Akhnaten who was caught up in Egyptian monotheism and spread it to his Canaanite relatives and followers. Such a person would DEFINITELY be wiped from the Egyptian records. There is no evidence for this, but it would explain the lack of evidence for someone who SHOULD be attested in the archaeological and historical records (which were well kept) and WOULD have stood out. So Joseph might have been a high ranking Canaanite during the Hyksos dynasty (the lack of reference to him and the biblical time scale support this...weak evidence), or he was an 18th dynasty Canaanite close to the Akhnaten monotheism (no evidence, other than the lack of reference to a Joseph who should be referred to, and the possible influence of Akhnaten's monotheism on Judaism) or he was a 19th dynasty Canaanite, just possibly in the family of Urhiya, who made it big just before someone named SomethingMose (Moses) led an Exodus.<br /><br />There seems no direct connection between Joseph and Moses. So the Joseph line may be one thread of Canaanite/Egyptian history that contributed to the origin of the Jews, and the Moses line might be a separate thread. And both might be peripheral to the main thread of Jewish history which, according to archaeology and genetics, is almost exclusively Canaanite.<br /><br />After the expulsion of the Hyksos, Egypt reached the pinnacle of its power under the 18th and 19th dynasties, and even into the more troubled 20th dynasty. These three dynasties are the most important for Jewish identity because it is in this period that entities that were Hebrew and/or Israeli began to take form. Again, the very first reference to both Israel and to groups related to the Philistines (ancient Palestinians?) come in a single 19th dynasty Egyptian text that mentions the destruction of both. In this text, both Israel and the "Sea People" (among whom the Philistines were later included; the name "Sea People" could mean either people from across the sea or people from the coast or people from the islands...all of which points to Greek and Anatolian origins) are groups of people, not nations, and are clearly bit players, simply ruffians to be beaten up by the Egyptian military power or, in the case of some "Sea People" (specifically the Sherden) they were also mercenaries in the Egyptian Army. Specific reference to the Philistine branch of the "Sea People" came about 75 years later. These very first references to Philistines and Israelis clearly come after any Exodus.<br /><br />Turning back to the 18th dynasty, this is the Egypt most people know something about because it included Akhenaten and Tutankhamen. Akhenaten is interesting because he is the first person in recorded history to be monotheistic. He tried to reform all Egyptian religion to focus on a single god, the visible sun disk, the Aten. If the theory that Jews had already entered Egypt by this point is true, and if they had not yet left, then they would have experienced the tumultuous time of Akhenaten's religious reforms. Many people think that Akhenaten may have been the inspiration for Jewish monotheism. I have problems with this. Akhenaten's religion was not a widespread religion. It was rather HIS religion with HIMSELF as the ONLY link between the one god and humans. It was not very much like later Jewish monotheism, though there are definitely some common themes. Furthermore, there is no evidence at all for Jewish monotheism at this time or for centuries afterwards. And yet, some see close parallels between some of Akhenaten's own writings and later biblical passages (particularly certain psalms). Could some small group of Canaanites have taken to Akhenaten's religion and preserved a memory of his writings that later got incorporated into the bible? Maybe, but as with the Hyksos/Hebrew connection, this is very tenuous. However, one new piece of information I recently came across strongly suggests that some of the earliest uniquely Jewish beliefs may well have come from Egypt, not evolving in situ in Canaan.<br /><br />Remember that I said above that the very first archaeological difference in what is now the highlands of the West Bank and Israel that shows a new group was evolving in what became the core of ancient Israel and Judah was the disappearance of pig bones from their garbage dumps, indicating that a ban on pork was the first defining feature of what became Judaism. This change is unique among the Canaanites and unique in the whole region. To many it seems so distinctive as to be difficult to explain. Some, including myself, have envisioned a local strongman who got sick after eating pork or a whole group that got sick after eating pork, leading to a prohibition on pork. I should note that the claim that this aversion to pork grew out of an avoidance of parasites doesn't hold up because the effects of such parasites would happen well after consuming the meat, so wouldn't be obviously linked to the meat. Furthermore, cows, sheep and goats are also subject to parasites. Others have hypothesized that the fact that all Canaanites ate pork might mean that the proto-Jews were specifically distinguishing themselves from their neighbors by abandoning pork. To me this would only make sense if a Canaanite religious ceremony of considerable importance involved pork, and emerging monotheists rejecting that ceremony threw the pork baby out with the polytheist bathwater.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0142001619&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />But all of this speculation ignores one basic fact. Rejection of pork, though unique among the Canaanites, was NOT unique at that time, but was actually a characteristic of one of the region's major Empires...Egypt. This is something I picked up re-reading the book <span style="font-style:italic;">Salt</span> by Mark Kurlansky. In this book there is an offhand reference to the fact that ham would have probably been invented by a culture as into the salt-curing as the ancient Egyptians had they not been averse to eating pork. The religious leadership of ancient Egypt considered pigs carriers of leprosy and considered pig farmers social outcasts. This is a critical piece of evidence in considering the origin of Jewish beliefs! The very first archaeologically attested characteristics of the proto-Jews was the adoption of an Egyptian aversion to pork shortly after the Exodus was supposed to have happened.<br /><br />Getting back to the Egyptian historical contex, Akhenaten, busy with religious turmoil, neglected his empire in Canaan. This period is extremely well documented because we have extensive archives of diplomatic correspondence from this time. Canaan was a mess, with small cities fighting it out and with groups of semi-tribal/semi-bandit groups roaming the countryside and occasionally even taking over cities. These semi-tribal group were of mixed origins, but the term used for them, Hapiru, is thought by some to be the earliest form of the word "Hebrew." The Hapiru/Hebrew link was once thought to be exact. More recently, it has been largely rejected. However, it is hard for me to ignore since it appears at just the right time for early Jewish origins, and it seems to be coming back into vogue (as evidenced by the book <em>Ramses II</em> by Christiane Desroches Noblecourt published in 2007). The word is similar (particularly taking into account the lack of written vowels in Semetic languages), it refers to a group that seems very much like the bands of roving Hebrews under Joshua, and they occur before and at the time of the Egyptian reference to a people (not a nation) called "Israel". The current theory can be summed up as: Not all Hapiru were Hebrews, but all Hebrews were Hapiru. The group of Canaanites (perhaps fresh from Egypt?) that became Hebrews and Israel, may have just been one band of bandit Hapiru, and that rather derogatory name may have stuck...or even been proudly adopted the way many Australians are proud of their convict ancestry. It should be noted, though, that the name "Hebrew" was applied much later than the name "Israel." "Hapiru" predates both. It would be odd if the earlier Hapiru came back into vogue after a period of being called "Israel," but not unheard of.<br /><br />After Akhenaten, a series of warrior Pharaohs ruled Egypt, and retook Canaan. Various groups of Hapiru were subdued, others served as mercenaries under Egyptian rule, and some served as laborers. It is quite possible that the group that became Hebrews were a group of Hapiru that served as mercenaries and/or laborers under the Pharaohs Seti I, Ramesses II and Merneptah. This was a period of Egyptian domination, but there were Canaanite rebellions as well. In fact, this was also a period of uncertainty within Canaan as the Egyptians and their main rivals, the Hittites from what is now Turkey, fought it out for domination of the region. Some, including Christiane Desroches Noblecourt, believe that the Exodus occurred in the context of Ramesses II's military expiditions into Canaan and the Hittite control of various regions in Canaan in opposition to Egypt. Hittite control of parts of Canaan would give an opportunity for dissident groups like the Hapiru to escape Egyptian domination. <br /><br />Did one group of Hapiru, possibly including some people influenced by Akhenaten's religious reforms (now being suppressed by the reestablished Egyptian priestly authorities) and serving as mercenaries and laborers in Egypt, suddenly make a bid for freedom and escape into the wilderness east of Canaan, perhaps aided by the newly established Hittite control of part of the region? This is a perfectly plausible scenario that fits reasonably both the archaeology and the bible, but it is just a story and is supported by little more than circumstantial evidence. But that text I mention that is the first reference to Israel and to Philistines was written during the reign of Merneptah. Based on place names and general events, many place the biblical Exodus story as referring to the reigns of Seti I and Ramesses II, or of Ramesses II and Merneptah.<br /><br />One thing that strikes me is that around this time Egypt controlled most of Canaan, in fierce competition with the Hittites, another empire I love to read about and I have visited the ruins of their capital city. In fact this is the period where the famous battle of Kadesh took place, claimed by Ramesses II as a great victory, but in reality an embarrassing stalemate for both empires. This battle eventually led to the world's first documented peace treaty, but there was a considerable gap between the battle and the treaty during which things were very much in flux in Canaan.<br /><br />One of my pet theories is that the Exodus is not at all about Jews leaving Egypt proper. Maybe it is about Jews throwing off Egyptian imperial control at one of the periods of declining Egyptian rule. That would place the Exodus story either right after Kadesh, or at a later date than I suggest above and would turn the story on its head somewhat. But Canaanites did gain independence from Egypt at a slightly later date that is traditionally thought for the Exodus, and certainly the Jews would have been one of the communities that would have gained and celebrated freedom from Egyptian control. It all could have happened right in Canaan rather than in Egypt. But that is just one of my pet theories. I am not aware of any archaeologists or biblical scholars who see it that way. But it would simplify the story a great deal.<br /><br />So we see Canaanites entering Egypt and even ruling before the 18th dynasty expelled them. We have a period of Canaanites being split between urban, pro-Egypt but squabbling and sometimes rebellious city-states (the hated Canaanites of the bible would fit this description), and non-urban troublemakers called Hapiru, a name similar to Hebrew. During the 19th dynasty we even have an outright reference to Israel. Then, during the 20th dynasty, there was a sharp decline of Egyptian control, and there were cataclysmic events that included either invasions and/or native uprisings and/or uprisings by former mercenaries that brought down several Empires (e.g. the Hittite and Mycenaean nations) and weakened others (Egypt). The Iliad may date to these events since the same wave of unrest and instability engulfed the Greek world and was a time when Troy itself (another city I have visited) was destroyed. In this period of massive unrest (around 1200-1140 BC range) the Philistine city states developed. It is at this time that the bible places the rise of a unified Kingdom of Israel that then split into the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The biblical story of the rise of Israel is not well supported at this point. It is only during the period of the divided kingdom that we get historical references to kings like Omri, Ahab, Jehoram and others. So there is about a 200-year gap in the written references from the first mention of "Israel" during Merneptah's reign, to Moabite references to king Omri (of Israel, then only one of two Jewish kingdoms). And archaeology does not support any great united Kingdom of David and Solomon but rather suggests the Hebrews were little more than bandit groups akin to Hapiru. However, there is little question that the Hebrews/Israelis did indeed exist at this time, eschewing pork, just like Egyptians, but not otherwise different from other Canaanites, who emerged in the Hill Country (a backwater) of Canaan and eventually, in the times of Omri and Ahab, became a major local force. Judah, though it is more important in the bible, was the minor partner with only Israel (the denegrated partner in the bible) ever fielding a large army and conquering neighboring lands. In fact the second historical reference to Israel is a Moabite reference to king Omri of Israel kicking Moabite ass! After that, though, most references are Assyrian and Egyptian references of tribute from Israel and Judah, or conquest of various cities in Israel and Judah. Of course eventually Assyria destroyed Israel and Babylon destroyed Judah, though there always was a population that remained in Canaan, eventually forming the Jewish people that exist today.<br /><br />So there it is. The echoes of the Passover myth that exist in historical and archaeological evidence are few. But they are there. To me the name "Moses" is so un-Jewish that it must reflect a real Egyptian name that got modified later and so reflects a real person. The Pharaohs are real and the cities the Jews were supposed to have labored on were real and did involve Hapiru labor. And soon after, Merneptah defeated a tiny group of people called "Israel." Somewhere in that thin evidence is a real Passover story. But we may never know what it is. Yet that story still resonates even beyond the Jewish community to become something of a human story of freedom.<br /><br />So to all, a Gut Pesach.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/07/history.html">Return to Mole's History Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-53817867883537353882011-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:002011-11-17T18:45:07.386-08:00PASSOVER MATZOH: My Family Agrees, It's Osem<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001FA1G98&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Passover is the day we celebrate freedom from slavery and a supposedly seminal event in Jewish history. Well, the historical basis for this is uncertain. But for Jews around the world this holiday is a major part of our year and Matzoh plays a central role.<br /><br />My family is not so religious, as people have probably gathered. One Passover we spent with a friend that ordered a massive amount of Chinese food for our celebration. The eggroll of our affliction...and pork products did play a role in the Seder.<br /><br />And when it comes to Matzoh, my family is eclectic. We often get egg and onion...usually Streits. My son loves "yellow Matzoh" meaning Goodman's egg Matzoh. Plain Matzoh is fine. Everything Matzoh (Manishevitz) is a bit much, but not bad. And chocolate covered Matzoh, if it uses good dark chocolate, can be an amazing thing! The only one we were left a bit flat by, though we appreciated the effort, was Manishevitz "Mediterranean" Matzoh didn't quite work. Also some egg Matzoh is made with fruit juice and this just doesn't work for us.<br /><br />One year we happened to buy a 5-pack of Matzoh for Passover. We tend to eat Matzoh on a regular basis...all of us. So buying in bulk around Passover makes sense.<br /><br />This year we happened to grab the Osem "Israeli Matzoh," subtitled "Matzoh with a Mitzvah" because they donate some tiny amount of gelt to plant trees for every 5-pack people buy. Planting trees is good. So we bought it.<br /><br />Then we tasted it. THIS is what Matzoh should be!!<br /><br />All four of us agree...this is some of the best Matzoh we have ever tried. A bit dry, but that is what you expect. PERFECTLY fresh, crisp and tasty. I love it. My wife loves it. My teenage step daughter, who currently disparages the world, loved it. My son...he ate it. We are not sure if it's his favorite, but it sure pleased him.<br /><br />Osem's "Israeli Matzoh with a Mitzvah" is THE Matzoh to eat. Don't know how easy it is to find outside of NYC, but we got it at our regular supermarket. So if you like Matzoh, buy the Osem 5-pack. My entire family rarely agrees 100% on something. But we all LOVED this Matzoh.<br /><br />And for those who think a review of Passover Matzoh is too trivial to blog about, well, all I can say is take it up with Moishe. He's the one who led us out of Egypt and gave us those commandments.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-90888836541043252702011-11-17T17:31:00.001-08:002011-11-17T18:32:33.265-08:00Cold Remidies: What Works and What Doesn't<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=12&l=ur1&category=health&banner=006RHGVTDEY696MS9B02&f=ifr" width="300" height="250" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Cold and flu season has begun yet again. And people take a whole slew of medications, some with nasty side effects, to try and get themselves through it. What works and what doesn't? As a biologist and as a parent, I have paid close attention to this topic and want to share some of my conclusions.<br /><br />First of all beware of any "natural" or "homeopathic" remedies. It isn't that none of them are helpful...but there is absolutely no regulation of them and they have no obligation to back up their claims with facts. A lot of these remedies are basically based on nothing with no facts, no evidence and often just plain made up claims to see what used to be called "snake oil": basically a quack remedy.<br /><br />An example is Echinacea. This was touted some years back as a hugely effective "natural" cold cure. But when people actually studied it they found it had no more effectiveness than a sugar pill. There is no evidence that Echinacea works. Back then I tried it and found it didn't help me at all. And when the scientific evidence came out I knew why...it didn't help me because it doesn't do anything for a cold.<br /><br />But it isn't just "natural" remedies you need to be suspicious of. Many cold medicines have so-called "cough suppressants." Supposedly these calm your cough. Again I never found they worked that well, or at best inconsistently. Well, turns out actual scientific studies show these over-the-counter "cough suppressants" are about as effective as Echinacea...which means not at all. This was research published in a top scientific journal, and yet we are still being sold "cough suppressants" which are basically ineffective. PLUS they have nasty side effects. My advice is don't buy a cold medication that contains a supposed "cough suppressant."<br /><br />So what does work?<br /><br />Cold medication contain three basic ingredients that DO work: analgesics, decongestants and antihistamines.<br /><br />Analgesics are basically pain relievers. Some can also reliever fever and inflammation. There are three basic types: aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. All of them work. Aspirin has the side effect of irritating the stomach and so isn't used so much any more. Acetaminophen works well but has a major problem in that its effective dose is awfully close to its dangerous dose. Many people who overuse cold medication wind up overdosing on acetaminophen. This can destroy your liver. It is fine to take a medication with acetaminophen, but NEVER take more than the recommended dose. The best analgesic is ibuprofen. It is the most effective, relieves the most symptoms, and can be taken in relatively high doses. For any kind of pain relief or illness, ibuprofen should be part of your medication. Not only does it relieve pain, but it inhibits something called prostaglandins. These are chemicals your body makes that are part of the pain response and are one of the main reasons you just plain feel awful when you have a cold or flu. Taking ibuprofen won't cure your cold or flu but will make you feel much better. It also, like aspirin and acetaminophen, lowers fever. That is particularly critical in children. I remember once when my son had a fever. We had medicated him but we were out and it wore off before we could get home. He suddenly became very listless and miserable, and I felt his forehead and could tell his fever had shot up. We went right to the nearest store and bought some children's ibuprofen and gave it to him. Within an hour he was feeling much better and his fever came down. This isn't just about making him feel better either. Fevers, back before analgesics, could kill people, particularly children. In the old days, the level of fever my kid had that day would have been very dangerous. Today, with analgesics, fevers don't kill people anymore except in very rare cases.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002W7NMAY&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />So, ibuprofen is one of the best medications you can take when you have a cold or flu. Or, for that matter, almost any kind of pain. But you can even boost its effectiveness. If you take a regular or below recommended (NEVER above recommended) dose of acetaminophen along with a regular or even say 1 and a half dose of ibuprofen, the two do something called synergize. They work far far better together than apart. Together they relieve pain, fever and that general ill feeling amazingly well. Since most cold medicines for some reason use acetaminophen, then taking a regular dose of a cold remedy along with some ibuprofen can really help you. Just avoid the cold remedies with so-called "cough suppressants."<br /><br />Decongestants are kind of a mixed blessing I feel. They basically dry you out. This means if you have a stuffy nose, that will go away for awhile. But it doesn't really clear you up permanently. It just dries you out temporarily. As long as you are still sick, that stuffiness will come back all the worse once the decongestant wears off. And while it is effective you feel dried out, which in itself can be irritating. Still, if I have something I really have to do that day, I take a decongestant. Furthermore, if you need to be awake, cold medicines with decongestants tend to make you slightly speedy and this can counteract the drowsy effects of the next medication: antihistamines.<br /><br />I mentioned above prostaglandins above as one of the chemicals in your body that just plain make you feel awful. Histamines are another kind of "bad-feeling" chemical. That watery eyed, stuffy, allergic feeling is caused by histamines. Antihistamines inhibit this, making you feel better. They work well. But they also make you sleepy. This is great if you can stay home in bed. If you can, do so and take an antihistamine along with some ibuprofen and acetaminophen and go to bed. Do this for a day or two and your cold or flu will clear up MUCH faster because you are giving your body a chance to fight it off. That combination is your best bet for over the counter drugs. Check the packaging. If it has acetaminophen and an antihistamine, take it along with a separate dose of ibuprofen. By the way, for all of these go for generics. They are cheaper and just as effective. Just check the label for what the medication contains and what dose. Some generics are lower dosage, but most are the same medicine, same dosage, just cheaper than name brands.<br /><br />Avoid antibiotics if you have a cold or flu. They don't do ANYTHING for cold or flu (which are caused by viruses, not bacteria) and can actually make you worse. That said, sometimes when you have a cold or flu you get what is called a "secondary infection." THESE can often be treated with antibiotics. But don't take an antibiotic UNLESS a doctor tells you specifically you have a secondary infection. One way you can tell if you have a bacterial infection (which would require an antibiotic) rather than a viral infection is if you are producing a greenish liquid. For example, an eye infection that oozes a clear or white liquid is probably viral. If the liquid is green it is probably bacterial. This has to do with what kind of white blood cells respond to the infection (a cell called a neutrophil produces the green color). In general though don't take an antibiotic unless there is evidence of a bacterial infection. It can actually make things worse. Antibiotics are way overused in America and it <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/your-health-antibiotic-resistant.html">leads to major problems</a>.<br /><br />What else? Drink lots of water, tea, juice, etc. These mostly keep you hydrated. Your body gets dehydrated when sick because it is under so much stress and you probably aren't eating and drinking as much. So make an effort to drink these things.<br /><br />What about zinc? Evidence I have seen suggests it works for colds (not flu?) if taken with the very early symptoms. It makes it harder for the virus to actually infect the next cell. Taking a medication with Zinc can help if taken at the right time.<br /><br />Vitamin C? Evidence shows that taking vitamin C, particularly if you are taking it before infection, can reduce both severity and duration of a cold. It isn't a cure all, and don't take megadoses. But a regular dose of vitamin C can help you avoid and keep colds to a minimum.<br /><br />I have found that the EmergenC Immune Defense packets, if I start taking one or two a day either at the FIRST sign I may be getting sick or when people around me are sick, helps to keep me from getting very sick. It has both vitamin C and Zinc and I think these are what do it...the rest of its ingredients may well be just window dressing. For example, the elderberry and hibiscus extracts in it probably do nothing at all. But it is a convenient way to not only get the vitamin C and Zinc that WILL help, but also, since it is taken in water, it can help to keep you hydrated. I am not so fond of the taste so I dilute it down a lot when I drink it, really making it a chance to hydrate. I think this combination of vitamin C, zinc and proper hydration help my body keep the cold at least partly at bay.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004JGYII6&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Another thing I think is important is controlling mold in your home. This may sound unrelated, but mold creates a constant irritation to your lungs. The combination of a cold or flu and the presence of mold in your apartment can create a situation where you get a persistent cough that won't really go away until you get away from the mold. It is like the combination of a cold or flu and mold puts your body's immune system into overdrive and it starts in a small way (sometimes large) hurting your own body. You almost become permanently sick. This is an oversimplification, but there is evidence that it is roughly true. I have experienced this personally. When my apartment was, over several years, experiencing leaks we had persistent mold problems. I considered it mostly cosmetic. But I also noticed that any time I got a cold it just would not go away completely until I visited a drier climate (which would mean less mold). Then it would go away until the next cold. By now we have dealt with all the leaks and the mold. Once those were dealt with I stopped getting the persistent coughs. It could be coincidence, but <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/07/asthma-and-allergy-epidemic.html">from what I have learned</a> it probably is connected. To find out how to combat mold in your home, <a href="http://healthymole.blogspot.com/2011/08/dealing-with-mold-and-mildew-in-your.html">read my article on mold and mildew</a>.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=moleshomepage&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000UVGHQK&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Colds and flu are a fact of life. They are viruses that evolve very quickly, so our immune responses grow ineffective against them. Antibiotics do nothing against them. So mostly what you are doing is relieving the symptoms of the illness so you feel better, keeping fever down because that can actually be dangerous, and giving your body a chance, through hydration, rest (that is one way antihistamines can help), vitamin C and zinc, to fight off the virus on its own.<br /><br />Always remember that if a cold or flu lasts too long, or your fever gets really high, SEE A DOCTOR. When one illness hits you it can make you more susceptible to other, worse illnesses and those can be serious if not treated.<br /><br />If you take nothing else away from this article always remember, NEVER take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, ibuprofen is the best analgesic, ibuprofen and acetaminophen taken together in modest doses work extra effectively, and don't bother ever with so-called "cough suppressants." Antibiotics don't help a cold or flu, though if the doctor finds evidence of a bacterial secondary infection, THEN it can help. Also antihistamines work well but they will put you to sleep unless also taken with a decongestant.<br /><br />Also flu shots DO help. Not always, since the flu virus evolves quickly and the vaccine is designed based on the previous year's viruses, but it does help, sometimes quite a bit. I advise getting them.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/2011/08/consumer-advice-page.html">Return to Mole's Consumer Advice Page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-36416237332855583722011-11-16T20:14:00.000-08:002011-11-17T04:58:19.518-08:00NYC Restaurant Review: Great Sechuan<a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-5403436-10478191" target="_top"><br /><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-5403436-10478191" width="150" height="150" alt="Delivery.com - Food At Your Fingertips" border="0"/></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Great Sichuan</span><br /># 363 3rd Ave, New York NY10016 40.74123 -73.981879<br /># (Btwn 26th & 27th St)<br /><br />This is one of the best and most authentic Chinese restaurants I have found in NYC. I am amazed at how many lousy Chinese restaurants survive in NYC...but this one is great. Not fancy, but with what seem to me to be real roots in China rather than perpetuating the mediocre American interpretation of Chinese cuisine.<br /><br />My son loves the place and they love him. The service is generally so-so, which is typical of the most authentic of Chinese restaurants. But once they got used to my son, they remembered what he always ordered and welcomed us warmly every time we came. They are good people who serve good food in a no frills restaurant. They always have two TV's going...one in English one in Chinese. I have never decided if I liked this or not. I think I like the odd contrast between the two programming styles.<br /><br />They have a good lunch special. Price wise I recommend it. You will get good food, appetizer, main course and rice, for a good price. And you will be satisfied. But it isn't their BEST food. Just their good food. On this cheaper menu I'd say the Double-Cooked Pork and Kung Bao Chicken stand out from what I have tasted so far.<br /><br />But the regular menu has some real gems. First off there are the Pork Soup Dumplings. Now these don't beat the soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai, but they are still amazingly good dumplings. For the uninitiated, soup dumplings are delicious dumplings with soup inside them. They are hot...so poke a hole in them with your chopsticks to let the steam out before you pop them in your mouth. But they are also one of the best inventions ever. Joe's Shanghai are the best I have ever had, but Great Sechuan does a great job of them as well.<br /><br />The regular Pork Dumplings are also good, though I personally feel that the wonton skin they use is too thick. I like very thin skinned dumplings. But as that style of dumplings goes, these are very good. My son loves them.<br /><br />The Cold Shredded Amazing Chicken is also great. Maybe not quite "amazing" but I definitely enjoyed it. A tad spicy, with very tender white meat chicken. This was one of the more authentic seeming dishes.<br /><br />This place is also unusual among traditional American Chinese restaurants (as opposed to Indian-Chinese fusion restaurants) in that they have lamb dishes. This is usually a big gap at Chinese restaurants. I have not tried the lamb dishes here yet, but they seem adaptations of traditional Chinese dishes, not Indian fusion cuisine. Now I like Indian-Chinese fusion, but I have yet to try true Chinese lamb dishes and this restaurant gives me that chance. I plan on trying it!<br /><br />The Chong Qing Dry & Spicy Chicken is amazing. Spicy and again, to my palate, more authentic than most Chinese restaurants. Also on the spicy side is the Sichuan Fried Rice, which is a nicely spiced up version of an old standard.<br /><br />They used to have what seemed to be a Mao inspired part of the menu which seemed really interesting and authentic, even if the political theories associated with the food were not so palatable. We had a couple of things from that part of the menu that were unfamiliar and delicious. But now they seem to have pared that down and Mao`s Stir-Fried Shredded Pork is one of the few items from that wonderful part of the menu that remains.<br /><br />I love good Chinese food...and outside of Chinatown and a handful of other restaurants I have found I often am disappointed by the Chinese food in NYC. Great Sechuan was a nice surprise. Good food, reasonable prices and a level of authenticity that is rare in American Chinese restaurants. I highly recommend it.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/food-and-travel.html">Return to Mole's Food and Travel Page</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-50726427555496427492011-11-16T19:59:00.000-08:002011-11-16T20:12:32.953-08:00NYC Restaurant Review: Stone Creek Bar and Lounge<a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-5403436-10478191" target="_top"><br /><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-5403436-10478191" width="150" height="150" alt="Delivery.com - Food At Your Fingertips" border="0"/></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stone Creek Bar and Lounge</span><br />http://www.stonecreeknyc.com/<br />140 27th St Between 3rd Ave and Lexington<br /><br />I used to live just down the street of this place...but they hadn't opened yet. I wish they had! This is one of the better bars in the neighborhood.<br /><br />First off, they have a good sense of happy hour:<br /><br />HAPPY HOUR MONDAY-FRIDAY 4:00-7:00 p.m.<br />$2 off mixed drinks, drafts and select wines<br />Stone Creek Specials:<br />Monday Nights: 25-cent Wing Night<br />Tuesday Nights: Bottle of Wine and 2 Appetizers - $35<br />Wednesdays: Trivia Night at 8 p.m. (weekly prizes & drink specials)<br /><br />Second, their Stone Creek Ale is quite nice and nice and cheap during those happy hours.<br /><br />It is also a nice, relaxing place. It does get crowded sometimes, which is fine. But it retains a laid back atmosphere even then. They don't rush you. It is comfortable and relaxed.<br /><br />AND they have good food. The pulled pork sliders are probably the best they have. The Roberto's Quesadilla is also great. The Crispy Calamari, Pigs in a Blanket, Jalapeno Poppers and Chicken Fingers are definitely good, but more standard than the Quesadilla and sliders. The Chicken Satay was disappointing, but it was the only disappointing thing I had. I haven't yet tried the Gruyere Macaroni & Cheese but it is on my list of things to try when I go back...and I will go back. I have tended to like their onion rings but not be so impressed with their french fries...but I particularly like THIN french fries, so that may be part of it.<br /><br />Definitely a good place to try in the neighborhood for good beer and good food...better than some of the more well known places around. It isn't a family sit down place, but I have been tempted to take my son there because I bet he'd like the burger sliders. But taking your kid to a bar is kind of frowned upon!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/food-and-travel.html">Return to Mole's Food and Travel Page</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992991110125021071.post-64830027809136405202011-11-16T19:45:00.000-08:002011-11-16T19:56:41.011-08:00NYC Restaurant Review: Mia Chef Gelateria<a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-5403436-10478191" target="_top"><br /><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-5403436-10478191" width="150" height="150" alt="Delivery.com - Food At Your Fingertips" border="0"/></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mia Chef Gelateria</span><br />379 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10016<br />(212) 889-8727<br />gelatomia.com <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><blockquote>"This is the best ice cream I have ever had!"</blockquote></span><br /><br />That is my son's reaction the first time he tasted the Gelato here. Stuck among a bunch of almost anonymous store fronts, this place is a major find! I have to agree with my son that it is AMONG the best ice cream experiences I have ever had. My best was Robin Rose ice cream in Venice, California, but they are long gone now. So this is close to the top.<br /><br />Their flavors vary. And they encourage you to try everything before ordering. And they encourage you to mix flavors. I have always gotten a small (which is very generous) with two flavors. It is PERFECT.<br /><br />Their standard chocolate is magnificent. They balance it perfectly. It is dark chocolate but not bitter. I don't mind bitter, but this is just right. My son always gets this along with their Oreo cookie flavor. I love it too. They recommend it with the pistachio. I agree. Which brings me to their pistachio. Most pistachio ice cream you get is really almond flavored with a handful of pistachios thrown in. Which is fine with me because I actually like that. This pistachio is richer and more honestly pistachio and I have gotten it every time. One time mixed with chocolate. Other times mixed with other flavors.<br /><br />They have had Nutella, Captain Crunch, Pecan Pie, Reese's peanut butter cup, White Chocolate and cherries, etc. etc. etc.<br /><br />Every flavor is a near perfect representation of what it claims to be. I could die happy with this gelato in hand. If you are anywhere near the neighborhood, don't hesitate. Go for it. You will come back for more.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/p/food-and-travel.html">Return to Mole's Food and Travel Page</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkingmole.blogspot.com/">Return to I Had a Thought</a>mole333http://www.blogger.com/profile/11350258348093301297noreply@blogger.com0