Food Adventures in France: Hypocras

Since my early years I have read of the Knights of old drinking Mead and Hypocras, and I never thought much about either. Then, one day in a small market in Cordes-sur-Ciel, there was a bottle of Hypocras. The real stuff. Wonderful spicy wine served cold, with a hint of honey. The family finished off several bottles before leaving for home.
When I got home I checked with two very knowledgeable wine guys to see if they had any Hypocras. Blank looks from both. Neither had heard of it. Looked it up: Not listed in supplier’s inventory.
But, Mr. Google (sorry Barbie) found a couple of easy recipes. Both are variants of the same theme: wine (merlot, rose` or white), spices such as pepper, cinnamon, ginger, honey, cloves and others. No cooking, just steeping. I am getting the ingredients together today for a 4 bottle batch. Stay tuned.
Image: www.lecarreaumedieval.hautetfort.com

They Sang as They Burned

I finished a novel about the Templars (1) the other day. In case you decide to read it, which by the way I recommend, I won’t unravel the plot too much. The Templars were a military order associated with the crusades and the protection of pilgrams. Much has been written about their legendary secrets, hidden treasures and religious artifacts.
One story indicates that the Templars had the bones of Jesus and the Gospel of Simon Peter which told of the death of Jesus as a man, not resurrected. The reality, according to the story, was later changed in the four adopted Gospels to make Jesus into a God. Without the resurrection, the entire mythos of Christianity would founder. So goes the story.
I began to think about this premise, and came to the same conclusion. Everything in Christianity is really dependant on Jesus being resurrected in physical body. But what if that didn’t happen? What if He died? And the rest was made up by subsequent followers to solidify their hold on the beginnings of a new religion? What if?
I guess it doesn’t’ t really make a difference. A belief in something by my definition is accepting as true without supporting facts. So actually true or not, the belief in a resurrected God is sufficient for all who profess the Christian faith. Others will demand factual demonstration and theory before any such “belief” is accepted as real. And, since the resurrection-or-not occurred more than 2000 years ago, neither the believers nor the fact demanders will ever be definitively judged correct.
Which leads to the Gospels (I know the definition of Gospel, so give me a break) According to Search. Simply this: the idea called Jesus emanates from within all of us, is a part of all of us, and can be found and used by simply looking for it. Some call it conscience, some moral compass, some claim to just know what is right while others seek guidance from without for direction. Whatever it is called, it provides a way to moderate the interactions with other humans and between humans and the rest of the world. It is an evolved characteristic of humans. The tendency of most humans to seek and create a supernatural being to oversee their lives is most likely a genetic trait. Not all of us have such a trait. Without the trait, belief in supernatural beings makes no sense. With the trait, anyone that doesn’t believe makes no sense. Chalk and Cheese.
What we have to do is put aside the diffenences and work together to keep the world alive and not slip into degradation and chaos. Believing won’t cure the problems, and knowing without action won’t either. Only identifying the problems of the world and acting, not praying, will help. Don’t forget the 1942 Loesser song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”. Or the phrase “the Lord helps those who help themselves”. These and others embody the solution to the seeming gulf: Engender both the religious and the secular perspective for success. Time to bury the hatchet and get going on solutions.

The Templars, by the way, were exterminated by "The Church", much like the Cathars. In 2 weeks I will stand on the ground where 200 Cathars were burned alive by "The Church". They walked into the fire willingly, and according to some reports, sang and smiled as they burned. Now THAT is believing. The Templars went down fighting for their order.

1. http://www.steveberry.org/berry-templar-about.htm
2. http://www.cathar.info/
Image: www.istop4books.wordpress.com

On the Train Wreck Ahead.

A new study (1) just published adds more information to the growing body of SCIENCE that predicts rapid and disastrous climate change in the near future. The aspect of this study that is alarming is the reevaluation of data and the conclusion that global temperatures might rise as high as 6 degrees C in the next century. That is a number that is really scary. The reason? Simple. The amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere. Even the most modest models of atmospheric CO2 show a continuing increase for the next 50 -75 years, and this modest amount is enough trigger climate disaster.
This has happened before. But not this fast. That is the wildcard in the mix this time around. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the world has been pouring fossil CO2 into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates. Fossil CO2 is a carbon source that has been trapped in the earth for millions of years. It would probably slowly leach out, slowly increasing the atmospheric levels. But we are releasing it by the megaton by burning coal, oil and natural gas. Never since the origin of the earth has this much carbon been put into the atmosphere so quickly. The results are 100% predictable. Atmospheric temperature increase.
Let the tea party have their way and deregulate industry so they can add more carbon to the air. It won’t matter. Let the Third World keep adding to the carbon load in the atmosphere. It won’t matter. We have already, as so elegantly stated in “The Phantom of the Opera”, passed the point of no return.
Image: www. freshtronic.com
(1) http://www.ajsonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/311/1/1
Video of real train wreck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhQhKWOZmk

On Rabbits and Life

Yesterday I saw a cute bunny hop in front of my home office window. Big eyes, fluffy small tail, wiggly nose. Then the bastard jumped into a raised bed and started nibbling a squash. It instantly changed from cute to bastard. Why, I asked myself?
Why indeed. I planted the garden, which is essentially a food plot for my family. And for anything else that can get into it. Birds peck at caterpillars and sometimes fruit. Insects steal a meal when they can. Probably rats and mice forage at night, and maybe snakes hunt for them as well. So why be surprised when wildlife is attracted, and why not share?
No, the problem was with me. And that quick change of attitude needs looking at and working on. I have met people at various times in life who turned on a dime: one minute friendly, the next raging about something. I just never thought of myself like that. And usually I am not. Just to make this clear, I didn’t get a gun and shoot the bun, or get an attack of apoplexy. It was even a bit of a joke. But still - - -.
When hunters and biologists come back from the field, they check themselves for ticks. Well, this is a check too. Check yourself for irrational swings, and if you find them, try to figure out what the “hot button” is and defuse it. You and everybody around you will be much happier.
Image: http://www.free-extras.com/images/wild_rabbit-8713.htm

Killing Blue Jays

A local weekly newspaper ran a short piece by a contributor who was having trouble with Blue Jays at her bird feeders. Her solution was to buy a powerful bb gun and shoot them. This revelation caused a small firestorm of response from readers, biologists and even the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources. It is, after all, a state and federal crime to kill any migratory bird. Blue Jays fall into this category.
Blue Jays are aggressive, noisy, pretty, funny and part of the natural world of birds. When I sit on my porch and watch birds, I watch them all. Even the bronze headed Cow bird. They are all part of the natural mix found in the woods and fields of this area. If you put up feeders they will come. It makes no sense to attract birds with a feeder, and then try to screen the clients. Consider the Jays as the clowns of the bird circus and enjoy them. Besides, they are usually the first to spot snakes, and have a very particular “I see a snake” call. I have never failed to find a snake when the Jays are telling me about it. The other birds are appreciative as well.
As for the snakes, well, they belong there too. It is axiomatic that if you increase the density of food, the predators will show up. So bird feeders are natural places for snakes. I don’t kill them either. Simply pick them up and move them away. Sure, they get a few birds, but after all, it is a “bird feeder” isn’t it?
Image: www. allaboutbirds.org
Youtube video of baby jay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdgKhHYEu_0

Right to Life Ends at Birth?

Too bad the Republicans concern for right to life begins at conception and ends at birth. Think about it. The current Republican House has passed legislation to reduce food available to children through subsidy programs like WIC and school meals. They opposed health care coverage that would make children healthier. They support the death penalty for a variety of crimes, and they oppose family planning and women’s health assistance. Now what has family planning got to do with right to life? Well, if women cannot get access to birth control advice and contraception, they will get pregnant at a higher rate. No abortions (right to life) so more (unwanted) babies with not enough help to keep them healthy. And the connection to child health and pre-pregnancy health is obvious: poor prenatal care is causally connected with less vigorous babies, and a VD infected mom delivers a VD infected baby.
Oh, and where are all the JOBS JOBS JOBS bills? With so much damn time taken up trying to regulate a woman’s reproductive system, they just didn’t have enough time. What bozos.
Image: www. totaldiatribe.com

Death by Coat Hanger

When I was growing up, I heard about “those girls” that “got in trouble”. At first I didn’t know who they were or what the trouble was, but the treatment was called “back alley” and involved a coat hanger.
When I hit the teenage years I came to understand that “those girls” were the girls I knew and lusted after, but it was none of my business if they “got in trouble”. Then one day one of them died. Death by coat hanger. Not strangled with one. Not beaten to death by one.
Penetrated by one. Punctured by one. Infected by one. Killed as surely as if a bullet had been fired into her young uterus. And no, I wasn’t the cause of the pregnancy, and yes, I finally figured out that it was my business if they “got in trouble”. So I supported Roe v Wade and the feminist movement. And Planned Parenthood, because it seemed to me that the best way for girls not to “get in trouble” was to not get in trouble in the first place. Get it? Birth control. But if that failed, at least there would be a safe alternative to the coat hanger.
Now, conservative bible thumpers are driving us back to the days of the coat hanger. Kansas will probably become the first state to have no legal abortion services for the bad girls that “get in trouble”. What will they do then? Go out of state if possible, and if not, find a back alley and a coat hanger and go at it.
If I believed that prayer would help I would pray for the girls of all the adults that support this madness. I don’t, though, and predict that sooner or later their little girls will “get in trouble” and God help them then.
Image: www. http://www.politicsplus.org/blog/?p=4757

Abortion: Back to the Discussion

Back to the “hot button” issue that Ashley and others so passionately responded to. I talked to a friend who I can depend on to tell me what she thinks. She didn’t join the fray earlier because, paraphrasing her, she gets so angry over this issue she didn’t want to just rant. Fair enough. But her (any misinterpretation is mine if such is the case) anger is directed at people who think that “Just tell them not to have sex and abortion won’t be an issue”. Going back to the early 90’s she cites statistics that indicate in the range (conservatively) of 60% of teens that get pregnant have been sexually abused in some fashion, usually by a close family member. This takes the issue of “choice” and erases it.
A young girl has no choice when an older man forces or coerces her, or seduces her in some way not violent. No child has a choice when presented with a powerful (and are not they all to a child) adult. Forced sex alone can lead to pregnancy, and it can also lead to an otherwise cautious girl becoming a less-than-cautious teen.
I know. That leaves 40% “doing it” without obvious coercion. Operative word here is “obvious”. Media, peer pressure, male pressure, lack of self-esteem; the list goes on and on.
My point in bringing this back for a second round is this: merely supporting “choice” isn’t enough. Yes, positively yes. I believe to my core that a woman has the right to choose what happens to her body. But when that choice is co-opted, then without doubt every woman should have the right to choose what to do next.
So folks, here it is: you all have valuable and personal opinions on the subject of abortion and birth control. Fine. Keep your practice of these things to yourself, and let others do the same. Support a woman’s right to choose for herself as you want that right for yourself.
It is only right. It is OK to discuss. It is not OK to impose.
(Sorry to my friend if I have screwed this up.)
Image: www. blackwomanthinks.blogspot.com

Victory in New York, or, We Must All Hang Together.

Victory in New York just in time for the Gay Pride parade. Some homophobe this morning described this as a short-lived win. "Picking the low hanging fruit", and " Wait until New Yorkers get their constitution changed" and crap like that.
Quoting Ben Franklin:
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
(At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.)
I love that New York passed this legislation. And it has no residency or waiting period. But the homophobes of the country will keep working hard and picking off the states one by one. Like the abortion clinics in Kansas. What is needed is a Federal law that settles the issue. Not the DOMA abortion. Not the DADT monstrosity. A simple law that defines marriage as a union of two people in love. What the hell is so hard about that? Love isn't a "God-given" condition. (Difficult anyway with out a god). Love just is. No bounds and no limits.
What I fear here is the real possibility that "- - - assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Image: www.famousquotesabout.com

Patriot = White Supremist?

This guy really looks Supreme, doesn't he? Bet he could lead the country in the right direction.

Patriot as defined in the OED:
a. A person who loves his or her country, esp. one who is ready to support its freedoms and rights and to defend it against enemies or detractors.
b. derogatory or ironic. A person who claims to be disinterestedly or self-sacrificingly devoted to his or her country, but whose actions or intentions are considered to be detrimental or hypocritical; a false or feigned patriot.

I get so tired of hate groups calling themselves “patriots”. A small college I know sold shares in a time capsule as a fund raiser and called everyone that coughed up a hundred bucks a “patriot and citizen”. So the price of partriotism is a hundred bucks. What a crock. Check out the article on Kalispell, Mt. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gg8rdUcUb2BBadNHJUJ3GgepCmVg?docId=84e43afb2c0945e89b196894c7b6270c) to see what I mean. What Crap.

Image: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/12/tattooed_white_supremacist_sus.php