talbotlucas.org: a word to the wise is sufficient

salmon alert and sustainable seafood generally

An article in today's New York Times raises concerns about farmed salmon. Salmon certainly has figured more prominently on menus and home kitchens in recent years, so reports of dramatically higher levels of PCBs in farmed salmon bear reading.

Whole Foods has been offering both farmed salmon and wild salmon for some time now, and their web site includes a section on seafood sustainability, addressing issuing of overfishing, pollution, and diversity in menu planning. If this topic is of interest to you, I highly recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Seafood Watch," which includes a wallet card and specific, updated information about the status of certain species.

Speaking of the Monterey Aquarium...their web site now has five web cams. I'm particularly fond of the otter cam and the outer bay cam. Often the otter cam doesn't capture much, but when the otters are within view, it's a hoot! (The mini video on the otter page, the one titled "Our Exhibit Otters," will give you an otter fix if there's not much happening on the live web cam.) The Outer Bay exhibit is one of my absolute favorites--of Monterey or other aquaria. I think it alone could merit a trip to Monterey. The camera really doesn't do it justice, and at the actual exhibit I can sit for a l-o-n-g time, watching the enormous tuna glide by. It's kind of nice just to think about it.

Back to work, but I might have to put the otter cam on at 10:30--feeding time!

fall semester approaching

The start of the Fall semester at UCLA Law School is fast approaching. It sometimes seems like last year never ended because I've been working as a faculty research assistant and on Law Review assignments this summer, but the truth is that classes begin anew on 20 August.

What's on tap this semester? Business Associations, Federal Income Taxation, and Accounting & Financial Analysis for Lawyers, to start. In addition to my class work, I'll also research and write my Law Review Comment, which will also fulfill my Law School writing requirement. And...

I'm continuing my work for Harcourt, the Law Review, and my faculty research...and I'm pleased to be a co-chairman of OWLS--the Older, Wiser Law Students Association. In my giddier moments I think about suggesting that we institute a not-to-secret OWLS gesture: similar to the one Paul Newman and Robert Redford used in The Sting (the sweep along the right side of the nose with one's right index finger), but instead of sweeping the finger along the side, it hooks in front, like a beak!

Too corny, I know. But as I already said, this is what springs to mind when giddiness sets in. And the semester hasn't even started yet!

To manage my ever-growing "to do" lists Terrence has scouted several new calendar and task applications, and I've been testing them thoroughlly. Books are being purchased, commuting options reconsidered, and all sorts of odds and ends being taken care of with an eye on 20 August. I feel like I should get an audio clip for my iBook, and what springs to mind Bette Davis' famous line in All About Eve: "Fasten your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy night."

slow food in the news

Today's New York Times includes a short Q&A with Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food, by Amanda Hesser.

butterfly in distress

Does anyone know what to do with a butterfly in distress? This one landed among the lambs' ears in our garden. Wallace saw him (it?) flailing, or at least hopping around in an un-butterfly-like way, and alerted me while I was putting the potatoes in the oven for tonight's dinner.

Will the birds get to the butterfly first? We have a lot of aggressive crows in our area, but lately they've been chased away (or at least harassed mercilessly) by a group of smaller birds that remind me of mockingbirds, although I'm not sure that's what they are. They (the smaller, aggressive birds) have the most incredible range of song, and the chase the crows through the air, and from tree to tree.

Is there something else we should do? Or just wait and mount him once he expires? (Sorry, but I'm trying to be practical, too.)

Wallace is fed up with my butterflly concern and has turned his attention to his sheepskin, from which he is slowly--but surely--removing all the fur/wool. He turns to his sheepskin when he's frustrated by my lack of attention, and given how much time I've spent at the computer keyboard today, I'm sure he thinks he's terribly neglected.

book rec: Fast Food Nation

After seeing last night's post on Slow Food, one of our regular readers mentioned Fast Food Nation to Terrence, and I realized that this should have been among the items listed in my "more of interest" section even though it's a book and not a web feature.

My father and I both found this a fascinating read, and it's full of information that gives one pause. Although it was decried by the fast food industry and those who trumpet "consumer freedom," I don't recall any organization or corporation coming forward to dispute Schlosser's findings. (If one of you knows something to the contrary, let me know.) Maria Russo, in her review of the book for salon.com, opened with a startling fact, one of dozens that Schlosser reveals: "Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars." That alone may qualify this as required reading.

Before reading Schlosser's book I didn't know the extent of McDonald's real estate holdings (which make the hamburgers seem like a side business), or that it's one of the top sellers/distributors of toys in the country. (All those Happy Meals add up, I guess.) Or how fast food operators manage to evade/ignore labor laws, especially those relating to the hours young workers may spend on the job while in school. Schlosser also provides information on industry research relating to marketing messages aimed at the very young, and how industry members secure federal educational funds while aiming for zero training in the workplace, a direct conflict with the terms under which such funds are disbursed.

Fast Food Nation has been out in paperback for some time, making it an easy-on-the-pocketbook addition to your bookshelves. For those of you who'd like a little more info before you buy, a few sources: an interview with Schlosser on The Atlantic's site; and a list of links to reviews, contrary opinions, and related material collected by The Complete Review.

in praise of the snail...and slow food

Terrence and I are pleased to have renewed our membership in the Slow Food organization and are looking forward to learning more about the activities of the Los Angeles convivium, the local group to which we now belong. Hopefully all the events for the coming months won't be scheduled when papers are due or exams are looming at UCLA Law!

Some of you have heard me talk of Slow Food before; for those who haven't, here's the background:

Slow Food began in Italy in response to the ever-increasing pace of modern life, which seemed to be epitomized by the expansion of fast food businesses around the globe. Galvanized by the announcement of a McDonald's at the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, Carlo Petrini decided to take action, and the concept of Slow Food as a movement began to take shape.

As noted on the Slow Food web site, the organization began in July 1986, with Carlo Petrini as its elected president.

Its original aim was to counter the tide of standardization of taste and the manipulation of consumers around the world. The fundamental importance of conviviality and the right to pleasure are still the basic principles upon which all Slow Food events and activities are built. The movement believes that any traditional product encapsulates the flavours of its region of origin, not to mention local customs and ancient production techniques. With this in mind, Slow Food is working not only to protect the historic, artistic and environmental heritage of places of gastronomic pleasure (cafés, inns, bistros), but also to safeguard the food and agricultural heritage (crop biodiversity, artisan techniques, sustainable agriculture, rural development, food traditions).

In 1989, Slow Food delegations from around the world met at the Opéra Comique in Paris, where they approved the Slow Food Manifesto, one point in which states, ‘Let us rediscover the flavours and savours of regional cooking and banish the degrading effects of Fast Food. In the name of productivity, the Fast Life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes’. An emblem of slowness - the snail - was chosen as the movement’s symbol.

The ideals of Slow Food have found a sizeable following here in the United States. We first learned about the organization while living in San Francisco, and joined the convivium there. Our first event was a tasting in honor of Carlo Petrini's tour of the U.S.--good food, wine, and conversation, at a monastery in Marin county. And while I used to curse the snails and slugs that emerged at dusk to nibble on the plants in my Chicago garden, I've started to smile when I see them here in southern California. First of all, they're much bigger than what we had in Chicago, and they leave little trails across the sidewalk, which are still visible when Wallace and I take our morning walk. Wallace sniffs for figs, I look for snails...it all makes for a nice start to the day, and a reminder that not everything needs to be speedily done or speedily consumed.

There's so much more that could be said: about Slow Food's effort to institute "taste education" in schools; the efforts of U.S. members to make the organization and its principles better known and more broadly adopted, perhaps most notably by Alice Waters; the "Ark of Taste" and Slow Food's concern for local products and producers...and the strong ties to local farmers markets, which showcase and make available local produce at the peak of ripeness.

If any of this interests you, you might want to check out Fast Company's take on Slow Food; an excerpt from a Mother Jones article by Michael Pollan, and a piece on the so-called High Priestess of Slow, Alice Waters, from that same MoJo issue; Salon's "Brilliant Careers" profile of Alice Waters; the Chez Panisse web site (I found the weekly downstairs menu a source of inspiration; projects such as The Edible Schoolyard (developed and supported in large part by the Chez Panisse Foundation); an interview with Corby Kummer, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a prominent member of the U.S. Slow Food organization; Odessa Piper's¹ statement to the House Judiciary Committee on the dangers of supporting the "global supermarket" concept; Chefs Collaborative, an organization with the mission

To advance and promote among chefs and the general public concepts and benefits of good, safe and wholesome foods, including sustainable food choices, responsible agricultural growing techniques, the impact of food choices on the environment and the advantages of locally grown and seasonally fresh foods, and to provide educational and other programs fostering such concepts and benefits.

¹ Odessa Piper is the chef/proprietor of L'Etoile in Madison, Wisconsin and proof that following the prinicples of sustainable agriculture isn't just for those who live in warmer climes. See L'Etoile's site for more information.

wallace by request

Here's the little guy in one of his favorite places--our kitchen. Someone recently asked when I'd post another photo of Wallace, so I thought I'd put up a recent one that didn't involve a super close-up of his nose.

We recently shared our Dyson vacuum joy with other members of the Corgi-L listserv. We're in the minority with only one corgi in our home, and for those subscribers with three or more you can understand why they're very keen to know exactly how much dog hair a vacuum can handle. Several other members were very keen on the Dyson, too, and for those who hadn't heard of it I was happy to add my two cents'. At this rate we should ask Dyson if they'll assign us a source code and pay a commission!

My blogging efforts have been confounded this past week by a technical glitch, but things seem to be working themselves out, with a little help from Terrence, and I should be back to my posting routine in no time. That is, until classes start on 20 August. More on that subject later...

F.U. is back!

In this context, "F.U." are the initials (and common form of address) of Francis Urquhart, political plotter extraordinaire and the focus of the House of Cards series which aired several years ago in three series: "House of Cards," "To Play the King," and "The Final Cut." Anthony Hopkins may have given us the villian the world loves to fear, but Ian Richardson's F.U. might be Dr. Lector's political counterpart--the politician we fear exists. It's oddly fitting, of course, that the lead character's form of address--most of his close associates refer to him as "F.U."--represents what he does to anyone who gets in his way.

The three-DVD set will be available in late-August; information is finally available. How quickly can we say "amazon.com pre-order..."? This may be my big DVD excitement of the year...make of that what you will.

freedom is never free

Stephen Miller had relayed these comments to me and several others on a recent 4th of July holiday, and I thought they bore repeating. I'm not sure where this message originated or who did their homework, but I'm passing it along in the spirit of the day. One wonders how many men (or women) nowadays would make these same sacrifices.

A little history lesson in honor of the 4th of July.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America.

The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

happy 4th of july

Wallace will not be happy with the fireworks this evening so we expect to spend some time as a group in the bathroom or bedroom (the rooms that seem to be the most insulated from outside noise). Perhaps we'll all go for a celebratory long walk and tire out the little guy (and ourselves), and then stay inside where it's cool and relatively quiet.

A Happy 4th of July to our readers!

thursday at the cheese store-bh: 3 july

Dominick is on vacation, but the other staff at The Cheese Store are as helpful as ever, and today's trove included a taste of culatello, a wedge of Roaring Forties blue cheese, a crottin of the mysterious no-name goat cheese, and a practically (but not quite) oozing wedge of Brie de Meaux. Details, in reverse order:

Brie de Meaux (in photograph): Brie de Meaux is a cow's milk cheese with a rich, mushroomy aroma--much more developed than the typical Brie that one finds in most markets and cheese shops. Not only does the Cheese Store carry it, but it was at the peak of ripeness; meaning, take it home and eat it tonight. (And we complied.) Hard to find but quite an experience, particularly with the right Burgundy or Bordeaux.

The mysterious, no-name goat cheese: This was the little wonder that arrived at the shop two weeks ago, when I last visited with Dominick. It's fuzzy and greenish-blue-grey on the outside, gorgeously snow white on the inside. Yum!

Roaring Forties blue cheese: A treat from down under: According to iGourmet.com/World of Cheese/Australia,

Roaring Forties Blue Cheese is made by the Kings Island Dairy. Kings Island is situated south of Melbourne, Australia at the western end of Bass Strait. Dairying is the largest primary industry among this island’s 1,500 inhabitants. According to local legend, grass seeds found in King Island’s soil are believed to have been washed ashore in straw mattresses from some 60 eighteenth-century French and English shipwrecks that are strewn along the King Island coast. For almost a century now dairy herds have grazed on these unique pastures. The quality of these pastures, combined with a pristine environment, combined with a year round growing season, enables the dairy farmers on Kind Island to practice traditional feeding methods. The cows are reputed to produce the sweetest milk in the land and from this milk comes a range of dairy products acknowledged throughout Australia and rapidly earning the same sort of reputation in the international marketplace. Roaring Forties Blues is a full-flavored blue with a sweet, nutty character. The cheese is matured in blue wax thus retaining its moisture and creating a smooth and creamy texture.· Made from pasteurized cow’s milk.

Really delicious.

Culatello is proscuitto taken to another level. Soaked in white wine during the aging process, it develops a distinct flavor different from it's cured cousins.

Until next Thursday...

duke, the delaware corgi hero

Duke, an eight-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, is being fêted by the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association as the "Pet Hero of 2003" for sitting on his owner's feet for 10 hours after his owner fell on icy pavement during a nighttime walk. When Duke's owner, 83-year-old Joseph Zito, was examined by a doctor, he was told that he might have lost limbs to frostbite, and could have died, had the dog not kept him warm. The News-Journal article, posted on DelawareOnline.com, tells the whole story.

man in the air

Kurt Elling's new CD, Man in the Air is now available via amazon.com. The release date is 22 July, so if you're not interested in patronizing amazon you'll probably find it in the jazz/vocals section of brick-and-mortar stores. We'll post more details if we get them, and a review as soon as we've had a chance to listen to the tracks ourselves. If you can't wait to find out the details, Blue Note Records, Kurt's label, has updated their new releases page to include Man in the Air.

Kurt's own site now has a "hear the music" page with a selection of tunes as well as tracks from each of his CDs (which you can find by clicking on the individual CD cover image). Pretty neat!

If we can get our audio act together (and a new server might go a long way toward making that happen!) we'll be so pleased to share with you a selection of Stephen Miller's work. I've mentioned Man of Leisure on the blog before, but only in passing, and since the CD isn't commercially available yet we're going to do our part to make a market for it. Coming soon...