Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving history isn't lost on me -- it is a harvest festival that has been celebrated in North America for hundreds of years, but the cynic in me can't help but think of the North American aboriginals that got there thanks the hard way at the hands of the European settlers. Wonder how they view Thanksgiving. Anyway, I'm not about to start another tirade on political and social injustices. For my wife, it's a tradition that brings back memories of family -- and so this year, I decided to take on the task of bringing some tradition to the table for supper.

I've never roasted a turkey before, and since we're only a family of four, my wife asked that I do something smaller. So I got a chicken. Something smaller. I've never roasted one of those before either, so I called on my friend, Google, and found the instructions at Canadian Living to create a classic roast turkey -- which I applied to my chicken -- with some slight modifications, as I'm not too good at following instructions. It didn't turn out too bad. The chicken was good.

I wanted to make stuffing as well, and found a recipe by Miriam Rubin in the November issue of Prevention magazine. I made this one from scratch, being a little carefree with the measurements, and substituting almond slivers in place of chopped hazelnuts. I started last night on this one, with six slices of whole wheat bread in the oven. I let it sit overnight to get nice and brittle for when I needed it today. I followed the instructions precisely, but unfortunately, it was in the oven too long. It got burnt a bit, and the pan still needs to be cleaned, since there's a nice layer of burnt bread on it. It was tasty however. The apricot and cherries was a nice touch.

You couldn't have a Thanksgiving dinner without mash potatoes -- but who wants the traditional mash potatoes? I read a recipe somewhere, then lost it, so I made it up from memory. It called for a combination of sweet potatoes and butternut squash, along with some onions, garam masala and curry powder. It was a pain in the ... hand ... peeling and chopping the potatoes and squash. The use of the knife gave me instant callouses, and even tore the skin on my index finger. The entire concoction was cooked in a frying pan on the stove. It didn't take long for everything to go soft and become mush. Easy mash potatoes, and the tastiest part of the meal.

Lastly, was the gravy ... and it was gross. I followed instructions and liquid remains of the cooked chicken, adding flour and spices. Still, there was too much fat left in it. It was floating at the top of the gravy. Gross. Never doing that again!

I'm about to go down to the kitchen and get the pumpkin pie into the oven. We picked one up on Saturday in Vineland, after we had finished at the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival. Since I didn't make the pie, I expect it will be excellent!

19.20.21.

19.20.21. -- 19 cities in the world with 20 million people in the 21st century, is a cool project, collecting data to gain a better understanding of how supercities are redefining the future -- culturally and economically (and if I may add, also environmentally). The 19 supercities chosen for this study may be surprising. Only two are in America, and in total, nine reside in the developed nations of the world. The others are in developing countries. The cities: Los Angeles, New York City, London, Berlin, France, Tokyo, Osaka-Kobe, Seoul-Incheon, Moscow, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bueno Aires, Istanbul, Cairo, Tehran, Karachi, Beijing, Shenzhen, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, and Lagos.

The mission of 19.20.21. is a multi-year, multimedia initiative to collect, organize and better understand population's effect regarding urban and business planning and its impact on consumers around the world. This 5+ year initiative will deliver results via 5 channels: web (including mobile), television (broadcast and cable), print (magazine, books and atlases), exhibits and seminars (virtual and onsite). This project will include 10 worldwide partners.

Any company with a focus on globalization will find the patterns and explanations in 19.20.21. indispensable. Whether you are a head of state, a leader of a corporation, a media or communication company, a consumer, a parent, or an armchair tourist, 19.20.21. will be a crucial tool for charting and understanding your destiny in the new world order for decades to come.

In 1800, less than 3% of the world lived in cities. Most people lived their entire lives without ever seeing one.

In 1900, 150 million people lived in the world's cities. That number has now surged past 3 billion and last year crossed another tipping point: more than half the people on earth now live in cities. By 2050 -- it will be more than 2/3 of us. Humans are now an urban species, cramming into vast urban agglomerations.

The population, including the public and private sector, is currently not prepared for life in these intensely urban hubs, not have communication strategies been honed to handle the resulting clutter in the urban marketplace.

19.20.21. will study culture, economics, societal infrastructure, physical infrastructure -- forecasting the future for cities and the challenges and opportunities that lies ahead.

It sounds like a cool project, and even though Toronto isn't on the list, I'd love to be a part of this. Toronto's population isn't big enough -- although, with our diversity, I think we'd make a good case study.

South Park for Free

South Park fans, rejoice. MTV Networks now has every South Park episode available online, uncensored, and for free. This is how media should be available to the masses. And you know what? People will still fork out money for the DVDs.

Give Peace a Chance

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) symbol -- now universally known as the Peace symbol -- turns 50 this year. The symbol was designed for the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC), by designer Gerald Holtom in 1958, to be used in a 50-mile Easter march from Trafalgar Square, London, to atomic weapons factory at Aldermaston. The symbol combines the semaphoric signals for the letters "N" and "D" -- representing "Nuclear Disarmament." From its adoption by CND, the symbol spread to the US, then around the world -- with CND never trademarking the symbol -- leaving it free for the world to use.

50 years ago, the symbol was created to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Today the symbol is universally recognized, though its power to provoke has diminished with the loss of the baby boomers idealism. Nuclear weapons has proliferated, and the world is now threatened by rogue states with nuclear enrichment programs; a new found interest in the US to maintain its nuclear prowess; and terrorists looking to make dirty bombs. 50 years, and still, the peace symbol is still so relevant.

Stupid Women

The NYTimes chronicles a female circumcision event in Indonesia, where women take their daughters, usually before their 14th birthday, to have their genitals brutalize by older women who should really know better. It's a sickening, misogynic act, practiced to keep women in a station of life -- made much worse by women who offer up their daughters to this torture. The thumbnail image to this post is of a 9-month-old baby, who had her genitals mutilated. Backwards -- culturally and religiously. Some places of the world, people are still living in the dark ages.

Isuma TV

I've come across the garden variety video sites in my travels on the internet, and they are the usual fare. Only a few cater exclusively to original content from filmmakers that I would want to see. Today I came across a site that hosts films I definitely want to see. Isuma.tv is a Nunavut based video site for and by indigenous peoples from around the world, founded by the producers of Atanarjuat The Fast Runner and The Journals of Knud Rasmussen. It's a site with a noble goal -- to try and get indigenous stories, told by indigenous peoples, to a wider audience -- even if you don't understand the language of the films. The site also restores old videos and digitize them for the internet age, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

The site's content comes from filmmakers who wish to share their creation, free, to the world. In return for allowing Isuma.tv to hosts their films, the site links to sites where the films can be purchased. The site asks viewers of the films to donate to the site to ensure it can be maintained. If viewers find the content of value, the site believes their audience will pay. I hope for their sake that their business plan is sustainable, cause what Isuma.tv does is very special.

Giant White Glove

What happens when you take Michael Jackson, well, his white glove, and throw in some Java coding? You get a giant white glove. Don't ask why. But if you do, see the White Glove Tracking open source project.

GlobalAware

I've been aware of GlobalAware for sometime now and was reminded today that I wanted to give them a spot on the blog. GlobalAware is a Canadian collective pursuing the noble goal of environmental justice and social change. They provide media services to charities, non-profits and ethical businesses, as well as champion campaigns for change. Check them out. They do some great work, and you may have some skills they could use. Together, we can all make a difference.

BlingH2O

BlingH₂O -- just when it couldn't get worse, it does. BlingH₂O goes and takes what is (and should be) a fundamental human right, and perverts to hell. What the hell is BlingH₂O? It's water. Just bottled water -- although its makers would rather you think it otherwise, cause BlingH₂O comes in a corked, 750mL, frosted bottle, that has been handcrafted with Swarovski crystals. Bling!

According to the BlingH₂O website, we owe this little bit of depravity to Kevin G. Boyd, a most un-notable "Hollywood writer-producer", who noticed that "you could tell a lot about a person by the bottled water they carried." So he set out to create a market for water for the super-luxury consumer market -- ie. not for you worthless drivels, "just those that Bling." If you Bling, you must really be stupid, because water, is, well, water, and this BlingH₂O comes from Dandridge, Tennessee -- a place that certainly doesn't Bling -- but apparently knows stupid when it finds it.

If you're wondering how much pretension costs these days, it's about $40US per 750mL bottle. There you, Bling! -- the sound of gold coin rattling around the empty cranium of the rich.

Whales talk French at the bottom of the sea?

A college professor in Red Oak, Iowa, claims he's been fired for giving an academic treatment to Christianity in his western civilization course. In the course, Steve Bitterman, teaches that the Biblical story of creation should not be taken literally. At the end of a recent class, he remarked to a couple of students that the story of Adam and Eve was just a fairy tale. Oops. The students apparently threatened a lawsuit in response, and the whole matter go escalated to the college administration -- who, with the usual intestinal fortitude of administrations everywhere, recoiled from confrontation -- and fired Bitterman.

This of course, is Bitterman's claim only -- but the college has done little in their official response to counter his claim.

So, WTF Iowa? I'm well aware that America is reveling in its new new found religious fundamentalism -- but surely the people in charge know that the recent surge of the religious right is only a phase -- and should be limited to a very short one. Those in academia -- the educated -- better is expected of you. Giving in to the mindless morons of fundamentalism the way unchallenged is not the answer -- and leads to death of reason. We've seen the results of this. It's playing itself out in the Middle East right now.

Rejoice, The Hummer Is Dead

Mark Morford of the SF Gate has written a biting commentary on the impending (or not so) death of the Hummer -- comparing its representative excesses and false American machismo to that of the Bush Administration, and the "bloated, arrogant, offensive," and dead, Jerry Falwell. It's an absolute pleasure to read. Check it out.

Hermione's IMAX Enhancement

It's no secret that the media is obsessed with an idealized image of women -- and more and more, girls. The latest abuse comes courtesy of IMAX, for a digitally enhanced image promoting the latest Harry Potter flick. In a publicity poster featuring the main characters, the stars of the movie are posed in a dramatic shot. IMAX took the same image, which has been used to promote the film, and then altered it to make Hermione fit IMAX's idealized image of a young girl -- more blonde, slimmer waist, and an enlarged bust. The image has since been pulled from the IMAX site, but not before a whole lot of folks noticed. Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, is 17-years-old and portrays a 15-year-old Hermione in the movie. IMAX did more than just get this one wrong. Someone purposely made the decision to make Hermione more than Emma Watson was portraying her. Someone made the decision to make a 15-year-old Hermione's breast larger. That someone should be fired in my opinion. Was there really a need to sexualize Hermione to attract viewers to the movie?

The Murder of Du'a Khalil Aswad

If I had a magic wand, I would wave it for a lot of things -- one of them being fundamentalists. I would wipe the lot of them, regardless of the dogma they subscribe to, right off the planet. I wouldn't waste time on inflicting horrors before their existence is negated -- I would be in too much of a hurry to just get rid of them all.

What has caused my blood to boil is the news coming out of Iraq of the "honour killing" of 17-year-old Du'a Khalil Aswad, last month. Aswad was condemned to death by the men of her family, for being in love with a Sunni Muslim boy -- Aswad is a Yezidi. She was hiding out in the house of a Yezidi tribal leader in a small town outside of the Kurdish capital of Mosul, when 8-9 men stormed the house and dragged her out to the street. They then proceeded to stone her for half-hour, until she died. A large crowd looked on, including security authorities. The entire incident was filmed and the story only broke when the video made it onto the internet.

Her name is Du'a Khalil Aswad. She was a girl. Men and religion murdered her. Her story should never be forgotten.

Nothing

New in consumerism this season -- Nothing! For £3.49, you can purchase the perfect gift for someone who has everything -- Nothing!

What better present for the person who has everything than a poignant reminder that they want for nothing? This lovingly crafted vial of emptiness is filled to the brim with unfettered nothingness. Free from the burden of possessions, the weight of responsibility, Nothing is as idiotic as it is brilliant.

Yes, the world is now officially beyond crazy! Consumerism has taken us over the edge -- you can now buy nothing.

Ahmadinejad's Sin

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president best known his love of George W. Bush, has violated Sharia law -- and is being accused of "indecency and violating religious values" by conservatives in his country. His crime? Publicly kissing the gloved hand of an elderly woman that used to be his school teacher.

Take a moment to ponder and get over it.

So ... shouldn't we all have a problem with fundamentalist ideologies being forced down on anyone?

US National Prayer Day

May 3rd is the National Prayer Day in America. It's the 56th annual prayer day, and I've never heard of it. Yesterday, Bush released his proclamation for the National Prayer Day. Included in his proclamation, are the following words:

At this important time in our history, we also pray for the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families. We pray for their safety, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace we all seek.

"... for the peace we all seek." Peace doesn't come easy. It's hard work -- prayer however, is the most ineffective way to go about achieving peace. I'm reminded of this one simple sentence I read recently: "We are the ones we have been waiting for." We are the ones that can make a difference. Not god. Whichever god you believe in has given us the power over our own actions. Bush's actions started the war that currently feeds on American lives. He was the power to stop the war. Instead, he has continually opposed any suggestion that the war should have a timetable that sees it to a quick conclusion. His proclamation to the American people is nothing but the words of a hypocrite.

Let's turn now to the National Prayer Day itself. The organization describes its mission as:

... to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the five centers of power: Church, Education, Family, Government and Media.

And there you have it folks, a big "fuck you" to anyone who's belief does not subscribe to the Christian doctrine. Following in Christian tradition however, right below its mission statement, the National Prayer Day organization has for sale a framed poster titled, the Prayer at Valley Forge, for $163. The poster is an image of General George Washington, kneeling in the snow, praying. $163. Prayer doesn't come cheap apparently.

The whole thing just gnaws on me. It goes against the fundamental principles of which democracies are supposed to be built on -- the clear separation of church and state. Says the website,

The National Day of Prayer Task Force exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership.

Haven't these fundamental morons seen the clear danger of blindly following? Of leaving it all to faith? Of seeing their religion twisted and misused for political gain? Don't they see the danger of bleating passively while they allow the wolves to prowl their flock? My suggestion to Americans: wake up. You are the ones you have been waiting for. Instead of dropping to your knees -- praying to "preserve America's Christian heritage" -- get out there and do something to make a difference. I hear some atheists plan on giving a donation of blood that day. Not a bad start. Do some of that. Get involved. Make a difference.

Kurt Vonnegut, Dead

Kurt Vonnegut died from brain injuries as a result of a fall a couple of weeks ago. Read about the man on Wikipedia, then go borrow one of his books. (He's dead, he doesn't need you to buy his books anymore.) Vonnegut had great wit and had a keen eye for human nature. He left a legacy of excellent writing -- so really, his passing isn't really the end of him.

For those interested, check out this 8-part series from YouTube.

Pearls Before Breakfast

What would happen if ...

At 7:15AM, at a busy hub for workers heading off to cubicle hell ...
"One of the finest classical musicians in the world" -- say ... Joshua Bell ... dressed incognito ...
Pulled out a handcrafted violin, made by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, and worth over $3M ...
And started "playing some of the most elegant music ever written" ...

Would anyone stop to listen? Joshua Bell's performance at the L'Enfant Plaza, just outside the Metro in Washington, was arranged by the Washington Post. It was "an experiment in context, perception and priorities -- as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste: In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"

The acoustics proved surprisingly kind. Though the arcade is of utilitarian design, a buffer between the Metro escalator and the outdoors, it somehow caught the sound and bounced it back round and resonant. The violin is an instrument that is said to be much like the human voice, and in this musician's masterly hands, it sobbed and laughed and sang -- ecstatic, sorrowful, importuning, adoring, flirtatious, castigating, playful, romancing, merry, triumphal, sumptuous.

What happened?

In the three-quarters of an hour that Joshua Bell played, seven people stopped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for a minute. Twenty-seven gave money, most of them on the run -- for a total of $32 and change. That leaves the 1,070 people who hurried by, oblivious, many only three feet away, few even turning to look.

The Washington Post asks:

"If a great musician plays great music but no one hears ... was he really any good?"

What is beauty? Is it a measurable fact (Gottfried Leibniz), or merely an opinion (David Hume), or is it a little of each, colored by the immediate state of mind of the observer (Immanuel Kant)?

What did Bell have to say of the experience?

"At a music hall, I'll get upset if someone coughs or if someone's cellphone goes off. But here, my expectations quickly diminished. I started to appreciate any acknowledgment, even a slight glance up. I was oddly grateful when someone threw in a dollar instead of change.
When you play for ticket-holders, you are already validated. I have no sense that I need to be accepted. I'm already accepted. Here, there was this thought: What if they don't like me? What if they resent my presence . . ."

Humbling -- and a lesson for all us. How would you be perceived, if you were thrown in an environment where you weren't already validated? Would you shine? Would you be appreciated? Would anyone care? Would you be humbled? And if we're to learn something from Bell's humbling experience, it should be, that even when we're performing for those that already accept us, we should never forget to be humbled and appreciative of the audience -- for without them, we're like Bell, on Friday, January 12, in L'Enfant Plaza, being ignored.

Jewelled Rice & Roasted Eggplant Dip

I'm not one to cook from recipes. I have difficulty keeping up with too many instructions. I'd much rather just start in the kitchen and see where the dish takes me. Sometimes I totally screw things up -- but mostly, things sorta work out. Tonight however, I decided to try a recipe, and more or less, stick to it.

I had seen a couple of Persian recipes for dishes served during Naw Ruz celebrations in Chatelaine's April 2007 issue. The pictures looked enticing, and I wanted to taste the food. So, when the opportunity presented itself to cook dinner tonight, I went for the Jewelled Rice and Roasted Eggplant Dip (served with pitas) -- click the links for the recipes. The result was pretty good. I enjoyed both dishes -- and my wife must have, as she had seconds.

I did make some modifications to the recipes. For the Roasted Eggplant Dip, I had no tomato paste, so I ignored it. I completely forgot the garlic, so it wasn't included. And since I had no saffron, it was nixed as well. The Jewelled Rice saw some changes as well. I substituted long grain brown rice for basmati rice; I had no idea what barberries were, and didn't have cranberries; instead of chicken thighs, I used breasts; and since I had no saffron, I used tumeric in its place. The recipes both call for about an hour to get the whole meal ready. Yeah right. That's if you have a huge kitchen, and have helpers. From my experience, you'll need to have two hours if you want to eat this meal.