How do I say what I mean?

Photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson - showing people in conversation

Thoughts are generated in the cerebral cortex of our brains and, if we choose to communicate the idea, it us routed to a part of the brain that translates pure thought into words (this depends on which language you choose to use); we also must select particular words that we think will most accurately express what we are thinking to this particular person or group.

Shocking Gossip!

 The sequence of words may be sent to the part of the brain that controls speech – and there the sequence of words is translated into muscle contractions of the larynx. (We have to force air out of our lungs to vibrate the larynx in form the words.)  But that’s not all – timing of the words and emotional emphasis must be conveyed with the words as well.

Regions of the external brain

Another option is for the sequence of words to be translated into finger muscle actions as we write with a pen or keyboard.  When you write do you find yourself selecting words to better explain your thought? This involves complex feedback with the cerebral cortex. Don’t forget the grammar system and syntax we choose to use to communicate in different settings. I have seen students that talk to their friends on break using “inner city slang” and then coming into class, they use “the Kings English” when they are in a classroom discussion.  Choices have been made...

Street conversation

Truly one of the most magical things on Earth is a conversation between people – a sharing of ideas from one brain to the other... passing through this complex process of speech!

Discussion between person in power with person lacking power

Words are often imperfect vehicles for communicating the ideas that we have in mind.  And the most serious problem with words in that many of them carry with them such “baggage” – that our original idea may get muddled by the different associations that people have with critical words.

Difference of opinion

The associations that we have are built by our history of experiences, the people that we admire; the lessons taught us by powerful people in our lives.  Once established, these associations are very persistent and slow to change.

Take a simple word like  “taxes” and it triggers powerful feelings.  Consider the words “ firearm background check” – and I suspect that is enough to make you want to share your opinion and perhaps defend your position.

We can filter out extraneous conversations to concentrate on the one of importance at the time!

In matters of faith many words have such powerful “baggage” that we may lose the original intent of the word.  For one person, the word “repent” means to tell your sins to the Priest and to receive absolution, for another it may mean to realize when I am engaged in unproductive things in your life and need to “turn around”. Sadly churches become separated from each other over the very issues that should draw us together.

Receiving a blessing

For some, our concept of God brings to mind a Physical Monarch Male located in a distant place.  Other well meaning Christians see God as a spirit whose presence is evident in all of creation. Some see God as being present in three manifestations.( Father, Son, Holy Ghost)

In schools the same disconnect often happens.  Does “to learn,” mean that the person has memorized the same words found in the text or lecture... or does "to learn" mean that the person understands the basic concept and can apply it in a variety of situations.  Whole school systems are built around one or the other concept.

Friends

Historically think how our response to the word ‘disease ‘has changed... is a sickness explained as a punishment for past sins, it is caused by exposure to night air or moon light, by evil spirits or witches in our midst, or it is caused by ‘germs’– and more precisely what kind of microorganism – virus, bacteria, fungus,  or prion... and what vector is involved in its transfer?  ... How about genetic information?

I haven't even mentioned  such words as Evolution, Gays and Lesbians, Guns, Marijuana, Middle School students, Welfare State, Immigration, Rap Music, MacDonald's food,  Racial groups, The Iraq War...  I suspect that each word triggers strong associations with most of us - and we are ready to defend our positions...

Language as a tool of repression

Our use of language is fraught with land mines when we attempt to communicate ideas that are important to us.  Each word we choose may set off a stream of thoughts and responses in “the other” far different from out intention. 

Language to teach children

The sad thing is that we each get locked into our positions and become ‘hell bent’ on depending our belief rather than seeking to understand the whole business of meaning – the influences that shaped each of us- and the incredible beauty of humans attempting to share meaning with each other.

Language between the boss and the worker

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What made us the way we are?

Did you ever wonder what the land your home is built on today was like 500 years ago ago during the time that Native Americans lived here? What kinds of vegetation existed?  What ecosystem of animals would live there?  There are few vestiges of “native land”  left in the San Francisco Bay area... Judging from tree ring evidence we can see that growth has been more or less constant for a very long time – a strong indication that temperature and moisture patterns have not varied greatly...  ( Some of the Sequoia trees show records of growth for well over 3000 years. ) 

Whittaker Biome Diagram

One of the startling scientific discoveries of this century is that climate patterns are amazingly consistent throughout the world.  If you know the annual temperature and moisture for a location, you can make a solid prediction about what the vegetation pattern will be.  All places on earth with an average annual temperature of 15C  (59F) and 200 cm (78  inches) of rain will have natural deciduous forests ( these are the trees that lose their leaves in the fall – Oaks, maples, walnuts etc. ).  Of course if humans have come along and cut all the trees down – then it may be farm land... but if the farms disappeared and the land was left to redevelop naturally – the deciduous forests would return.  While vegetation may be similar, it may be different species all well adapted to that climate zone. - Example: Cactuses have evolved in the Americas and Euphorbias are found in similar climates and look much like cactus - and they are found in Africa.

Limited water but frozen solid most of the year.
Such combinations produce Alpine and Tundra biomes.

In Fremont, where I live, the average rainfall is 38cm ( 14.85 inches) and  a year around average temperature is 15C ( 60F ) .  That means that our native plant population would evolve into a  pattern between grassland/desert and woodland... this would produce a scrub growth of coyote bush and other chaparrals plant growth.  Oakland, right on the bay and directly in line for prevailing Pacific storms, receives enough extra rain to "be a land of live oak trees... a temperate deciduous forest.  ( Which existed there before they were all cut down ). This year Fremont has received only 9 inches (23 cm.) if that period continued for a number of years we would evolve into a biome close to a desert...

Fremont Hills - Native scrub growth - Chaparral growing on our local hills

Of course the basic pattern may be modified or even dependent on such things as the regular occurrence of lightning fires or fires set by the native people, the timing of rain fall within the year, the angle of the sun in the sky...but all of these would produce relatively minor changes in the over-all pattern.

So the grasslands of the Pampas in Argentina, the South African Veldt, the Great planes of North America, the grasslands of Mongolia, the vast Hungarian Puszta grasslands, ... all of these have very similar patters of temperature and precipitation.

Taiga forest - low mountains adjacent to Pacific ocean

The conifer forests in Austria, Himalayas, Sierra Nevada, locations in Australia, the vast forests in Canada and Siberia... all fit the pattern of Taiga.

The fog zone along the Pacific coast: Thick taiga with mixed surface plants - temperate rain forest

Culturally during the great migrations into the Americas during the 19th and 20th century, European and Asian settlers tended to move to locations with a similar climate pattern to the one they left behind.  My grandparents from Central Bohemia felt right at home in the wheat lands of Kansas.

Is this Bohemia or Kansas?  Grasslands with wooded creek bottoms

All of this brings to mind the significant difference in Climate and Weather – daily patterns may be important to our affairs – but the kind of climate patterns we are talking about here are maintained consistent for large blocks of time.  There have been sudden periods of substantial climate change in the history of our earth – many of them can be related to unusual periods of volcanic activity that altered the composition of the atmosphere,or  meteorite or comet impacts on earth that also altered the atmosphere.  Some of these periods caused vast die offs of large groups of organisms.

Nevada desert  - enough water to support a variety of plants

What we face today is a "sudden" (since the start of the industrial revolution) release of carbon gases into the atmosphere due to human activity – We have all seen the tankers of oil, the ship loads of crude oil, the trains made up of hundreds of cars filled with coal, pipelines transporting natural gas... all of there carbon compounds to be burned and their gases released into our atmosphered... and this has been going on now for over 200 years (with the rate accelerating).  Our great earth has the ability to absorb many insults... but the carbon gases being released are changing our atmosphere and our weather pattern.

Some grasslands like this attempt to revert to forest - the ranchers must constantly "weed out" cedars attempting to grow in, and revert to forest.

When the average temperature of the earth is changed by even a small amount per year... it causes weather patterns to alter.   Changing climate patterns also cause change in the location and intensity of storms, precipitation, and ice packs.    Some places that were once grasslands would morph into deserts.  A woodland area may change into scrub growth, a temperate rain forest may become able to sustain tropical rain forest vegetation.  The major wheat producing areas may be moved further north into Canada and Siberia (but that depends on the rain they receive.)

The land of minimal water ( and high mineral soil) true desert

Take care of your Mother Earth...She has been good to you...

RECOMMENDED READ: CHANGING VEGETATION & CLIMATE CHANGE: http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2010/06/04/climate/

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1.  My morning walk with the dogs

Purple Lupine perfume my air

Mr. Mockingbird is tuning up

North wind still blows cold!

Purple Lupine

2.  The “news”: I know a person who writes newspaper articles.  In this wide world of events that swirls around us it is fascinating to see which stories are selected to be reported as “news” by our news sources.  My friend faces daily pressure to select stories that he thinks his readers will respond to with interest.  His career depends on it. 

We live in a culture that expects disasters and conflicts (international. national, local, political, community, sports, personal) to be dished up for us to read  with out morning coffee and toast.  I’m not one of these “Pollyannaish” people that want only “ feel good” good news published... and it is worthwhile to ask what should be the function of news in our lives – filtered, as it is, through commercial profit making news sources, and individual writers anxious to make a name for themselves.  The pressure to write something acceptable every day must be fierce. 

What responsibilities come with discovering the truth?   How can you be sure something is "true"?

What is the function of news?  To entertain?... to make our lives more complete?  ...to educate?   ...to make us more effective in our daily lives?  I want stories that teach me something useful that I didn’t know, I want to learn about the key people that determine my world, sometimes a good news story can present me with a challenging question rather than an answer,  stories about life in other cultures that remind me that “my way” is not the “only way”.  

Respected editorial writers offer us their latest predictions  (especially political...) - but no one ever seems to check how often their predictions come true... but we keep reading them nonetheless...because they have made a “name for themselves”. My biggest concern is that too many of us are beginning to confuse opinion sites with factual information.  That is the challenge for our time!

A challenge for me and maybe for you too...

Historically, investigative journalists have a reputation for courageously searching out and speaking the truth...  These are the journalists that I most admire... whether they are acting to expose political corruption, social inequity, corporate greed, environmental issues... they often are telling a story that someone does not want to be told...someone who personally gains from a hurtful situation.  Investigative journalists sometimes risk their own well being to travel into dangerous situations so that the rest of us may know the truth.  Good investigative journalists double check their facts.  For them journalism is a calling.  Reporting on storm damage is easy compared with the research needed to expose the truth about a political malfunction. Sadly, as cuts in funding become more common,  major news sources are cutting their staff of journalists and depending more on commercial, profit making, generic wire services to find their stories.  

A free and open press is like another branch of our check and balance system

With expanded technology, we live in a time when our  news sources are becoming increasingly polarized. Its easier to seek out sites that support our positions rather than seeking to understand the positions of those with whom we disagree.  Print news sources are in decline as internet sources add more variety but also sadly more polarization. Every morning  I quickly scan several internet news sources for headlines of interest and then read 2-3 articles in depth. It is my challenge to remember to seek out opinions with with I do not agree...

Why is this so hard to do... (seek to understand those with whom I do not agree)

A fable 

2.   How do we label events as "good"  or "bad"  - Are "good and bad" fixed?

A farmer had only one horse. One day, his horse ran away.

All the neighbors came by saying, “I'm so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We'll see.”

A few days later, his horse came back with twenty wild horses. The man and his son corralled all 21 horses.

All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We'll see.”

Wild horses

One of the wild horses kicked the man's only son, breaking both his legs.

All the neighbors came by saying, “I'm so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We'll see.”

The country went to war, and every able-bodied young man was drafted to fight. The war was terrible and many young men were killed, but the farmer's son was spared, since his broken legs prevented him from being drafted.

All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We'll see.”

Is this approach to the news admirable? Is it lacking something important to you?

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Eating in a Traditional Tanzanian Restaurant with our Heifer Project group

Notes of the week:  Daffodils, Plum Blossoms, Mocking Bird songs... yes it is glorious spring in Northern California!
My surgery was 6 weeks ago today - Final check up next Tuesday - hoping for permission to drive!

Food, food,  wonderful food!

Photos this week show food  that we have encountered...

I grew up in a home in the country with unlimited farm raised eggs, cream, milk from our cow Bossy, butter, bacon, and frequent cuts of beef and whole chickens with all the tasty fat floating on top.  Over the years my wife and I  have been influenced in what we eat by the medical discoveries that show how diet can affect the quality and length of life as well as our susceptibility to disease. 

Chicken, vegetables, rice being served up for us in Southern Mexico 

What my wife and I now eat has also been influenced by the cultures that we encounter around us in Fremont.    We have evolved a style of eating that is eclectic and open to new food ideas.  We have come to relish culinary influences from Asian, Mexican, European, and Middle Eastern cuisines. We have come to feel comfortable using spices and herbs that are not frequently part of the traditional “American” diet that I grew up with.

Fried bananas - Tanzania

Here are five recipes that we eat with regularity...They are all tried and true and absolutely delicious!  All of them seem to get even tastier with over-night storage – So make enough for left overs.  Some of them are from vegetarian sources - but we frequently add chicken or beef to suit our fancy.

Roast Goat, vegetables and corn tortillas - Zapotec birthday paryty - Oaxaca  Mexico

A.     Butternut Squash with Chicken  - North Africa

This is an example of a North African “Tagine”, combining meat and dried fruit.  Be sure to keep the full mixture of spices! It is also possible to cut all proportions in half for a smaller batch.

9 cups peeled butternut squash cur in 1-inch cubes (this is one large Butternut Squash)

1-cup small-pitted prunes

3 cloves minced garlic

2 medium shallots, sliced separate into rings

1-teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1-teaspoon salt ½ and ½

½ teaspoon ground pepper

8 skinless, bone in chicken thighs

1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest

¼ Cup orange juice

Tanzanian Lunch : Plantains, Taro, Yam, Avacado slices

1.  Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Place squash, prunes, garlic, shallots, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, 1/2-teaspoon salt and pepper in large bowl and mix well.

2.  Transfer to a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.  Sprinkle chicken with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and place on top of the vegetables.  Mix broth, orange zest and juice in a small bowl and pour over the chicken.  Cover the baking dish with foil.  Bake for 40 minutes, Uncover and continue to bake until vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, basting often, about an hour more

Spanish breakfast, Crusty rolls, cheese, slices cold meat, fruit, good strong coffee

B.     Megadara  - Lebanon

This recipe is known in different forms throughout the Middle East,.  It is proported to be the famous “pottage” for which the Biblical Esah sold his birthright.

1 cup dry lentils

2-3 T olive oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

3 medium red onions, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

3/4 cup short grain brown rice

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust )

1 inch cinnamon stick

2 tablespoons pine nuts, optional

Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Greek yogurt, for topping

Bakery window in Spain

Cook lentils in medium saucepan.

Fill with enough cold water to cover the lentils by about an inch.

Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the lentils are tender but not mushy, about 20 minutes.

Drain and set aside.

While the lentils cook, place large skillet on medium-high heat and add oil. When oil is hot, add cumin seeds for about 1 minute. ( Don”t burn )

Cook onions until they turn caramel brown ( avoid burning ) , stirring often. This will take about 15 minutes. Add a little water   to onions if they stick to the bottom of the pan.

Remove about half of the onions for garnish later.

Sprinkle in the ground cumin, cayenne and then add the cinnamon stick; saute about 1 minute.

Breakfast in Chiapas Mexico: Hot chocolate with Whipped cream, crusty bread, marmalade

Add the dry rice to the remaining half of the onions and cook, stirring often until some rice grains start to brown.

Add the cooked lentils, 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Add salt and pepper to taste at this time

Turn the heat down to low so that the pan is at a simmer, cover and cook 30 minutes. The water should be completely evaporated and rice should be tender.

If there's still  water in the bottom, put the lid back on and cook for another 5 minutes.

Turn off the heat, keep the lid on, and allow the rice to steam undisturbed for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts, if using, in a small skillet over medium-low heat, shaking often, about 5 minutes.

Adjust the taste of the rice for seasoning. Serve with the reserved caramelized onions spread on top with the toasted pine nuts.

This dish is delicious served either hot or cold, and accompanied by yogurt.

John helping to stir a pot of banana beer... Tanzania

C.  Primavera Sauce - French/Italian

We work together to double or triple this recipe and then package it in 8 and 12 oz jars to store in the freezer – Can b used to flavor cooked vegetables, meat, pasta... or just about anything...One of our staples!

2-3 T olive oil

2 C chopped onion

1 medium sized bell pepper - diced

2 medium stalks celery, minced

1 lb. mushrooms, chopped

2 medium ( 6 inch ) zucchini, diced

Handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped (if available)

2 t dry Basil

1 t dry Oregano

1 t dry Thyme

1.5 t salt

1 can  ( l lb, 13 oz )  crushed tomatoes and juice( or substitute fresh tomatoes )

1    6 oz can tomato paste

1 T Honey

Black pepper to taste

6 cloves minced garlic

John helping to stir a pot of Atole - Oaxaca Mexico

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1.   Heat olive oil in kettle -

2.   Add onion, bell pepper, celery, mushrooms, zucchini, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, dry herbs, salt

3.   Sauté over medium heat until onions are very soft ( 8-10 minutes)

4.   Add tomatoes, tomato paste, honey, black pepper.

5.   Use a spoon to break up the tomatoes into bite size pieces

6.   Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer, partly covered, for 20-30 minutes

7.   Add garlic and cook about 10 minutes more

8.   The sauce can sit for several hours or can be refrigerated for up to a week.

9.   Heat gently before serving

… I double the recipe and freeze in separate packets for quick meals… good with chicken, vegetables,  legumes, almost anything!

Mountain village above Oaxaca -the community is celebrating work done in a water pipeline ( still to be completed ) 

D.  Vegetable Curry  - Optional:  3-4 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces – East Indian

Our favorite East Indian curry!  Whatever you do... do not add curry powder! Include all of the spices listed here– Cayenne is the hot one – but 1/4 t is not excessive.  I get my spices in an Indian market but Safeway has them too.

2T veg. oil

1/2 t black mustard seed

3/4 t cinnamon

1.5 t cumin

1.5 t ground coriander seeds

.5 t ground fennel seeds

1 t turmeric

2 t grated fresh ginger

1/4 t cayenne (or to taste)

2 C Chopped onions

3 garlic cloves – crushed

2 med carrots- sliced

3 C cubed sweet potato or yams

1 medium head cauliflower – cut into flowerlets

3/4 C water

2 med tomatoes – chopped

2 C green peas or 2 medium green peppers – chopped

Deli window in NW Spain - cheese, yogurt, octopus, sausage, bacon

Heat oil in deep fly pan

Add mustard seed and heat on med heat until they begin to pop

Add other spices and cook on low heat for 2 minutes to enhance flavors of spices

Don’t burn them!

Add chopped onions and sauté until translucent

Add carrots and cook several minutes

Add sweet potato and cook few minutes more

Add cauliflower and stir well to coat all the vegetables with spice mix.

Add water, cover pan, simmer for 20 min., and stir occasionally.

When sweet potatoes are tender, but not fully cooked, add tomato and peas (or gr. Pepper)

Simmer covered for 10-15 min. more

Vegetables should retain bright color

Sweet potato will soften and become part of the saucea

Serve with short grain brown rice for best flavor

Garnish with yogurt, chopped cashews, raisins, or mango chutney

Grinding soaked corn kernals to make 'masa' to be used in making tortillas

E.  Tunisian stew

One of our all time favorite company dishes - memorable blend of flavors.

2 onions - cut into thin slices - slow cooked until golden brown

Peel and cube 2 large potatoes (1/2 inch cubes)

Peel and cut two carrots into 1/4 inch discs – add to mix

Add:

·      2 Cloves garlic – crushed

·      2 sausages - (chicken sausages ) - slice thin and add

·      2 Bay leaves

·      1 can garbanzo beans – drained and washed

      (or precook 1 cup of dry beans -  White Italian beans are good )

·      1 can - crushed Tomatoes

·      1 t Turmeric

·      1 t  medium hot Paprika

·      1/2 t  Cardamom

·      1/2 t  Coriander

·      1/4 t Cinnamon

·      Black pepper to taste

S. Mexico Village - making soup over a 3 stone fireplace

Cook gently until potatoes and carrots are somewhat soft

Best made a few hours before serving - to allow flavors to blend

Can be served with middle eastern bread or rice & sala

Picnic in Tanzania- We had walked all morning to reach this location!