Today I find myself with very few answers but lots of observations and a few questions. First the observations.
Polarizing talk. If we aren’t engaging in it we are hearing about someone else who is or we are listening to it.
Talk radio. A big part of our lives these days. If we aren’t listening to it we are hearing the latest outrageous remark or accusation from someone else.
Television personalities. Many of them seem to have only part of the story but they inflate that part into the whole story.
Newspaper reporters. Under pressure to get the big story and with no time to do the background digging necessary to put events in context for readers.
The rest of us. We hate being lied to. We hate being fooled by a plausible story. We want the truth. Sort of. That is, if it isn’t too painful or negative.
Then the questions:
What is truth? Is it what I think is true? Or what you think is true?
Does truth have anything to do with facts? What is a fact? Do I care about facts? Or would I rather stick to my ideology?
Is ideology truth?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Comfort Food on a Rainy Day
Rain is predicted for today here in Northern California. A good day to make soup. Making my own soup is one of the easier ways to eat healthier and get a little comfort food. One of my favorite childhood memories is coming home on cold days and smelling split pea soup or bean soup simmering on the stove. Not to disparage anyone’s favorite store bought soup! It is just that I know what is in my soup. I control the amount of salt and no sugar, of course. And, as a vegetarian, I like being sure there is no meat broth hidden in the fine print. Here is a recipe for Split Pea Soup. This came from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. If you are not vegetarian you can always add some diced ham or even a ham bone to the soup at the beginning of the cooking cycle. The soup takes about 2 hours start to finish and most of that time you are doing other things while the soup cooks.
Split Pea Soup
1 ½ cups split green peas, sorted and rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
¼ cup chopped parsley (I use a handful of fresh parsley from my very small herb
garden)
1 tsp of dried marjoram
1 teaspoon of fresh or dried rosemary
1 teaspoon of paprika
Salt and freshly milled pepper
Aromatics (put them straight into the soup or in a small cheesecloth bag tied closed. You are going to discard this at the end of cooking and putting in a cheesecloth bag lets you pull them out all at once without hunting through the soup for them)
2 quarts vegetable stock (make your own or buy ready made. I frequently use Trader Joes vegetable broth.)
Mushroom soy sauce
1.2 cup of small croutons browned in olive oil
Cover the peas with water and set aside.
Heat the oil in a soup pot (I use a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and sauté until the onion takes on some color, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, parsley, herbs, paprika and plenty of pepper and cook for another few minutes. Drain the peas and add them to the pot along with the aromatics, 1 ½ tsp. of salt and the stock. Stir frequently at first to keep the peas from sinking to the bottom. Once the soup comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the peas have completely broken down, 1 hour or more. Add extra water if the soup becomes too thick. Remove the aromatics.
Season to taste with soy sauce or extra salt as needed. Serve with the croutons and chopped parsley in each bowl.
My own modification to this recipe is to use an immersion blender to puree the soup slightly because I like my soup thicker and smooth.
Perfect for a day like today!
Split Pea Soup
1 ½ cups split green peas, sorted and rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
¼ cup chopped parsley (I use a handful of fresh parsley from my very small herb
garden)
1 tsp of dried marjoram
1 teaspoon of fresh or dried rosemary
1 teaspoon of paprika
Salt and freshly milled pepper
Aromatics (put them straight into the soup or in a small cheesecloth bag tied closed. You are going to discard this at the end of cooking and putting in a cheesecloth bag lets you pull them out all at once without hunting through the soup for them)
2 quarts vegetable stock (make your own or buy ready made. I frequently use Trader Joes vegetable broth.)
Mushroom soy sauce
1.2 cup of small croutons browned in olive oil
Cover the peas with water and set aside.
Heat the oil in a soup pot (I use a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and sauté until the onion takes on some color, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, parsley, herbs, paprika and plenty of pepper and cook for another few minutes. Drain the peas and add them to the pot along with the aromatics, 1 ½ tsp. of salt and the stock. Stir frequently at first to keep the peas from sinking to the bottom. Once the soup comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the peas have completely broken down, 1 hour or more. Add extra water if the soup becomes too thick. Remove the aromatics.
Season to taste with soy sauce or extra salt as needed. Serve with the croutons and chopped parsley in each bowl.
My own modification to this recipe is to use an immersion blender to puree the soup slightly because I like my soup thicker and smooth.
Perfect for a day like today!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Financial Gurus: Funny and Infuriating
Some of the latest headlines on the economic downturn have been both funny and infuriating. Funny because some financial gurus are arguing that not spending money will lengthen the economic downturn. Infuriating because the headlines imply that the consumer has some control over the length of this economic downturn.
Wait a minute! Let’s have a little common sense here. What do these very well paid (and employed) financial pundits think families can use for money besides money? What happens when the family breadwinners lose their jobs? Where is this money we are supposed to be spending going to come from?
Besides lacking common sense, these financial pundits don’t seem to be facing reality. The news from the New York financial markets is grim. The downturn is worldwide. Do they somehow believe we are going to be able to go back to Spend Heaven anytime soon? Do they really believe the American worker is going to continue to support their inflated salaries and bonuses. Dream on, gurus!
Clearly, American families are facing reality. Yes, the time to cut back on spending and start saving is here and has been for awhile. Yes, the time to start cooperative buying groups has arrived. More instructions on how to do that can be found here. Yes, the time to share our surplus with others has arrived. The world has changed and we must change with it. Ignoring the financial gurus might be the smartest thing anyone can do right now.
Wait a minute! Let’s have a little common sense here. What do these very well paid (and employed) financial pundits think families can use for money besides money? What happens when the family breadwinners lose their jobs? Where is this money we are supposed to be spending going to come from?
Besides lacking common sense, these financial pundits don’t seem to be facing reality. The news from the New York financial markets is grim. The downturn is worldwide. Do they somehow believe we are going to be able to go back to Spend Heaven anytime soon? Do they really believe the American worker is going to continue to support their inflated salaries and bonuses. Dream on, gurus!
Clearly, American families are facing reality. Yes, the time to cut back on spending and start saving is here and has been for awhile. Yes, the time to start cooperative buying groups has arrived. More instructions on how to do that can be found here. Yes, the time to share our surplus with others has arrived. The world has changed and we must change with it. Ignoring the financial gurus might be the smartest thing anyone can do right now.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Great American Think-off
Things are about to get warmer in Minnesota as the Great American Think-Off question gets all our wheels of thought working overtime. The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center has, for the 14th year, posed a philosophical question for the rest of us to think about. This year’s question: Is it ever wrong to do the right thing?
Last year's winner, Craig Allen of West Linn, Oregon, won by answering the question: "Does immigration threaten or strengthen the United States?" (Answer: threaten). In 2007 the question was "Which should you trust more, your head or your heart? Answer: your heart by Paul D. Allick of Burnsville, MN.
In 2006 the Think-off posed a question we all should have answered: Which is more valuable to society: freedom or safety? The winner successfully argued that freedom is more valuable. In 2004 the question was “Should same-sex marriages be prohibited?” The winner of that debate, Robert Lerose of Urbandale, NY, argued that marriage has changed over the centuries but has remained strong none the less. The exclusive commitment of two people to each other can only strengthen the institution.
Enter the competition by sending a 750 word essay to the judges. Click here for the rules and entry form and here to read about the history of the competition. Winning essays are also posted on the website.
A free way to get us all thinking about important questions.
Last year's winner, Craig Allen of West Linn, Oregon, won by answering the question: "Does immigration threaten or strengthen the United States?" (Answer: threaten). In 2007 the question was "Which should you trust more, your head or your heart? Answer: your heart by Paul D. Allick of Burnsville, MN.
In 2006 the Think-off posed a question we all should have answered: Which is more valuable to society: freedom or safety? The winner successfully argued that freedom is more valuable. In 2004 the question was “Should same-sex marriages be prohibited?” The winner of that debate, Robert Lerose of Urbandale, NY, argued that marriage has changed over the centuries but has remained strong none the less. The exclusive commitment of two people to each other can only strengthen the institution.
Enter the competition by sending a 750 word essay to the judges. Click here for the rules and entry form and here to read about the history of the competition. Winning essays are also posted on the website.
A free way to get us all thinking about important questions.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The lure of Wall Street bargain hunting
Although I never intended for this blog to be a series of “how to” tips, I find myself wanting to pass on some insights about money, investing and how people who live in the world of money think about investing. I am not a financial guru and my inclination is always to distrust advice if it is repeated over and over again and if the advice is likely to benefit the advice-giver in the short term and the advice-taker only in the long term.
One piece of advice that I hear over and over these days is some variation on “Time to bargain hunt on the stock market”. The second most frequent piece of advice is, “Hold on to your investments for the long haul.”
The first of these two popular slogans comes from a variety of sources, including multi-billionaire Warren Buffett. Some people seem to believe that if Warren Buffett thinks it is a good time to go bargain hunting on Wall Street then it must be a good time for all of us to get out there and buy stocks.
Unfortunately, following Buffett’s advice will more than likely lead many small investors to lose what little shirt they have left. Here’s why.
Buffett, the financial genius behind Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company whose shares are worth well over one hundred thousand dollars each, has the financial muscle to purchase preferred stock at a 15% discount. So, Warren Buffett is purchasing the class of stock that is paid off first after debt if the company goes bankrupt. Common stockholders are paid last if the company goes bankrupt. He is also paying less for that premium stock than you will pay for the same stock. Also remember that preferred stock pays a guaranteed dividend whereas the common stock dividend is variable and is not guaranteed. For this reason some people classify preferred stock as debt since the company is required to pay the yearly dividend. The company also has the option of “calling” or purchasing back preferred stock, usually at a premium.
Along with the usual advantages that accrue to preferred stock shareholders, companies can also create special classes of stock with special privileges, such as 10 votes per share as opposed to the common stock voting privilege of one vote per share. My guess is that Buffett is frequently the beneficiary of these special classes of stock given the financial muscle represented by Berkshire Hathaway.
So what about the second piece of advice: Hold on for the long haul? That may depend on what stocks you own. We are in a highly volatile time of enormous change. Read, learn all you can about the investment climate and make your decisions based on solid research. Do not hold on simply because your financial advisor says that is the thing to do. Holding on for the long term may be good advice for one stock and not for another. No one has the experience to know exactly how things are going to change through this financial cycle. Research. Read. Here is one site but there are many others. Look here and here.
One piece of advice that I hear over and over these days is some variation on “Time to bargain hunt on the stock market”. The second most frequent piece of advice is, “Hold on to your investments for the long haul.”
The first of these two popular slogans comes from a variety of sources, including multi-billionaire Warren Buffett. Some people seem to believe that if Warren Buffett thinks it is a good time to go bargain hunting on Wall Street then it must be a good time for all of us to get out there and buy stocks.
Unfortunately, following Buffett’s advice will more than likely lead many small investors to lose what little shirt they have left. Here’s why.
Buffett, the financial genius behind Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company whose shares are worth well over one hundred thousand dollars each, has the financial muscle to purchase preferred stock at a 15% discount. So, Warren Buffett is purchasing the class of stock that is paid off first after debt if the company goes bankrupt. Common stockholders are paid last if the company goes bankrupt. He is also paying less for that premium stock than you will pay for the same stock. Also remember that preferred stock pays a guaranteed dividend whereas the common stock dividend is variable and is not guaranteed. For this reason some people classify preferred stock as debt since the company is required to pay the yearly dividend. The company also has the option of “calling” or purchasing back preferred stock, usually at a premium.
Along with the usual advantages that accrue to preferred stock shareholders, companies can also create special classes of stock with special privileges, such as 10 votes per share as opposed to the common stock voting privilege of one vote per share. My guess is that Buffett is frequently the beneficiary of these special classes of stock given the financial muscle represented by Berkshire Hathaway.
So what about the second piece of advice: Hold on for the long haul? That may depend on what stocks you own. We are in a highly volatile time of enormous change. Read, learn all you can about the investment climate and make your decisions based on solid research. Do not hold on simply because your financial advisor says that is the thing to do. Holding on for the long term may be good advice for one stock and not for another. No one has the experience to know exactly how things are going to change through this financial cycle. Research. Read. Here is one site but there are many others. Look here and here.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Everything Matters
As a child I remember thinking the world is so big, one butterfly, one bee, one flower cannot matter. Today I know that value and size are unrelated. I also know that while each little thing matters more than we will ever understand we, as individuals, have little control over many of those things that matter.
So, I frequently wonder about the things that are in our control: how we choose to spend our time and with whom; what we say or do not say to others; whether we make and sustain relationships or let them go; whether we wage war or live peace; whether we stay calm or panic in hard times; whether we differentiate our needs from our wants; whether we give from our small bounty or hoard in case of future need.
Small things make a difference in the long run, if not to the world then to me and the quality of my life. What I really want is a life in which I have some control over myself and what I do and experience. Surprisingly, money does not seem to enter into the equation. My actions and attitudes are what matters. If I want a relationship I have to make the choices that will nourish the relationship for me. I cannot control how others see the relationship but I can choose my response to the relationship.
If I want to live peace then I must do whatever it takes for peace to live in me. Chaos may reign around me but I can choose peace for myself even though no one else around me is making the same choice.
Almost everything we face in life presents us with a choice. I can choose to flow with the movement around me or choose to stand still and protest the movement. The choice is seldom easy. Sometimes the best choice is to hold on, but then sometimes letting go is a better choice. Sometimes holding on for awhile then letting go is the best choice. Each life is different, each person is different. Each event makes different demands on us. The only thing that remains is our willingness to adapt: to change our behaviors and our attitudes in response to the events impacting our lives.
An NPR report on living during the Great Depression included the story of a woman who remembered when her father lost his job and could not find another one. Her parents loaded as many of their possessions as they could into the family car and drove across the country to live with extended family. Her parents must have mourned the loss of their home and all they had worked for because we humans always mourn our losses. But they also took action: banding together with family to survive. Their material losses were large, but their relationships helped them to survive. Was it easy to leave everything? No. But they made a choice, took action and survived. No small thing in very hard times.
So, I frequently wonder about the things that are in our control: how we choose to spend our time and with whom; what we say or do not say to others; whether we make and sustain relationships or let them go; whether we wage war or live peace; whether we stay calm or panic in hard times; whether we differentiate our needs from our wants; whether we give from our small bounty or hoard in case of future need.
Small things make a difference in the long run, if not to the world then to me and the quality of my life. What I really want is a life in which I have some control over myself and what I do and experience. Surprisingly, money does not seem to enter into the equation. My actions and attitudes are what matters. If I want a relationship I have to make the choices that will nourish the relationship for me. I cannot control how others see the relationship but I can choose my response to the relationship.
If I want to live peace then I must do whatever it takes for peace to live in me. Chaos may reign around me but I can choose peace for myself even though no one else around me is making the same choice.
Almost everything we face in life presents us with a choice. I can choose to flow with the movement around me or choose to stand still and protest the movement. The choice is seldom easy. Sometimes the best choice is to hold on, but then sometimes letting go is a better choice. Sometimes holding on for awhile then letting go is the best choice. Each life is different, each person is different. Each event makes different demands on us. The only thing that remains is our willingness to adapt: to change our behaviors and our attitudes in response to the events impacting our lives.
An NPR report on living during the Great Depression included the story of a woman who remembered when her father lost his job and could not find another one. Her parents loaded as many of their possessions as they could into the family car and drove across the country to live with extended family. Her parents must have mourned the loss of their home and all they had worked for because we humans always mourn our losses. But they also took action: banding together with family to survive. Their material losses were large, but their relationships helped them to survive. Was it easy to leave everything? No. But they made a choice, took action and survived. No small thing in very hard times.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Thinking Positively vs. Positively Thinking
Think positively is the mantra of the moment. Got a cold? Think positive and keep moving. Lost your job? Think positive – you’ll find another and better one. Family problems? Think positive and a solution will present itself.
The fans of “think positive” often go even further than just thinking and suggest a daily course of affirmations. The use of affirmations is based on the belief that daily repetition of positive statements like “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.” or “My perfect job is coming toward me right now!” will change your life and your attitude and attract to you the things you desire.
Maybe. Possibly. When the Moon is in the 7th house…
Better than thinking positively is positively thinking. That is, realistically evaluating what you need and what resources you have to meet that need.
The problem with thinking positive is most people do not follow up with positive action. Action remains in the realm of thought. Yet, without action, thinking tends to be a dead end way of dealing with a problem.
Heinz von Foerster, a physicist, philosopher and one of the originators of cybernetics, said, “If you desire to see, learn how to act”. I understand that to mean that to even see the problem clearly, to even think about a problem clearly, we must learn to act on the problem. In other words, by taking some action we move ourselves from the world of thought into the world of action. Our actions may not solve the problem completely but they will indicate a starting place from which we can move toward a solution. In other words, by taking some action, any action, we obtain a different view of the problem and possible solutions become clearer to us.
Think about the problem of finding a job. Start with an action: make a list of every job you have ever had and the responsibilities of the job. Now think about your list. Which jobs gave you a success experience? Another action: put a star next to the jobs which gave you a success experience? Think again: what do those jobs have in common? The next action: list those things.
Notice the movement between action and thought, action and thought. By alternating the two, you can refine your list to the point where you are so very clear about where you want to be and what kind of job you want to do, that you will be able to begin a focused job search.
The fans of “think positive” often go even further than just thinking and suggest a daily course of affirmations. The use of affirmations is based on the belief that daily repetition of positive statements like “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.” or “My perfect job is coming toward me right now!” will change your life and your attitude and attract to you the things you desire.
Maybe. Possibly. When the Moon is in the 7th house…
Better than thinking positively is positively thinking. That is, realistically evaluating what you need and what resources you have to meet that need.
The problem with thinking positive is most people do not follow up with positive action. Action remains in the realm of thought. Yet, without action, thinking tends to be a dead end way of dealing with a problem.
Heinz von Foerster, a physicist, philosopher and one of the originators of cybernetics, said, “If you desire to see, learn how to act”. I understand that to mean that to even see the problem clearly, to even think about a problem clearly, we must learn to act on the problem. In other words, by taking some action we move ourselves from the world of thought into the world of action. Our actions may not solve the problem completely but they will indicate a starting place from which we can move toward a solution. In other words, by taking some action, any action, we obtain a different view of the problem and possible solutions become clearer to us.
Think about the problem of finding a job. Start with an action: make a list of every job you have ever had and the responsibilities of the job. Now think about your list. Which jobs gave you a success experience? Another action: put a star next to the jobs which gave you a success experience? Think again: what do those jobs have in common? The next action: list those things.
Notice the movement between action and thought, action and thought. By alternating the two, you can refine your list to the point where you are so very clear about where you want to be and what kind of job you want to do, that you will be able to begin a focused job search.
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