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May 14 Before I 4getAmia Merthia -- Gandules con Salchichas de Pollo, Pimienta, Guisantes y Maiz
........................ all from cans ................................................................
first add some Stolichnaya, pepper and Cointreau (last one optional) to a small pan
............................. turn on medium heat ................................................
add gandules (about a half a cup)
add corn (also a half cup)
add green peas (about a third of a cup)
slice lenghtwise about two or three chicken sausages (small ones)
.......................... let all cook until the gandules (pigeon peas) are tender
.......................... marvel at how fast that is.
health rating: broken chart March 06 Your Dish Will Grow Mountains: Brown Basmati Rice from Bob's Red MillFrom the latest Bob's Red Mill newsletter:
January 23 The Plantain Plant PurrsEnhance your neurons, enjoy and imagine touching these (verbatim from TreeHugger):
Ok, I Need to Write Here TonightEven if months have passed, a new year has started and many things have changed -- I need to write here tonight (blowing off cobwebs).
Make sure you read "Prince of Peace" written by my friend Gemini Gypsy Lady.
Also read my entire Good Bloggin' West ouvre -- kidding -- read some of it, any of it, you'll be better for it. The other day I realized how much I keep the friends I've made there in my mind as I blog something there -- I wish I'd be able to serve up nothing but helpful environmental (GREEN, green, Green, gReEn, you get it) news, but that hasn't occurred. I'd need part of Joel Makower's brain, w. some of TreeHugger's variety of authors (dream green!), w. more time .... no excuses, I have to try to serve one green news story @ least, @ least, @ least as often as I can :)
The ol' Good Bloggin' needs a facelift but I haven't finished my M.D. degree yet for him to be my first patient (even if nonpaying :) -- kidding.
As God was preparing me for birth, he took all long-windedness out, so zilch going on and on. My mom should have named me "Sound Byter"
.... ta ta
:) September 16 File Under: I Know What This Is But Can't Tell Anyone Else Just Yet :)found on Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Sun-Sentinel newspaper online:
Tablet of 62 characters dates to about 1000 BC. It's the first text clearly tied to puzzling culture.
By Thomas H. Maugh II Times Staff Writer Posted September 15 2006
Archeologists working on the gulf coast of Mexico have uncovered a 3,000-year-old stone tablet that bears the oldest writing in the Western Hemisphere and the first text unambiguously linked to the Olmec empire — the enigmatic civilization believed to be the progenitor of the Aztecs and Maya. The 26-pound tablet, about the size of a legal pad, bears 62 symbols arrayed in a manner suggesting an organized text. "We have long thought that the Olmec would have writing," said archeologist William A. Saturno of the University of New Hampshire, who was not involved in the discovery. "This block is finally the evidence everyone has been waiting for." Scientists may never be able to translate the text unless they find many more examples of Olmec writing, said archeologist Stephen D. Houston of Brown University in Rhode Island, a co-author of the report published today in the journal Science. But "if we can decode it, it gives us a chance of hearing their voices and finding out what they considered important and worth recording," he said. The Olmec flourished in south-central Mexico for more than 1,000 years before they mysteriously disappeared, a few centuries before the rise of the classic Maya culture about AD 300. The Olmec were the first civilization in Mesoamerica, and at their height they constructed large pyramids and created massive stone sculptures. They built the first cities in the region and established a wide-ranging trading system that stretched across Central America. The tablet dates from about 1000 BC to 900 BC and is at least 300 years older than any purported writing that archeologists have discovered in the region. The oldest previous example of what can be considered a "full-blown written language" in this hemisphere, Saturno said, was the so-called Tuxtla Script, discovered in the same region and dating from about AD 100 to AD 200. Both are comparatively young compared with the oldest known written language, developed in the Middle East by the Sumerians about 5,000 years ago. Virtually all examples of purported Mesoamerican writing that have been found previously and that date to the first millennium BC are isolated sets consisting of just one or a few glyphs, or symbols. Critics have charged that such discoveries represent merely pictures or identifiers rather than true writing. With the new find, Houston said, "suddenly we are aware of the possibility that those far shorter sequences may be part of the same writing system." Beginning about 1600 BC, the Olmec settled a highly fertile region characterized by swampy lowlands punctuated by low hills and ridges. They fished in landlocked ponds and grew maize, beans and squash. Their large pyramids were surrounded by rectangular huts made from plants and adobe, with stone drainage systems under their communities. They harvested rubber — in fact, their name means "rubber people" in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs — and invented a ritual ballgame played by the elite in stone arenas scattered throughout the region. What the Olmec called themselves is not known. They are perhaps most famous for the massive stone heads they sculpted to grace their monumental architecture. They also developed calendars and the concept of zero. "They had so many other things … that it would seem odd if they didn't have the concept of writing," Saturno said. In fact, he added, they started making paper about 1500 BC, beating the bark of trees into thin sheets. "What else were they making the paper for" besides writing, he said. Because of the climate, no paper has survived from that period. The tablet almost didn't survive, either. It was unearthed in 1999 by road builders digging gravel from an ancient mound at Cascajal, a village on an island about a mile from San Lorenzo, an Olmec site. A local archeologist called in Maria del Carmen Rodriguez Martinez and Ponciano Ortiz Ceballos of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, who are lead authors of the Science report. They assembled the team that analyzed the tablet this spring. Pottery shards excavated along with the tablet helped date it to the beginning of the first millennium BC, as did similarities between its glyphs and symbols found on artwork from that period. There probably will always be controversy about the date and the tablet's origin, however, because the slab was not found in its original location. "We're quite comfortable with the date we've assigned it," Houston said. The serpentine, or greenstone, tablet bears 29 distinct glyphs, some of which are repeated as many as four times. It appears to read horizontally from left to right — unlike most other texts from the region, which read vertically. Some of the symbols are clearly derived from natural objects, such as insects, corn, awls and thrones. From the way the symbols are laid out, "it is crushingly obvious that we are in the presence of writing," Houston said. "This has a large number of symbols, the symbols are repeated, and they are repeated in order," Saturno said. "There are phrases being written, which really strengthens the argument that … this is a writing system — a way to make spoken language permanent." The stone itself is convex on all sides except for the face bearing the inscription, which is concave. That suggests, Houston said, that the text may have been repeatedly erased and rewritten. The small size indicates the tablet was for private use, possibly for religious ceremonies, and not a public monument. March 04 Earth Justice Calls for End to Dry Cleaning PollutionDry cleaner pollution: A toxic menace in your community!
Although clean, safe and cost-effective alternatives exist, the EPA has proposed to allow dry cleaners to keep using — and releasing — toxic chemicals. The agency acknowledges that up to 56 million Americans may be at risk. We need your help: EPA is accepting comments on a rule that sets exposure levels for a chemical known as perc used by dry cleaners. Tell EPA that cleaning up the dry cleaners is important and necessary to protect the health of all Americans!  Send a letter to the EPA: below is a sample letter (but personalized letters are most effective!) Subject: Phase Out Use of Perchloroethylene by Dry Cleaners Dear EPA Docket Center: Right now, many dry cleaners are a toxic menace. They do not need to be. All over the country, environmentally responsible dry cleaners have stopped using percerchloroethylene (perc) and switched to safer alternatives. These dry cleaners have made their neighborhoods safer. Sincerely, February 07 Carol's Take: Bad Food Even Makes Us Crazy!Browsing the books linked to the anti-aspartame "Sweet Poison" by Dr. Janet Hull on Amazon.com, I found this gem that hopefull inspires us to eat healthy:
"We already worry that our food makes us fat, dull, disease-prone, and sleepy. Now we have to worry that it also makes us crazy. According to certified clinical nutritionist Carol Simontacchi, the food industries that give us packaged, processed, artificially flavored, chemical-ridden, artificially colored, nutrient-stripped pseudo foods such as sodas, processed soups, sugared cereals, and fiberless bread "wantonly destroy our bodies and our brains, all in the name of profit." We Americans (adults and children) eat 200 pounds of sugar and artificial sweeteners each year. Our children's test scores and grades drop. We become violent, illogical, moody, depressed, drug-addicted, and crazy. The reason, according to the author, who is pursuing a doctorate in brain nutrition, is that we're starving our brains with lack of nutrition."
* * * * * *
I couldn't have said this better myself. Kudos to Carol!
To your health,
Frances Stephanie's Indian Pizza Blog PostingFrom my Yahoo! 360 blog, can someone please show it to the folks @ the Sitar and Tandoor?:
February 03 Michael Moore wants to hear from you....Morgan Spurlock and Michael Moore, two of my favorite filmmakers of all time, ahhh -- here is a letter from Michael:
January 27 "Super Foods" Thanks Lauri of Yahoo! 360Has everyone seen this list of "SuperFoods"? ....just in case, here it is (posted by Lauri in her Yahoo! 360 blog), the only one I'd add is extra-virgin olive oil.:
These 10 top nutritional performers can transform your diet -- and possibly your life What's so super about ... ? Apples. According to "SuperFoods Lifestyle" author Dr. Steven Pratt, different varieties of apples have different phytonutrients, but they all have tons of antioxidants, including flavonoids and other polyphenols, and fiber. Avocados. Avocados have the same thing going for them that olive oil does: healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. These are the "good fats," and they appear to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate and antioxidants up the ante. And Pratt cites research showing that avocado helps the body absorb more nutrients from other foods -- the tomato in the same salad, for instance. Beans. They haven't gotten the same media buzz as blueberries, but some beans have even more health-promoting antioxidants. They also have as much cholesterol-lowering fiber as oats, and lots of lean protein. All of that is good for your heart. They also are rich in B vitamins and potassium. This category includes both dried and green beans. Blueberries. Frozen do the trick as well as fresh, and they're easier to find in winter. For such tiny fruits, they deliver a huge wallop of antioxidants of many kinds, including anthocyanins and other polyphenols, and carotenoids. They also have fiber, folic acid and vitamins C and E. And they taste good with very few calories. Dark chocolate. The magic word here is flavonoids, the same kinds of antioxidants that make tea so potent a health brew. Research shows flavonoids have a role in helping lower blood pressure and in keeping your arteries from clogging -- both good news for your heart. Only dark chocolate does the trick, not milk or white. And the more cocoa solids the better -- look for the percentage on the label. Kiwis. Vitamin C, vitamin C, vitamin C -- kiwis are loaded in this antioxidant, which also makes oranges a superfood. Kiwis rival bananas in potassium, pound for pound. And flavonoid antioxidants abound in the skin, which is edible but best if you rub the fuzzy stuff off first. Oats. Kings o' fiber, oats also deliver protein, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. Their cholesterol-lowering powers are well known, and all that fiber is also believed to help stabilize blood sugar. Oats' combination of nutrients appears to have more healthy effects than if each nutrient were consumed separately -- which seems to be true of all whole grains. And, they're inexpensive. Spinach. What doesn't spinach have? It's loaded with lutein (great for eyes) and many other carotenoids, which are healthful antioxidants; plus other antioxidants like coenzyme Q, in serious doses; plus several B vitamins plus C and E; plus iron and other minerals; plus betaine, a vitamin-like nutrient research suggests is good for your heart. And with almost no calories, you can eat as much as you want. Also good for similar reasons: kale, chard and other dark leafy greens. Walnuts. All nuts have been rehabbed as good-for-you foods, for their healthy fats and micronutrients. A few go a long way, though, as they are calorie bombs. Walnuts' main claim to stardom are their omega-3 fatty acids, which fight heart disease. Other goodies: plant sterols, which lower cholesterol, and lots of antioxidants. Yogurt. Nutritionist Jo Ann Hattner says if she could pick only two superfoods, they would be yogurt and tea, because their health-giving attributes have been known for centuries. Yogurt's claim to fame is live cultures, also called probiotics or beneficial bacteria. They are what turns milk into yogurt (but some commercial yogurts are heated to kill the cultures after they do their work, so be sure to read the label). In your gut, they fight bad bacteria, aid digestion, help metabolize food and generally tune your system up. Yogurt also is a good source of calcium and protein. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/04/FDGQBGG57F1.DTL January 26 FYI: Melanoma Rising Among LatinosMy friend Louis, the Latino Pundit, posts:
Wear a good, preferably natural, sunblock, even in winter, Frances January 24 New twist to old adageAnother goodie from Yahoo! 360, this one from Anoop Kumar:
Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, small people talk about others & legends never talk, they send EMAIL. ArtPadLink blogged in Yahoo! 360 by Missy Angel of Australia along with a screen capture of her creation, try it:
January 23 Perfect back flip & long-distance shotMy Yahoo! 360 friend Hammack from Florida has very talented academically and athletically children, check out this very short video clip of an athletic feat by his second son who also won the Science Fair sixth grade prize in his middle school:
Go little Hammack! January 17 Exercise linked to big drop in dementia riskfyi
Exercise linked to big drop in dementia risk
Related Articles
Web LinksRegular exercise may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly by as much as 40%, according to a new study. And the effect is even more pronounced for those who are more frail, say the researchers. The US team, at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, studied a group of 1740 people aged 65 or over, all of whom began the study with good cognitive function. The participants reported how many days per week they had exercised for 15 minutes or more, in activities varying from walking to callisthenics to swimming. Their physical function was also recorded, including grip strength and walking speed. Each was evaluated again every two years and tests were performed to determine whether they had developed dementia. After six years, 158 people in the group had developed dementia, and 107 of these had Alzheimer’s. But those who had exercised at least three times a week were on average 38% less likely to have developed dementia than those exercising less than three times a week. Unknown mechanism“Those who had scored the lowest on the physical function tests, showed the most marked reduction in risk of dementia if they exercised,” says Paul Crane, one of the research team, from the University of Washington in Seattle. Amongst those with good levels of exercise, “people who scored 10 out of 16 in the physical tests had an average 42% reduction in risk of dementia, compared to 25% for those who scored 12 out of 16." He adds: “Our study group was fairly fit and healthy compared to the average population, so the benefits of exercise could be even greater for less fit people.” Crane says the biological mechanism behind the results is unknown, but that it may result from exercise causing a reduction in vascular disease. “It could be that these people are still developing plaques [deposits in the brain which cause Alzheimer’s] but exercise is stopping them from having strokes – so they are not showing clinical symptoms of dementia,” he told New Scientist. Subclinical deteriorationOther studies into the relationship between exercise and dementia have shown mixed results. But previous studies have not excluded the possibility that participants with lower exercise levels at the start undertook less physical activity because they were already suffering from early, subclinical cognitive deterioration. Laura Podewils at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, US, and co-author of an editorial accompanying the study, says the team behind the new research made a great effort to avoid this bias. "It is also the first study to report an interaction between the level of physical function and physical activity and dementia risk,” she says. However, Podewils points out that it remains uncertain whether this association is causal or whether physical activity is more likely among people with other behaviours that reduce dementia risk. “People who exercise tend to be more socially active, which enhances cognitive activity. We need randomised trials to establish the relationship, but nonetheless exercise undoubtedly has extensive health benefits,” she says. Journal reference: Annals of Internal Medicine (vol 144, p 73) January 15 Being a good dad...... excerpt of a post written by Reggie Mina, of the Phillipines, in his Yahoo! 360 blog, good reading and example to follow by those who can:
Very good things Reggie! January 13 Dana Crum Reads His Fiction Next WeekPrinceton alum reads his own fiction in New York next week, fyi:
FROM: Dana Crum '93 SUBJECT: NYC, 1/20: Alum to give reading DATE: 1/3/2006 2:28:00 PM
January 02 Don Quixote gets the Spanglish treatment
January 01 Time Warp: Halloween Fun GameTime warp, try this one....
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Located in the midst of residential communities, many dry cleaners use highly toxic chemicals and release them into the neighborhood air. 
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