06.29.10
Posted in Health-related--Natural Alternative Treatments, Hmmm Moments at 12:16 am by Administrator
Following along with the news on the Gulf oil spill is depressing. There’s all kinds of info and rumors running around from the relief wells being almost finished to the leak is not stoppable due to the high pressures of the leak. There’s all kinds of predictions out there, particularly dooms day predictions and even conspiracy theories. Certainly I hope they’re not right, but regardless, seeing all the oil out in the ocean and washed up on the beaches and marshes is so upsetting. Particularly heartbreaking is seeing all those birds and sea animals dying and being covered in oil and all those people who have lost their livelihoods.
When the news first hit that the rig exploded and that it was doing exploratory drilling at unprecedented depths, it crossed my mind that this leak might be the US’s Chernobyl. From my reading of The Day We Lost the H-bomb, I knew that working in deep water was no cake walk. The H-bomb that had to be recovered was at a depth of about 2,800 ft, and the military had a heck of a time recovering that one bomb. That’s why at first I could understand why Obama was leaving it to the oil company to deal with since the oil companies are likely the ones to have the best technology for oil well drilling, not the military. Yes, I know that the H-bomb recovery was back in 1969, but I just had my suspicions that our technology for this type of thing hadn’t come up that much since then. Seeing that this leak is still gushing uncontrollably, my suspicions seems to have had some merit. But now it seems that it’s not only the depth of the well that’s that problem (5,000 ft below the surface, practically twice the depth they had troubling recovering the h-bomb), but that the well was drilled so far (almost a mile down), that they hit a strata with oil that has a psi so strong that we don’t currently have the technology to stop it. And that’s why we were starting to hear about using nukes like the Russians have done to stop up several of their land wells. Supposedly it worked 4 out of 5 times, but supposedly with the geology structure of the gulf, nuking it might prove disasterous if it doesn’t work. Namely, the leak would become bigger and therefore really unstoppable. Not to mention, adding radioactivity to it would likely not help matters, either. But that’s another story, and really what I wanted to blog about was something I just happened to come across while reading and watching stuff on the current gulf oil leak.
Apparently, various gases are not the only toxic substance that comes from oil drilling. According to this video, they can also bring up radioactive material. Oye, I had not known this. Here’s a video that shows an area in Kentucky that was abandoned due to radioactivity. Evidently, the process of a common technique used for oil recovery is water flooding. The result is radioactive residues. Here’s the video I stumbled upon on Radioactive Oil Fields.
Ah, the joys of industrialization. . .
Marlakins
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06.25.10
Posted in quotes at 12:04 am by Administrator
“It is part of American folklore that while other nations have interests, we have responsibilities; while other nations are concerned with equilibrium we are concerned with the legal requirement of peace.”
~Henry Kissinger
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06.24.10
Posted in Hmmm Moments, Uncategorized at 11:28 am by Administrator
I’m not in favor of the wars that we (the U.S.) are currently involved in. However, I do still try to keep up a little with the current events, and anyone watching or reading any news at all would be hard pressed to miss the recent fallout with General McChrystal. Oye. The first thing I thought was, “What in the world are these guys thinking?” I can’t say that I am siding on one side over the other, it’s just that the recent clash of our leaders (McChrystal vs several White House Admin people) reminds me of some of the things I’ve been reading and how, in general, there’s a lot of in-house competition and bickering. I used to think from my working days that it’s hard to work with some women because some of us tend to be pretty moody or overly sensitive and such. I “used” to think men were more level-headed and easier to work with because they didn’t get into personal grudges. However I have since found that my belief was false, and from my readings of history dealing with the military to various scientists or to our presidents, and so on, I’m seeing that men are every bit as competitive as women, and even moody and emotionally manipulated as well.
As an example of what I mean about men clashing and being competitive (to a fault, in my opinion), comes from some of the books I’ve read like Atomic America. Todd Tucker writes about the rivalry between the Air Force and the Navy (to the point the Air Force tried to render the Navy obsolete), as well as the personality clashes and discontent among the men within the Navy such as what transpired between Admiral Rickover and his peers and subordinates. Barbara Moran wrote in her book, The Day We Lost the H-Bomb, that there was conflict between the military leaders and the civilian scientists brought aboard to help locate the broken arrows. Apparently, there was competition, and what I found interesting was that (according to Moran) the military brass tended to look down upon those who have not served in the military. Now the reason that struck me as odd, and perhaps a bit hypocritical, is that we are constantly being indoctrinated to think that our military is there to protect us civilians. You know, “They fight for our freedom” and all. So why would military look down upon us civilians just because we haven’t served in the military? I mean their whole purpose for being is to protect us, yet they look down on us? Odd, I thought, but I guess that comes with pride. I was reminded of this when I read about McChrystal’s comment that, “McChrystal thought Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass. It does give me the feeling that he thinks in a “them vs us” sort of way (that is, non-military vs military).
I used to have a different outlook of our military when I read books about war veterans such as those who survived the Bataan Death March in WWII or watched movies like Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers. I felt I got a glimpse of why some military men are so close to one another and keep in touch after so many years. They experience somethings together that are so strong that they can’t help but bind their lives together to some degree (after all, fighting for your life is pretty intense). They develop a brotherhood that I thought was really neat. But then there were other books that brought the other, not so pleasant side, to the surface. Those books such as Dark Sun, the Making of the Hydrogen Bomb revealed animosity, mistrust, jealousies, etc. amongst various leaders, politicians, military personnel, etc. All these men who I thought were “level” or at least more level than women turned out to be only human after all– susceptible to jealousies and other frailties of emotions. . . and the unsettling thing about it is that these are the men who lead our country and make crucial decisions for all of us spending trillions of our tax dollars and deciding the fate of untold numbers of foreigners. I think about all the “secret” programs that the military has carried out and likely still carries out. Given that so much power is afforded to a relatively few men, those few are essentially allowed to make decisions that are, at times, affected by jealousies, insecurities, mistrust, the need to dominate, etc. An example are the decisions made during WWII to make nuclear weapons and even use the atom bombs on Japan, while at the same time keeping secrets from our then ally, Russia. Those actions, which I think in part was a result of insecurities, the need to be superior, and mistrust, resulted in the cold war and the nuclear arms race that we are still struggling to control to this day. Certainly, I’m not implying this only applies to Americans, but to “all” leaders of the world. Prime examples are Stalin, Hitler, Mao, etc. The fate of millions were in their hands, and many died because of the fears, mistrust, need for control, and insecurities of these few men.
Now I realize the argument that there’s a lot more behind political and military decisions than just human emotions. Or is there? What else is there when it comes down to motivation? I mean if we were to say that many of our wars have the underlying goal of attaining wealth (oil, minerals, drugs, etc) and prestige, then in essence that goal was chosen because of human emotions such as greed and/or the need for power. If we say that we went to war to save the inhabitants from their dictatorial leaders, then again, the motivation would have come from compassion or concern for fellow mankind, which again is a result of human emotion. If we say we fight in wars to protect our citizens, again, it would be based on the human emotion of the need to protect the family or loved ones.
It seems to me that much of our politics runs on emotions. People strive for political and military positions based on their emotions, and others vote for them also based on their emotions. Then everyone proceeds to operate from those grounds. McChrystal, just like all the others before him and those who will come after him are only acting on their emotions. So why should I be surprised when I see top military brass acting inappropriately towards others, including their superiors? I shouldn’t be. It’s just business as usual here on planet earth.
Marlakins
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06.22.10
Posted in family stuff, food and restaurants at 10:20 pm by Administrator
Since we celebrated Father’s Day at la Petit Greek, I might as well put in a plug for them. From the name of the restaurant, obviously we had Greek food. We started off with appetizers such as hummus, baba ghanoush, tarama (whipped caviar), and tzatziki (yogurt cucumber dip).
Well, we had already started dipping into it, obviously. And since the restaurant was a bit dark inside I didn’t realize that my picture was blurry. . .
But, that didn’t stop me from taking more pictures of the other appetizers. This is their keftedes (beef meatballs).
Their dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).
Brian, Andrew, and I had the lamb kabob, which was one of their specials for the day, something about it being organic lamb from Colorado or something.
This dish came with a great salad and lemon potatoes. Aaron had a similar dish, but chicken instead of lamb. We also tried their sanganaki, which is a flaming cheese dish. Here’s our host lighting it up.
Here’s a look at what the dish looked like.
Other dishes around the table was another special of the day–a calamari salad.
This is their santorini (lamb stew).
I think this was their salmon palaki.
My dad had their pastitso (Greek version of lasagna).
Now, I’m sure I also had a picture of their basic gyro dish, but for some reason I must have not uploaded it. . . hmmm. But it was pretty basic, so I’ll forgo it for now.. Hope that’s a good sampling of the lunch menu at La Petit Greek in Larchmont for anyone interested in checking them out. They also had friendly service, so two thumbs up! 
Hope everyone else had a nice Father’s Day, too!
Marlakins
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06.21.10
Posted in Movie commentary at 10:47 pm by Administrator
Yep, it’s a kid’s movie, but I enjoyed it anyway (like many other kid’s movies, heheheh). And funny it’s not actually karate, but kung fu. But the story is the same where a ordinary kid learns to fight like a champ, and it ends well. The choreography in Karate Kid 2 is pretty good, and even “ouchy” looking. The antagonist kids do come off looking scary and tough. Jackie Chan always works for me as I love his humor and his stunts. He never fails to put on some good fighting scenes even in a kid’s movie. For anyone who likes martial arts movies and doesn’t mind some kiddie stuff, I do recommend Karate Kid 2. It’s not too deep and pretty much plain entertainment. Good show, tho. . .
Marlakins
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06.19.10
Posted in family stuff at 2:08 pm by Administrator
I’ve been trying to encourage my youngest son to write and thought one fun way to get him motivated was to play a game with him that his brothers could help make more interesting. Basically, I’d pick a picture of a person and then they would all write up a character based upon what they think that person looked like. This time around I picked this picture.
I choose Rachel Ward pictured on the left of the cover of a DVD my friend from Australia sent to me a while ago. The movie was actually quite good called, Rain Shadow. However, my boys had not seen the movie, so they could make up their character based solely on what they saw in the above picture. Matthew whipped up his in about 5 minutes, so I let him read his story first. This is what Matty came up with.
My name is Olive, and I live in an old barn made from straw bales, stucco, and salvaged tractor parts. I’m 72 going on 73 years of age, yet my face is only half the prune it ought to be because I use a magnificent self-made face cream recipe of the finest avocados. I love to make things and tend to the barn creatures. I love to ride my horse, milk the cows, and do many other farm chores. I have a family of eight. Sadly one of my sons hates the farm and plays video games all day. I guess the farm isn’t for everyone. But it sure is for me! I can’t stand the city! – Too cramped for me! Sadly, the city is coming closer and closer and only my one son may be happy when that city comes. Sigh. But we’ll see. Maybe we can adjust. . . It’s getting to be dawn. Time to go back to the barn. . .
Ha! Obviously there’s a bit of a joker in Matty. . .
Next was Andrew’s turn. He’s my oldest son, and the more serious writer. This is what he came up with.
The woman carefully descended down the hill, placing one foot before the other to follow her long shadow cast by a lowering sun and being mindful of the many gopher holes pockmarking the soil. The slight breeze shaking the field of dry grass before her was enough to stir the red scarf draped around her shoulders, but made no trouble for her brown, round-rimmed hat, which had been blown off several times earlier that day, fully exposing her wavy hair to the hot summer sun. She reached the field and its waist-high towers of straw and unpacked her hand-held aluminum case. With the devices inside, she was able to take the day’s final ground water reading. It was also to be the last reading she would have to take for the county after about two months of work. This county was the last on he list for the entire state, and the end of the phase of her project, which had so far taken her fourteen years–most of her adult life. She had started right after graduating from Harvard. Professors and students alike had laughed at her when she told them what she was going to do. The government had shown total disinterest. That was fine–it was fun working on her own, and when she finished, she would be the sole person who could take the credit. It would only take four more years now that she had made her own corrections to the government’s map of the underground water currents. In four years, she would be able to shift those currents with sound.
And finally, it was Aaron’s turn. He’ the one this whole game was really for to help motivate him to write by trying to make it fun. This is Aaron’s story.
Mrs. Annebelle was a strong woman, both in will-power and in intellect. She was middle aged and lived alone on the farm. Every morning she would rise from bed, feed the animals in the barn, collect the hens’ eggs, milk the cows, and then settle down for breakfast. After breakfast she could be seen on the rocking chair at the front porch of her small house. Annebelle would stare out into the brown wheat fields for a time and then open a parched book to read. The weather was dry around these parts, this year it was even drier still. A truck drove in front of the house, picking up dust and billowing clouds of it into the air. Annebelle rose from her chair, preparing for a visitor. A warm gust of wind blew over the field. Annebelle clutched her hat, and the dust blew away to reveal a dusty red truck parked in front of the house. A girl emerged from the driver’s seat, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore a purple shirt. annebelle stepped down from the porch, “Katy. . .” Katy climbed off the truck.
“It’s been dry, this year Mrs. Annebelle.”
“It’s always dry around these parts.” Annebelle replied. Then she smiled, “Come on in, I’ll make some coffee.”
“You know what the doc said ’bout your heart.” Katy said.
“I know.” Annebelle chuckled, “Tea then.” She put her hand on Katy’s shoulder. They went into the house.
Well, I got a kick out of listening to their stories. Previously I had been the one writing so that Aaron and I could compare stories, but I’m finding it much more entertaining to listen to all three of them come up with stories. Maybe some other time I’ll share more of their stories.
Marlakins
P.S. Father’s Day is tomorrow! Happy Father’s Day, in case I don’t get a chance to pop in here tomorrow.
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06.18.10
Posted in Uncategorized, quotes at 12:27 am by Administrator
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the friend of God.
~Matthew 5:9
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06.16.10
Posted in food and restaurants, hobbies at 7:45 pm by Administrator
Current events have been too depressing for me lately. To keep my sanity I like to delve into crafts and food, heheh. And fortunately, this past Sunday was craft day for me and my girlfriend. In between our craft days we still keep in touch with each other and update each other on our progress. Last week I started on a pattern of potted herbs and finished one Christmas ornament of a cat looking through a window.
Then since the boys are on quarter break we decided to eat out at Real Food Daily, our local organic vegetarian restaurant. I had the Stir it Up with soba noodles and tofu.
Brian and the boys had the Burrito Supreme dish.
So when Sunday came along, I hooked up with my friend again for “girlfriend craft day” and started off in the usual way–lunch with the family for dim sum, again. This time we hit Harbor Village in Monterey Park. Here’s how our table looked at one point.
My mom wanted to try their tripe dish.
Here’s what my dish looked like at one point with the sticky rice opened up.
After dim sum we headed out for tea (even though I had already had several refills of tea, but they wanted to go and chat some more!), then back to my parents to work on our crafts. I was able to sew up a few of my ornaments and finished up my herb pattern. Here it is framed and hung up on my wall.
This is actually a small picture about 5″x7″. Since it’s so small I decided to just pick up a desk frame that I liked and remove the stand on the back. I placed a tie on the back and hung it on the wall. I saved the stand from the back in case I later decide to use this frame again for a desk.
I’m currently working on one of the Christmas decoration patterns that my friend and I recently purchased. And I think soon, I’ll start on another larger cross-stitch pattern by Donna Dewberry. I’m also currently reading a book called Nixon and Mao. So far it’s interesting, and may blog about that later on.
Marlakins
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06.12.10
Posted in Playing the Tourist, gardening, hobbies, knitting and crocheting, museums at 8:34 pm by Administrator
Today I was able to make a quick trip down to the Huntington Library in San Marino. I really love that place, so it was a shame that I was only able to spend a couple hours there. Usually whenever I go there I have to visit their cactus garden (they have the best collection that I know of here), but today I didn’t have time. Instead I bee-lined it to the herb garden because they were having a special exhibit which featured natural dyes for yarns. Oh yeah! But first. . . I had to wend my way through their rose garden.
The only other rose garden that I know of that is comparable to this one is the one Brian and I visited during our trip to London. I forget the name right now, but I sure took a lot of pictures there! Maybe some time I’ll upload some of my rose shots.
So not far from here was my intended destination–the herb garden. Towards the back perimeter they had tables and charts set up with dying information, including some samples and a small demonstration.
This woman was very nice and helpful (actually all the women there were!) Not only did she give me lots of information, but I learned something that really made me happy–one doesn’t have to use mordants to dye yarns! Woo hoo! Mordants have been one of the things that have kept me from taking the dying plunge. I didn’t want to use any toxic chemicals, and now learning that I don’t even need to use a mordant and that I can use herbs right from my garden or even kitchen I can feel another hobby coming on. Granted, using a mordant is supposed to help the colors hold fast and fix more brightly, but I’m not that picky. Here’s a chart with samples this woman had on display that her son made back in 1977. The colors, while faded a bit, still held well enough for my taste.
There were also other fiber addicts there demonstrating their talents like this woman spinning yarn.
Another woman was sorting through some fleece. Again, I was able to learn more information about fleece from her, which is good to know since I still have my fleece to work on that I got from my trip to the Isle of Man.
There were also women working on different types of looms. This is a small rectangular loom by which one can make small woven pieces to sew together.
Apparently there are quite a few different shapes used for weaving. I was shown one that I’ve never seen before–a triangular loom.
I do have a more complicated loom that Brian bought me years ago, which I have still never used. . . I guess I just look at all that threading that needs to be done before weaving, and I just can’t seem to get myself to do it. Or maybe it’s really that I’ve been too lazy to figure it all out. But when I saw this knitter’s loom, it looked very simple and something that might be a good starting point for me.
Oh yeah, now that I could see myself dabbling in. This particular loom is called the knitter’s loom by Ashford. The woman explained to me that Japanese kimonos were originally made in strips 14″ wide and then sewn together, thus explaining some of their striped patterns. I could see trying this! Look like fun to me, and yes, I have plenty of scrap yarns to test it all out, too.
By this time I had already spent about 1 1/2 hours here, and still wanted to visit the Chinese garden Matty told me he wanted to see. So off we zoomed back through the garden.
This path lead down to the Japanese garden first.
Then we veered off to the Chinese garden.
And another shot.
Gorgeous! I really love the Huntington Library gardens! I could easily spend the whole day there, but alas I didn’t have time. So not long after strolling through this garden, we had to head back without even a peek at the library museum, bookstore, or cactus garden, wah. . . maybe next time. I thank God that there are some really creative and talented people out there who can create such beautiful, peaceful environments, not to mention the amazing variety of nature that God has given us to tend and cultivate.
Marlakins
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06.11.10
Posted in quotes at 12:03 am by Administrator
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
~Proverbs 16:7
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