Voted Off the Island

Teenage Breakup

It was inevitable, right.

G broke up with H when he visited her in New York over Christmas.  He says it was mutual.  They spent 48 hours together, more or less continuously, and the spark wasn't there.  The sweet summer romance that felt so great in the parallel universe that is sleepaway camp, just didn't have the legs to carry them across the miles between New York and Atlanta. Not even Facebook or cell phones could keep it alive more than 6 months.

He's handling it OK.  His big brother says he's gonna be fine. I'm keeping my disappointment to myself.  Frankly, a girlfriend who lives a plane ride away is, to a mother, the perfect girlfriend when your son is 15.  Nobody can really get into much trouble, you don't have to wait up nights for your kid to come home.  For G, it was a win/win too -- he got to show his cute girlfriend's picture (she was an adorable guitar playing redhead, right out of the 60's), get some macho cred, and let everyone at school know you're "taken." 

Apparently the way you tell the world you've broken up is you change your Facebook status.  Then all your friends check in to confirm. Now he's a little worried about finding someone in Atlanta.  "I'm different, Mom,"  he said to me plaintively last night.

Believe me, I can relate!

G says he's not sorry he spent $40 on earrings for H and he promises to send a thank you note to her lovely parents who hosted and supervised them plus a bunch of other camp kids. 

That's my boy. :-)

Favorite Movies of the Year

In no particular order, the 10 movies I enjoyed most in 2007:

Juno
Michael Clayton
Once
Sicko
Talk to Me
Enchanted
Waitress
I'm Not There
Blades of Glory
The Lives of Others

What have I missed?  What should I be adding to my Netflix queue?

Yoga Everyday = WoYoPracMo

Call me cocky, call me an overachiever, but having successfully completed NaBloPoMo in November (National Blog Posting Month...where you blog daily for a month), I'm getting psyched to do WoYoPracMo, World Yoga Practice Month in January.  The deal is you practice yoga, just 10 minutes...or more...every day.

It's the project of YogaMum, and a commitment to join with a community of dedicated yoga folks who are going to support each other and hold each other accountable. Details on her wonderful blog, Yoga Gumbo.

I didn't think I had the gab in me for NaBloPoMo, but in truth, it got me into the healthy habit of daily blogging, helped me find my voice and my footing in the blogosphere, and basically got me serious about doing Voted Off the Island.  Question is, can I get into the even healthier daily habit of practicing yoga daily?  Or will this be another well-intentioned start of the year resolution that goes nowhere?

Words, of course, are like carbohydrates to me, so blogging every day hasn't been difficult.  I'm not only addicted to words, I tend to choose them over physical activity.  I do love yoga, however, and have been going at it pretty seriously for more than a decade.  I have a terrific space set up at home for my personal practice, a good yoga friend, Margo Geller to practice with.  There's also Sattva Yoga and Healing nearby for classes.  My teacher Beverley Segal, has also commited to evangelize for WoYoPracMo.

Om shanti, and wish me luck. More than 100 people have already joined. You can sign up too!

Benazir Bhutto - In Her Own Words

                                                                    

RAWALPINDI, Islamabad — December 28, 2007.  An attack on a political rally killed the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday. Witnesses said Ms. Bhutto was fired upon at close range before the blast, and an official from her party said Ms. Bhutto was further injured by the explosion, which was apparently caused by a suicide attacker. Ms. Bhutto was declared dead by doctors at a hospital in Rawalpindi at 6:16 p.m. after the doctors had tried to resuscitate her for thirty-five minutes. She had shrapnel injuries, the doctors said. At least a dozen more people were killed in the attack.

When I Return to Pakistan
By Benazir Bhutto

Thursday, September 20, 2007

I am returning to Pakistan on Oct. 18 to bring change to my country. Pakistan's future viability, stability and security lie in empowering its people and building political institutions. My goal is to prove that the fundamental battle for the hearts and minds of a generation can be accomplished only under democracy.

The central issue facing Pakistan is moderation vs. extremism. The resolution of this issue will affect the world, particularly South and Central Asia and all Muslim nations. Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.

Throughout Pakistan's 60-year history, weaving between dictatorship and democracy, from free elections to rigged elections to no elections, religious fundamentalists have never been a significant part of our political consciousness. We are inherently a centrist, moderate nation. Historically, the religious parties have not received more than 11 percent of the vote in national elections. The largest political party is mine, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Pakistan's political landscape has been molded primarily by the moderate PPP, which has demonstrated strong and continuous support from the rural masses and the urban elite.

Extremism looms as a threat, but it will be contained as it has been in the past if the moderate middle can be mobilized to stand up to fanaticism. I return to lead that battle.

I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction -- a hostage to my political career. I made my choice when the mantle of political leadership was thrust upon my shoulders after my father's murder. I did not shrink from responsibility then, and I will not shrink from it now.

I am aware that some in Pakistan have questioned the dialogue I have engaged in with Gen. Pervez Musharraf over the past several months. I held those discussions hoping that Musharraf would resign from the army and restore democracy.

My goal in that dialogue has never been personal but was always to ensure that there be fair and free elections in Pakistan, to save democracy. The fight against extremism requires a national effort that can flow only from legitimate elections. Within our intelligence and military are elements who sympathize with religious extremists. If these elements are not answerable to Parliament and the elected government, the battle against religious militancy, a battle for the survival and future of Pakistan, could be lost. The military must be part of the battle against extremism, but as the six years since Sept. 11, 2001, have shown, the military cannot do it on its own.

Many issues remain unresolved in our political structure. Musharraf is precluded from seeking reelection in or out of uniform. Pakistani law requires a two-year wait before a member of the military can run for the presidency. The general can respond to the people's desire for legitimate presidential, parliamentary and ministerial elections, or he can tamper with the constitution. The latter choice would risk a fresh confrontation with the judiciary, the legal community and the political parties. Such a confrontation could lead to another declaration of martial law, civil unrest, or both.

Civil unrest is what the extremists want. Anarchy and chaos suit them.

The political element in Musharraf's party that presided over the rise of extremism has worked with every Pakistani administration since my government was destabilized in 1996. Its members are blocking the democratic change I have tried to achieve with Musharraf. They fear that democracy will be difficult to manipulate to the benefit of extremists and militants.

My dialogue with Musharraf aims to move the country forward from a dictatorship that has failed to stop the tribal areas from becoming havens for terrorists. The extremists are even spreading their tentacles into Pakistan's cities.

Last week brought a fresh challenge. Just days ago, Pakistan's election commission arbitrarily amended the constitutional provision regarding the eligibility of a person competent to contest for the office of president. As the constitution can be amended only through a two-thirds majority in Parliament, a judicial hornet's nest has been stirred.

My party and I seek fair, free and impartial elections to be held by an independent election commission under an interim government of national consensus. We want a level playing field for all candidates and parties.

In words commonly attributed to Joseph Stalin, "Those who cast the vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything." That's why we have stressed electoral reforms -- although our efforts have so far been in vain.

President Bush has rightly noted, "The most powerful weapon in the struggle against extremism is not bullets or bombs -- it is the universal appeal of freedom. Freedom is the design of our maker, and the longing of every soul."

When my flight lands in Pakistan next month, I know I will be greeted with joy by the people. I do not know what awaits me, personally or politically, once I leave the airport. I pray for the best and prepare for the worst. But in any case, I am going home to fight for the restoration of Pakistan's place in the community of democratic nations.

Read Christopher Hitchens tribute to Bhutto

 

Why I Love Kwanzaa

No, that's not a menorah, it's a Kwanzaa Kinara, or candleholder.

I love Kwanzaa.  Really.  It's so Jewish!  You'd think a Reconstructionist rabbi made it up. (Reconstructionist Judaism invented the bat mitzvah -- bar mitzvah for girls --  and tends to be rather free-wheeling in its interpretation and translation of Jewish ritual and Jewish liturgy.)  But no, Kwanzaa was conjured up in 1966 by Dr. Maulana (Ron) Karenga, former chair of the black studies department at California State University, Long Beach, to "reaffirm and restore our rootedness in African culture." 

Kwanzaa means "first fruits."  Funny, but first fruits is what Jews celebrate in the Spring at Shavuot (sha-voo-OAT).  In fact, in Reform Judaism we confirm of our 10th or 11th graders in the faith at Shavuot calling them First Fruits.

Get over that Kwanzaa is a made-up holiday.

 
True, Ron Karenga (left) was a pretty intense guy back in the 60's and his conception of the holiday was, frankly, Marxist and Black Nationalist.  But some 35 years later, Kwanzaa has evolved into a much more benign cultural celebration. Today it is a festival straight out of Bill Cosby's Huxtable family.  Embrace the anti-consumerism -- no gifts are given at Kwanzaa.  Instead there is feasting, sharing meals, and a broad community focus. 

Actually, In 1997, Karenga changed his position, stating that while Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday, it can be celebrated by people of any race: "other people can and do celebrate it, just like other people participate in Cinco de Mayo besides Mexicans; Chinese New Year besides Chinese; Native American pow wows besides Native Americans."

Just imagine how wonderful the world would be if all people fulfilled Kwanzaa's 7 core values over the 7 days of the holiday. 

• Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."
• Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) Self-Determination requires that we define our common interests and make decisions that are in the best interest of our family and community.
• Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility reminds us of our obligation to the past, present and future, and that we have a role to play in the community, society, and world.
• Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.
• Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose encourages us to look within ourselves and to set personal goals that are beneficial to the community.
• Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity makes use of our creative energies to build and maintain a strong and vibrant community.
• Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith focuses on honoring the best of our traditions, draws upon the best in ourselves, and helps us strive for a higher level of life for humankind, by affirming our self-worth and confidence in our ability to succeed and triumph in righteous struggle.

The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is "Habari Gani", Swahili words for "What's the News?" 

 

Happy Yoshka Day!

Happy birthday "Yoshka" ... that's what JC''s Jewish grandma would call him.

Sleep late.  Go to the movies.  Eat Chinese food.  Watch tv.  Be grateful. 

Why Does a Salad Cost More than a Big Mac?

The chart below is something to think about as we stuff ourselves silly this week.  Understand too that the subsidized meat we're eating is "walking corn."  That is, animal flesh meant to forage on grass and grain,  but fed on subsidized corn instead. 

Corn-fed beef is not what nature intended.  Corn is why beef cattle are injected with steroids and antibiotics...to keep them from bloating and dying when they move from the breeding ranch to the feedlot and are transitioned to a diet of 100% corn. A cow is a ruminant, whose stomach was meant to break down grass, not corn.  Chickens too, are fed a virtually 100% corn-based diet, supplemented with antibiotics (plus a sprinkling of marigold flowers -- true, by the way --  to keep their skins nice and yellow for the supermarket.)

Read Michael Pollen's illuminating book, The Omnivore's Dilemma for a brilliant analysis of how our food industry works. And for inspirational ideas on how we can change the way we raise our food, feed ourselves, and live healthier lives.

Mr. G Does New York

G, who is 15, flew to LaGuardia all by himself and is spending Christmas in New York.

Wearing a proper jacket, with a hood . . .of course.

He'll be seeing his camp friends, his old Long Island buddy Phillip, and staying with his girlfriend, the delightful redheaded H. who lives in Westchester.

He'll be taking the subway all by himself!  Don't be shocked. They are very safe.

 

The number seven goes from Penn Station up Broadway to the upper west side where Mike and some of the other camp friends live.  G knows how to buy a metro card and get where he needs to go.

Hopefully his Aunt Emily will help him select an appropriate piece of jewelry as a gift for Ms. H. at one of the Holiday markets that spring up in the city at Christmas.

This one is at Bryant Park, behind the NY Public Library.  This is also where the
runway shows happen during Fashion Week.

G will get to see the tree and the skaters at Rockefeller Center.
Sigh. I used to skate there.

He will eat vast quantities of amazing New York coal fired,
brick oven pizza at Salvatores in Port Washington.


He will stay up late playing hours of XBox 360 games.

His grandma Izzie and grandpa Mel will supplement his diet and his wallet.

And finally, in a haze of sleeplessness he will fly home to Atlanta, exhausted and happy. Life is good when you are 15.

The Search For Turducken

S is home from college, briefly.  Like me, he has taken the Atlanta thing to heart.  After introducing our northern family to cheese grits and collard greens at Thanksgiving two years ago -- and getting raves -- we're venturing deeper and deeper into Dixie.  Now S wants to have a Turducken, a partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck, and then a deboned chicken, for Christmas dinner.

Mind you, we're Jewish, and yes, we're doing the see-a-movie-and-go-out-for- Chinese-food thing on Christmas Eve, but in the spirit of Cajun Christmas, we're off in search of Turducken.

Mail order seems to be the way to go.  Cajun Stuff sells them for $63.95 frozen. The Cajun Grocer sells Turduckens by mail order, $78 stuffed and delivered. You can even get one stuffed with crawfish, but that would be a kosher no-no.  There's nothing manifestly un-kosher about Turducken, by the way.  You'd be within the boundaries of kashrut if you had a kosher turkey/duck/chicken deboned and stuffed one inside the other.  Here's a site on how to do it.

However, with just the two of us home, and the prospect of only one or two guests for Christmas, I think we'll shelve the Turducken idea and save it for oh, maybe Rosh Hashanah!

Here, from Wikipedia, is more than you'll ever need to know about Turducken:

Turducken is believed to be Cajun in origin, although it may also have originated in eastern Texas or northern Louisiana. To date, no one from Texas nor North Louisiana has provided proof of this claim, though one business owner has publicly marketed and sold turducken since 1985. While such elaborate layering of whole animals, also known as a farce, from the French word for "stuffing", can be documented well back into the Middle Ages of Europe, and are even attested to in the Roman Empire (e.g. the tetrafarmacum). Some people credit Cajun-creole fusion chef Paul Prudhomme with creating the commercial dish. However, no one has ever verified this claim. In the middle of the last century, New Orleans surgeon and urologist Gerald LaNasa was known for his use of a scalpel in de-boning his three birds of choice also known as turduckhen. His efforts in preserving a Louisiana culinary tradition were noticed by emerging local chefs in New Orleans.

The November 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine in an article by Calvin Trillin traced the American origins of the dish to Maurice, Louisiana, and "Hebert's Specialty Meats", which has been commercially producing turduckens since 1985, when a local farmer whose name is unknown, brought in his own birds and asked Hebert's to prepare them in the now-familiar style. The company prepares around 5,000 turduckens per week around Thanksgiving time.^[1] They share a friendly rivalry with Paul Prudhomme.

Turducken is often associated with the "do-it-yourself" outdoor food culture also associated with barbecueing and shrimp boils, although some people now serve it in place of the traditional roasted turkey at the Thanksgiving meal. Turduckens can be prepared at home by anybody willing to learn how to remove the bones from poultry, instructions for which can be found on the Internet or in various cookbooks. As their popularity has spread from Louisiana to the rest of the Deep South and beyond, they are also available through some specialty stores in urban areas, or even by mail order.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

New Dylan Movie

Imagine if Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman and Jean Luc Goddard came back from the dead and collaborated on a serious bio pic about Bob Dylan. That's sort of what you have with I'm Not There, the inventive, maddening and muddy film evocation of the many sides of Dylan.  On the one hand, non-linear and experimental films like this don't get much commercial release, so it's simply remarkable to sit in a movie house and see something as  strange as Cate Blanchett brilliantly and androgenously playing the young Bob Dylan, and equally startling to see an 11 year old black actor, Marcus Carl Franklin, confidently evoking the Woody Guthrie "aspect" of Dylan's persona.  It's a crazy ride...and a long one, a bit over 2 hours of relentlessly arty Dylaniana.

My biggest problem with the film isn't its boldness or experimentation.  It's the extreme "insider-ness."  If you're not a devoted Dylanologist who knows every line of every song, every nuance of his life, you're gonna be lost and maybe a little bit pissed. Still, the narrative arc of the film follows the Dylan story pretty faithfully, from the early days of his rise, his radical break with his earnest folkie audience, his overdose of rock celebrity, his motorcycle accident, Christian conversion, divorce and his subsequent retreat to Woodstock.  The Billy the Kid section, with Richard Gere as Dylan's alter ego just didn't work for me at all, but has some great Fellini-esque film moments.  I'm Not There is as arcane as Dylan himself.