Today was our last day at the beach, because tomorrow we’re headed to Merida! We bought 1st class tickets, a 4 hour ride through ADO, and it cost us 188 pesos each. 2nd class was about 1.40$ less, but it takes 10 hours to get there! We’ll be leaving tomorrow afternoon and either going to a hostel or staying at a CouchSurfer’s place.

It was a fantastic day at the beach, and this time I went snorkeling on my own. I came across a turtle, but it got scared and quickly swam away. I saw a beautiful big colorful fish, mostly green with some red, yellow, orange, blue, purple… really stunning. Sometimes I’d get water in my snorkel, and sometimes I’d have to calm myself after worrying about how far away I was from the shore. It wasn’t a relaxing experience that’s for sure, but I was less scared than last time. I got crisped though… I seriously burned the top and right side of my right thigh… really badly. It had been previously aggravated by the sun, being a place that rarely sees the sun, and then it got cooked through the water while I was snorkeling and surfing the big waves (quite a crazy experience!), usually facing the same direction… Robin burned his left arm and shoulder, but he’s doing pretty well… with his machete!

Robin’s had an urge to buy a machete since we got to Mexico, and he finally bought one yesturday. We cut open 6 coconuts on the beach, all were loaded with delicious coconut milk, and 2 had lots of coconut meat that Robin ate as a delicacy. We sure got a bunch of stares, but it was a blast.

I had forgotten to mention in my previous post that a big reason why I don’t take that many pictures anymore is because I wouldn’t get to enjoy my environment as much… I’d be too busy trying to rush and grab a picture of something, then be frustrated that the camera wasn’t fast enough, and then realize that I had missed the whole thing with my own eyes.

I’d write more but we have to head back and go to bed soon. Buena noches!

4:53 pm: I just worked for over two hours on my upcoming “Best of 2009: Music” post.  I’m only 4 albums in out of the 23 I currently have selected.  Then there’s the “Best of 2009: Film” I have to do.  No, I don’t like to bite off more than I can chew.

5:00 pm: Cocktail time! Just kidding, I don’t have any booze.  Maybe later?

5:08 pm: I hate seeing commercials for local places you enjoy, because local commercials are comprised of crappy stock photography and bad acting.

5:22 pm: What is this I don’t even- some Syfy movie had two girls build a scarecrow, give it a corn penis, then it came to life and started going bonkers.  I wish I had thought of this.

5:44 pm: Ack, I just realized I’m yet to watch last night’s Dexter!  Be back soon.

6:30 pm: Back.  OH SHI!  That was bananas and coconuts!  Showtime’s Dexter is such an amazing program.  Michael C. Hall and James Remar play off one another brilliantly.

6:49 pm: I just ate some very meaty chili that would have benefited from additional spice.

6:57 pm: NBC’s Heroes is my obligated Monday night viewing, but there’s a 3 hour WWE RAW that begs for attention.  I like professional wrestling, big whoop, wanna fight about it?

7:10 pm: I’m going to watch The Powerpuff Girls until 8pm.  Craig McCracken is the man, for real.  And it really bothers me when people think the show is about girls and being girlish as that is full-on wrong.

7:32 pm: “The Mane Event” is totally classic.  Click HERE to watch.

7:38 pm: I just tinkled in the potty like a big boy!

7:59 pm: I want a deaf lover, like Dr. Emma Coolidge on Heroes.  I find that particular differently-capable trait so endearing and attractive.  Preferably I’d take Hayley Atwell’s ‘Lucy / 415′ ala AMC’s The Prisoner ♥ I think I’m totally normal for diggin’ deafness.

8:04 pm: Elisabeth Röhm!  Haven’t seen her since Angel and Law & Order.  Good for her getting back in the game.

8:13 pm: MR. MUGGLES! It’s about time my homeboy made an appearance.

8:41 pm: It’s gosh damn nice to see Sylar again, I tell you what.

8:55 pm: Okay, this is the last post because this video is the highest note one can exit on-

Understanding Fats

Loving fat is easy for me now, but it didn’t start out that way.

In my younger days, I consciously chose low fat items over its fattier competitors. My choices were based on numbers (quantity) rather than content (quality).  It turns out, low-fat is full of itself.

Jeff Novick, MS, RD, of the McDougall Program destroys the myth that the US ever went on a “low fat” diet. As a former account manager at Kraft Foods, he blows the lid off the deceptive tricks corporate food companies use in order to make (false) claims that their foods are “healthy” or “low-fat.”

This is an excerpt from Novick’s full 80-minute talk at the VegSource 2007 Healthy Lifestyle Expo, which is one of a 12-part series of top health expert presentations. In his fascinating and entertaining presentation, Novick reveals the intentional label deceptions nearly every food company employs, and shows you “how they do that.”

Fats Don’t Make You Fat

The wrong types of fats contribute to obesity, but it’s a generalization to say that fats make you fat.  It’s important to understand differences in fats, which ones to include in your diet and which ones to cut out.

The nominees for “Best Source of Fat from a Tree” are: avocados, olives, coconuts, and nuts (almond, walnut, macadamia, cashew, brazil, pistachios).

AVOCADOS

Avocados have endured a bad reputation for being full of fat.  It’s true that one medium sized avocado has 30 grams of fat, enough to put it on the avocaDON’T list.  However, it is mainly  mono-saturated fat, which is the heart-healthy kind of fat you want.  They are also loaded with  fiber, vitamins B6, C, and E, potassium, magnesium and folate.  In fact, they contain 60%  more potassium than bananas.  Cholesterol and sodium free, this fruit is high in calories and  should be consumed in moderation (1/2 avocado a day).  I personally have a hard time keeping them out of my meals because they taste so good, especially in salads.

OLIVES

When I was younger, olives and olive oil were frequently spotted on the table during meals.  By frequently, I mean 99.9% of the time.  It was normal to see a side of olives no matter what my mom made that day — lasagna, cabbage rolls, stuffed grape leaves, burgers or egg rolls. My brothers and I thought it was odd to have olives with egg rolls, but my dad always noticed that the zaytoun were missing (zaytoun is the Arabic word for olives).  He would ask, “Where’s the zaytoun?”  To which my mom would add,  ”Didn’t I tell you kids to put some olives on the table?”

It seemed that we had an unlimited supply of olives and olive oil — and my parents were especially thrilled to receive their yearly shipment of freshly    pressed olive oil from my grandparents, who lived in the Palestinian village of Biteen (pronounced Bait-een).  This came shortly after the mid October harvest, the time when olives are ripe in the Middle East.

I did not know the full benefits of olive oil, except for the simple explanation my dad gave me, “It’s good for your heart.”

That was the short version.  The longer version, I eventually learned, was that olive oil is rich in mono-saturated fat and antioxidants.  It protects your heart is the heart healthy kind of fat that’s good for you.  There are many reports that state the benefits of olive oil, and the best ways to use it (mainly salads).  People know olive oil is good for them, so there’s no need to brag about it.  Do your best to add extra-virgin olive oil to flavor your meals.  A little bit goes a long way!

ALMONDS (and the extended nut family)

There are many types of nuts, but why do nutrition experts pay attention to almonds the most? One reason is that it’s the nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin.  If you do not know this  already, your body cannot produce vitamin E on its own — and it’s a not  well known fact that almonds and sunflower seeds are the top two whole  foods that have naturally occurring vitamin E.

COCONUTS

Are you confused whether coconuts are good or bad for you? Although high in saturated fat, coconut oil is unusually rich in short and medium chain fatty acids.  This means that your body is able to convert coconut oil into energy instead of fat.

Coconut oil has a bad reputation for contributing to cholesterol and heart disease.  This started in the early 1950’s, after studies revealed negative effects on the body due to coconut oil.   These studies were based on hydrogenated oils (and what we know now is that any type of hydrogenated oil is not good for you).  Furthermore, studies linked saturated fats to clogged arteries.  Since coconut oil was very high in saturated fat, it became the scapegoat for Americans’ increasing waistlines.  Was there much mention of fast food or processed food as the culprit?

When was the last time you saw coconut oil listed as an ingredient on a food label?  I rarely do.  And when was the last time you heard someone lose a bunch of weight because he or she gave up coconut oil?

Coconut oil is actually good for you.  I cook all my food with it.  It’s rich in lauric acid (also found in breast milk), which helps support your immune system, and contains no trans fat.  The body converts lauric acid to a fatty acid derivative (monolaurin), which is the substance that protects infants from infections.  The key is to use high quality, unrefined coconut oil.

AWARDS

All of these nominees should receive an award.  People focus so much on numbers (counting calories, weight, etc) instead of content and quality.  They believe fat makes them fat, even though approximately 50% of our cells are composed of fat.  Without fat, we could not function.

In my next post, I will talk about the importance of eating animal fats.  Yes, meat is good for you.  It should be our primary source of nutrition, but so many people want to devalue it and “not really healthy.”  That’s not true!

I am continually amazed by the breadth of arts groups that are part of the Physicians and Surgeons Club at the Medical School. Despite their extensive workload, medical students manage to find time to participate in a Choir, Coffeehouse concerts, Dance Club, Literary Society, acappella group The Ultrasounds, and more. This Saturday I headed uptown to see these talented doctors-to-be onstage in Bard Hall Players‘ production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

The Medical Center is only several stops uptown on the 1 Train, or you can save the fare and take the Columbia shuttle for free. I was immediately jealous of the Alumni Auditorium, where the performance took place. The spacious theatre, though simple, is a great improvement over most Morningside performance spaces (certainly an improvement over Wien Lounge).

The production featured a large, exuberant cast; some parts that are typically played by one person (Narrator/Mysterious Man, Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince, etc.) were separated, in order to give roles to more actors. A few roles were also added to large group numbers, including Puss in Boots, Gnome, and “Maiden.” Though the set and lighting were limited, the stage was always filled with the talent and energy of the actors.

The enthusiasm of the performers was the most valuable, and pervasive, asset to the production. I have seen several productions of Sondheim’s classic, but this version of Into the Woods was one of the most fun I have experienced. The team clearly enjoyed themselves and that translated to the audience. Bard Hall Players added many whimsical touches, including the use of coconuts for the Princes’ horses a la Monty Python and the stepsisters played by two burly gentlemen in trashy wigs and bright gowns. The real stand-out was the cow Milky White, portrayed by Manuel Montano and Peter Rubenstein, billed as “Head” and “Rump” respectively. The bovine star stole every scene it was in, providing mute commentary on the action of its human costars and dancing to Sondheim’s catchier tunes.

Bard Hall Players directly challenges the dominant perception of medical students. These physicians sing, dance, and act, proving that doctors aren’t just entertaining on TV.

*****
Darcy Zacharias, CC ‘10

LNF*

• Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.

• Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.

• On average people fear spiders more than they do death.

• Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

• The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.

• Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.

• American car horns beep in the tone of F.

• Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

• Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

• On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.

• 7% of Americans will eat McDonalds today.

• All porcupines float in water.

• In Muncie, Indiana, it is illegal to carry fishing tackle in a cemetery.

LNFs on This Day:

1865 – Samuel L. Clemens published “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” under the pen name “Mark Twain” in the New York “Saturday Press.”

1928 – The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered in New York. It was Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie,” starring Mickey Mouse.

1978 – In Jonestown, Guyana, Reverend Jim Jones persuaded his followers to commit suicide by drinking a death potion. Some people were shot to death. 914 cult members were left dead including over 200 children.

1987 – U2 opened for itself by pretending to be a country-rock group called The Dalton Brothers during a concert in Los Angeles

1994 – Cab Calloway died at the age of 86.

*Why LNF? Why Plain White Shirt? Read Rorschach’s Ribs and all will be understood.

After leaving San Diego we drove up the coast for the day, stopping at Laguna Beach for some more seaside practice. Having topped up our sunburn a little we ventured into Los Angeles, without a map just to make it more exciting. This was surprisingly successful and we found LAX with an hour to spare so we backed out to Inglewood to spent our last dollars on Double Doubles at In ‘N’ Out burger.

We could no longer avoid the inevitable and went to spend the evening at LAX, surely one of the dullest airports on earth. We considered livening things up by reporting Russel Brand, who had been ushered to the front of our security queue, for looking suspicious, just to see if he’d get pinned to the ground and examined but he and his entourage were whisked through the scanners and had vanished in seconds.

We had a good flight to Rarotonga, arriving early into the 1 room airport at 5:45am. Waiting for our bags we listened to the obligatory ‘old man playing the ukulele’ that you get at all pacific airports and were then taken down to our hostel at Muri Beach. Our room wasn’t ready yet so we had to postpone catching up on sleep until the afternoon, spending the morning sampling the local doughnuts (like normal jam doughnuts except they have no sugar on top and no jam inside) and exploring the small town.

On our second day we went over to the North end of the Island to do the cross-island hike, starting off in nice back country little villages, small houses on big grassy plots surrounded by Frangipani trees and goats. Entering the jungle it soon became a lot more challenging, firstly just because it was heavily overgrown and shortly after a near vertical climb up a narrow ridge for 45 minutes which made the Grouse Grind look like a stroll in the park! We soon reached the Needle summit for a rest, some lunch and a go on the frozen vegetables we were carrying to cool down. As usual going down the equally steep south side was even harder followed by several stream crossings but we soon emerged on the South rim of the Island. This is where we came across the abandoned remains of the Hilton resort – a government backed venture that went pear shaped, leaving them $100 million in debt and now remains a massive ghost hotel, never finished and just left to rot for the last 15 years. Seems such a waste, why they don’t sell it on we don’t know. We’d turn half of it into accommodation then build a Cross-country moped race circuit around the grounds that weaved in and out of the rest of the abandoned buildings while also using these as a paintball arena – Anyone out there want to invest in / stump up all the cash for our new business??

Midweek we flew over to Aitutaki for a few days, one of the worlds most beautiful lagoons a couple of hundred km from Rarotonga. The view from the air is unbelievable – the most vivid turquoise lagoon dotted with coral outcrops and island Motu’s. Our photo’s don’t do the place justice so you’ll have to Google Earth it for a view!

However, our accommodation was much less spectacular, probably the most basic we’ve encountered on all of our travels but we soon got used to it and by the end of the week the leaking roof, Mr. kitchen rat and numerous cockroaches were all taken in our stride!

There were some significantly more upmarket places on the island running at hundreds or thousands of dollars per night but I’m sure we enjoyed ourselves just as much as their guests, lazing on the same beaches and snorkeling in the lagoon, with coconut bowling and bonfires in the evening!

Everyone in Rarotonga gets about by moped so here on Aitutaki we thought we’d have a go. The rental place over the road only had motorbikes though but we enquired anyway.

“Have you ridden one of these before?” asked the big boss man. “Yes, back on Rarotonga” I lied. I’m not sure he believed me from the outset when I had to have every lever and foot pedal explained to me twice. The nearest I’ve ever been to riding any kind of moped or motorbike is a sit-on lawnmower which was probably quite obvious when I followed big boss man’s encouragement to take it for a spin down the road. “So this one’s the throttle then..?” as I gave it a quick twist, lurching forward into the path of an oncoming mini-van. I could see the look of concern on his face as I scooted around to have another go facing the right direction. Off I went though, successfully making it into 2^nd gear 50m down the road so decided to turn around and go back. Here I performed a classic piece of slapstick motor-biking, once again tweaking the throttle far too hard the bike shot straight over the road and into some local’s front garden, with me barely holding on I finally remembered to brake with my foot a couple of metres from the sea! Luckily Zoë had distracted Big boss man and he hadn’t seen me do this so when I sheepishly returned his bike he still seemed half-keen to rent it to us! Even my low level of common sense prevailed and we decided not to, there’s nothing like a nice walk in the searing heat anyway.

We did get some biking in the next day however, only because we’d spotted a fully automatic moped for hire. This was much more our scene so we snapped it up, about £10 for the day plus another £1 for a Cook islands driving licence from the Cop Shop. There was no test involved which was lucky as at the time I couldn’t even work the kickstand properly. We soon got the hang of it, taking it in turns to rag it around the island dirt roads weaving past goats and hundreds of massive crabs. A huge storm hit in the afternoon which made moped-ing quite a lot less fun so we went back to base, Zoë reaching around from the back seat to cover my eyes from the stinging rain with her hands while I squinted through her fingers – we got a few funny looks from the locals!

The rains passed by the morning which was good as we had booked a lagoon cruise with the other folks in our hostel. We did some snorkeling in the crystal clear lagoon, Giant Clams, blue starfish and plenty of other tropical fish were all spotted. I once again got hand cramp from pinching my nose shut so reverted to regular swimming before landing on a few of the islands to explore – Honeymoon Island, ‘Tiger Island’ off of Shipwrecked and One Foot Island for lunch. A good day out but paid the price with some pretty nasty sunburn after being in and out of the water all day!

The next few days were a bit miserable weather-wise, so we just pottered about coconut bowling / trying to take out the cockerels that woke us at 4am every morning, playing cards with our hostel chums, reading on the beach or paddling in the lagoon, although once we’d seen two sea-snakes 5ft from the shore we were more reluctant to wade in!

Back on Rarotonga it’s been more of the same, a bit of kayaking, beaching, getting sunburnt, getting bitten by mosquito’s etc… so we’ve actually decided to chop our 2 weeks in Fiji which would have been more of the above and fast forward to New Zealand!

I was working in the State Bank, as Accountant, when my father phoned me, insisting that I come home immediately. He refused to give any reasons, as is his nature, being something of a Hitler. He still treats me as a child. I must confess that I am slender, weak minded and lack the will power of my father. It was his suggestion that I must join the Bank. My preference was for literature. Only fools read poetry, he would say.
Mother died early in my life, and father wanted me to marry early, so that there will be a woman in the house, which was quite big and the estate a few acres in size. I hated it, as he would tell me to count the coconuts, before taking to the mill, for extracting oil. I always made mistake in counting, as my mind will wander here and there.
When I reached home, he told me to see a girl, whom I knew from childhood. I cursed my fate. She was one among half a dozen brats, black, dirty with a running nose and always babling about whatever came to her mind.
Their house was in a village which can be reached by a local train, starting early morning. The next train is in the evening. I was to go alone, as they had been informed in advance. Of course, father was too busy to come wth me.
I was thinking about Sushma, of our office,who had a liking for me. I too felt happy in her presence. I missed the station, where I was to get down. So I got down at the next station.
To my surprise and relief, my class fellow was the Station Master there !
As soon as the train left, he took me to his room. When I explained my plight, he burst out: let him go to hell. You are earning a salary. You can live with your income. One day, the old man will surely die. Don’t marry now. Wait for some years. You are only twenty two!
At lunch time, we went to his quarter, a few  steps from the station. He had infrmed his mother and  they were expecting me. He had a sister, extremely beautiful, but unhealthy. She went on talking to me, as to an old friend, though it was our first meeting. I liked her.
When I returned home, by the noon train, my father did not say anything. When I told him about my missing the place, to get down from the train,
the only comment was: what else can be expected from a dreamer?

The station master, my friend, and I belong to the same caste, Tamil Brahmins settled in Keralam. He lost no time in contacting my father and before I could think of it, my marriage with his sister was fixed. I was not unhappy.
I hired a better house and we started our life on a good note. The mobile phone enabled us to be together, even when we were separated, and I enjoyed her sweet voice almost always. Sushma, though a Nair girl, used to come to our house off and on. My wife knew how to make vada, dosa, muruku and a  host of other dishes, available only in Tamilnadu. She would teach the technique to Sushma, and sometimes, my wife would sing. She had a pleasing voice.
Every month, my wife had fever, with high temperature. I think, the doctors did not understand her problem. They went on prescribing new medicines, which were of no avail. When she became pregnant, they cautioned about her inebility to survive a delivery, but my wife was bent on having the baby.
Sushma too tried to avert the calamity, advising a D and C.
 I tried to believe in His powers. We went to all temples and offered prayers. When the time came, we went to Calicut medical college hospital, where I had friends. Sushma too came to give moral support.
Even when I recollect those times, I feel the utter helplessness of we human beings, our prayers and aspirations. I was mentally prepared to hear the worst, but was spared of the necessity. She delivered a boy and survived.

But the joy was short lived. She died of a very severe fever, becoming delirious and then uncoscious.
Sushma remained with me to look after the baby.
I was transferred to Calcutta.
When I joined the branch there, my boss was a Miss Swamy. She came and I wished her. Seeing the new comer, a flick of recognition passed through her eyes, just a momentary ray of light. She motioned me to come into her cabin.
On being seated, her smile burst into peals of lauhter. I could not understand it. How can this fashionable lady, though jet black in colour, know me, living in far away Keralam ? Yet her eyes, so magnetic and fiery, reminded me of the past. But how?
Are you not from Vallapuzha ? she asked. I was dumbfounded.
Yes.
You have a big estate there.
Yes, Madam.
OH! Forget the madam. I am simply Geeta. Once you were coming to see me, but you didn’t turn up. My father was very upset then.
I kept mum.
Several customers came in and she dismissed me.
I could not believe it. How that dirty girl has metamorphosed into this vivacious, bright, fashonably dressed, Senior Manager of a Nationalised Bank, where I am still an unknown accountant, was beyond my comprehension.
During lunch break, she called me in and we had tea and biscuits. She asked me to stay on, till she took me out to have dinner. As I was new, I didn’t have much to do. She called me in, at about four.
I must thank God you have come. I came here only one week back. I have not settled yet. Have you brought your family?
 I told her what happened.
I am so sorry man. Any way, we will stay together. I have plenty of friends here. They will fix me up.
Then she took me in her car and drove to a posh restaurant. She behaved, as though we are friends for a long time. She even ordered non-veg. items. I chose dosa which was avalilable luckily.
Why did you not try for officer’s post.
I am happy as it is.
My father pressed me hard to marry. All others are married. Now he is no more. What about you?
Mine is still alive. Very weak. Can’t hear or see.
In the night, she persuaded me to stay in her hotel room. There is plenty of room for two. We are not teenagers. I had enough sex. Now I a not interested, unless you want to.
Can I speak to my people at home?
She asked the hotel to connect the number I gave her.
Who is this Sushma? Is she attached to you?
Yes and no. See, she is looking after my son. She is very much devoted to my late wife and our son.
Well, good night! Have proper rest. Talk afterwards.
In the office, she asked my advice, even for small matters. There was a case, involving a loan of some twenty crores. She wanted me to study it thoroughly, especially the risk factor. Some minister is interested.

We shifted to a house, in a posh locality. Why not some cheap one, I asked.
Life is to enjoy. Whom shall I save money for? Will they not forget it afterwrds, when we need their help? – I had no reply.
Every one was happy, it seemd. Not some people in the office, though.
What is the relation between the two? People were curious. In our society two individuals may not live together, if they happen to be of different sex. Some anonymous letters reached H.Q. They forwarded it to our lady. She showed it to me. WHAT DOES HER ADVISOR SAY?
On the one hand, I undrestood her philosophy. But we are living in a society. We have to respect their sentiments.
Sushma wanted to come to Calcutta. I was eager to see my son. In the photo he seemed very handsome. He is now two years old. I never went home, during these two years.
That evening we went to a park. The full moon was rising in the East, spreading its milky sprays in the whole world. Geeta sat very near, encircling me with her arms, warm and soft, loving and tender. Her lips were nibbling my cheek. A celestial fragrance emanated from her body. We lay down, curling against each other. She removed the buttons of her jacket and I brought my mouth very closed to those soft buttery heaps, when we heard footsteps coming towards us…….
She bought some fine whisky and we went back home. The maid brought our food and she dismissed her. Sipping the drink and tasting the chicken, no more objectionable to me, we spent a pleasant evening.
I slept soon. In the dead of night, something was creeping over my body. When I switched on the light, I saw Geeta  licking my body, every inch of it, herself stark naked, her breasts full and the nipples erect. My body began to get hotter and hotter. She was lying over my body and almost bit my lips off.
My stuff stood up like a pillar and went into the tunnel in the valley, as easily, as a sharp knife into the soft cake……
Nex day, Sushma came with the kid. I had taken leave and went to the railway station to receive them. The boy was looking healthy and smart. Sushma looked even more bright. No one will say, it is not her child. On the way she asked me a number of questions, some very difficult to answer. Why am I staying with Geeta?
We used to go sight seeing. She was in a metropolitan city for the first time. The child too enjoyed the atmosphere in the children’s park etc. But she was very critical of Geeta. She is capable of doing anything, she said.

I told Geeta that Sushma is willing for a transfer to Calcutta. Will Madam help?
The day for their departure came. The boy was crying, but no response from Sushma. When  we went into her room, she was lying dead. Blood was coming from her mouth.
Geeta: I always kept a bottle of cyanide for emergency. She must have taken it inadvertently.
I took the baby and Sushma’s baggage. I went to the railway station, without saying a word.

1) Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Why?

 A tomato is a fruit–I read this in a magazine 8 years ago, so you know it’s true.  It’s a fruit because of something with the seeds, I think…maybe something about how they grow, too…?

2) What about a coconut? Is it a fruit, vegetable, or a nut?

Although “nut” is in the name, a coconut is a fruit.

3) What are the defining differences between fruits, vegetables, and nuts (legumes)? In other words, what are the rules that we use to define fruits, vegetables, and nuts, so that we can tell them apart? Anyone know a good botanist?

Fruits usually are sweet.  They grow from trees (bananas, apples, oranges, lemons), vines (grapes), bushes (blackberries, raspberries).  They have seeds.  They usually taste best when eaten raw.

Vegetables are not as sweet as fruits, typically.  They grow up from the ground (peppers, lettuce) or underground (carrots, radishes, potatoes).  They have seeds, and taste good cooked or raw–though don’t try to eat raw potatoes–NOT GOOD!

Nuts and legumes have a “meaty” consistancy.  They are high in protein.

We can tell all of these apart because we know what they are.  When seeing a new type of fruit, vegetable, or nuts, it’s usually easy to tell the difference–although there’s not a definite list of characteristics.  These are just a part of our schema for what we know to be fruit or vegetable or nut, and if they don’t fit the schema, then they are something different entirely.

I’ll start by saying that I’ve never been on the ocean, nor over it–I’ve waded into it, but I don’t think that really counts.  On top of that, I’m actually afraid of the idea of the ocean; I’m not a great swimmer, and the idea of hundreds of metres of water between me and the bottom scares the daylights out of me.  So it’s maybe surprising that I really enjoy books about remote islands–the remoter the better.  I have a dream of visiting Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, and read a great book this year (Curious Little World by Rex Bartlett) about a Canadian couple who went my dream one better and actually moved to Saint Helena from Winnipeg.

Peter Rudiak-Gould, author of Surviving Paradise: One Year on a Disappearing Island, had an entirely different motive when he moved to Ujae in the Marshall Islands, situated halfway between the Philippines and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.  He went to teach English for a year on this remote island in a remote archipelago which is a protectorate of the United States.  As the only foreigner on an island whose nearest neighbour is 30 miles away, Rudiak-Gould faced special challenges.

The author was only twenty-one when he landed on Ujae for the first time, committed to spending a year there teaching English to students in one of the worst schools in one of the worst educational systems in the entire Pacific.  He not only faced the challenges of teaching children who were largely unmotivated, but parents who didn’t seem to care that much about education either.  Outside of school, he faced a culture very different from his own, seeming to treat its children with a disregard that was shocking to him.  It was far removed from the tropical paradise he had imagined when he signed up to teach there, and the language barrier, food, lodgings, and climate all challenge him greatly.

Rudiak-Gould writes well–passionately and intellectually–about his experiences and frustrations, and comes to understand his new home to a degree which seemed impossible at the start, although ultimately he realizes the island and its culture are too different from his own for him to become truly at-home there.  Like the best travel literature, Surviving Paradise teaches us as much about our own culture as about the foreign culture within which the book immerses us.

this week the Coconut Palms are $59. each, 2 for $100- Bottle Palms are $79 each or 2 for $150- Bamboo palms (solitaire) are $29-$39- and Large Foxtail Palms (10-13 ft tall) are $65-$99)

get out the cutting board and a BIG knife

slice off the tip

cut away husk to reveal the 3 lines

carefully find a soft spot with your knife and hack in

slice round in a circle

 

pop the top open

mmmm, look at all the water!

grab a jar and a funnel

nice amount for like 1/2 the price

scrape out the flesh with a spoon

 

the fleshy goodness

lovely jar of coconut (flesh)

I buy my Young Coconuts anywhere I see them under $2.00 each.  They are not usually organic that way, but my budget does not allow me to always buy organic.  Hiss, boo I know.  I can usually find the young variety on sale this time of year, not sure why because they are a year round fruit, at places like Ralph’s, Albertsons and sometimes WF has a sale! I have heard that Asian markets have them too, but at mine they are not a great deal cheaper.  I love Love LOVE coconut water! So refreshing, and so good for you. I use the flesh to make a pudding or just eat it right then and there.  This particular c-nut had very slippery thin flesh.  Sometimes you really hit the jack pot and get one with thick and almost crunchy flesh.  Thats how I like it!  Coconuts are one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man.  So grab your knife and get a hakin’!!! You will thank me later:)

Love + coconuts, Cassandra

I stepped into the Mercury Lounge with the taste of smoked salmon and cream cheese lingering in my mouth. Aside from the door woman and the bartenders, I was the first to arrive. It felt like the Twilight Zone and I was Henry Bemis. What Murakami book should I read first? Venturing into the backroom, members from Still Life Still were lounging with drinks and chatting amongst themselves. In a room of eight people, I was the only one not holding a frosty cup of ale in my hand. If there was a kids table, I would have taken a seat.

When STS meandered on stage, a couple of listeners showed up, but they stood as far away as possible. It was as if a chasm had opened up between them and the stage. I felt bad that they were welcomed with such little fanfare, but they played on as if it were MSG. Sporting a DD/MM/YYYY shirt, the lead singer waggled his head in time with the drummer’s, their hair swinging side to side like windshield wipers in a rainstorm. Their new record off of Arts & Crafts, Girls Come Too, was produced by the Scene’s Martin Davis Kinack and Kevin Drew, so you can probably picture the dreamy sounds and danceable beats that followed.

A three piece called Coconuts were next. They were comprised of two gangly long-haired fellows in flannel, and a drummer I could have replaced. No joke. They played noise rock, that started off with dissonant droning and led to crashing, formless melodies. The “girlfriend” in the room was easily spotted, ’cause she was the only one rocking her head with fervor. There were times when three songs melded into one, connected by tattered strings of distortion that you could hear ripping in the background. Did they do this because there wasn’t any time for applause, or were they not sure any would come? Next up were Birds Of Maya, who could also be classified as noise rockers, but they were much more enjoyable. The guitarist’s hands seemed to be stitched to his whammy, as if he were trying to build up his star power meter. The bassist had his back to the audience, except for the few times he turned around to belt out some inaudible lyrics. It was comical that, even when he turned around, hair was strewn about his face masking his identity. Most of their songs had riffs that reminded me of “Black Betty,” and It was hard to tell if they had any actual compositions or if they were just jamming out in front of the crowd.

Then came Philly’s hit maker, Kurt Vile. The body count ballooned to sizable proportions, and I witnessed a girl swoon as Kurt grazed by. The two bands before strummed loudly and used their amps as crutches, but they could only draw polite applause. KV played his first two songs by himself on acoustic guitar, and this made boys sing along with closed eyes while girls whipped their hair around like they were auditioning for a Whitesnake video. One of these songs was a yet-to-be-released track titled “Peeping Tomboy,” and even when Kurt messed up the chords a bit it didn’t matter. Lyrics like, “I don’t wanna change/ But I don’t wanna stay the same” were sung so earnestly that it kept the crowd entranced. It would not surprise me if Kurt worked as a snake charmer for the ol’ day job.

Kurt was later joined by The Violaters, which includes J Turbo, who switched it up from bass to sax-a-ma-phone to harmonica and back. He wielded a sax on fan favorite “Freak Train,” which has Kurt screaming like he’s chasing after a thief. They then played half of Kurt’s upcoming Matador release, Childish Prodigy, and the performance displayed the group’s range fabulously. From lo-fi clatter to home-spun Americana, they could do no wrong on this night.

Now I finally know what all the fuss is about.

Tour Dates
Oct 9   Eclectic House – Middletown, CT
Oct 10  Oberlin College (Dionysus Disco) – Oberlin, OH
Oct 11  Al’s Bar – Lexington, KY
Oct 12  Video Saloon – Bloomington, IN
Oct 13  Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL
Oct 14  7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
Oct 16  The Palace – Missoula, MT
Oct 17  High Dive – Seattle, WA
Oct 18  Holocene – Portland, OR
Oct 20  Jumbalaya – Arcata, CA
Oct 21  Hemlock Tavern – San Francisco, CA
Oct 22  Crepe Place – Santa Cruz, CA
Oct 23  Spaceland – Los Angeles, CA

Link to this article:
http://www.breakthruradio.com/index.php?b=review.php?id=180

- Phillip Nguyen

Hammered Brown Coconuts, to be precise, showing through the White vinyl Palm Tree graphics. This is tropical relaxation in the form of a new MILLTONE Tunable Steel Tongue Hand Drum.

Model 4G-HBRN-294, Oct. 6, 2009

First Appearance of These Bird Like Tongue Tips

Fun and Easy to Play, Enjoy!

Click here to visit the eBay auction for this MILLTONE. Place a bid and relax.

Thank You