Here are two highly recommended lentil soups -- one for brown lentils, the other for red -- both from Melissa Clark. This Lentil Soup Can’t Get Much Easier Served plain and simple or garnished to the hilt, this velvety recipe may just remind you how deeply satisfying brown lentils can be. This minimal, straightforward soup … Continue reading It’s that time of year — proven lentil soup recipes
Month: February 2019
Happiness as a skill and a choice
One fact that often comes to mind is that the very act of smiling makes you happier.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/12/opinion/sunday/women-older-happiness.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage The Joy of Being a Woman in Her 70s Many of us have learned that happiness is a skill and a choice. By Mary Pipher Dr. Pipher is a clinical psychologist. Jan. 12, 2019 When I told my friends … Continue reading Happiness as a skill and a choice
Polar vortex-triggered cold as an extreme weather event
Two brief discussions -- one from NPR's News Hour on TV, the other from investigative master Mother Jones -- of the current record-breaking cold produced by a change in the polar vortex patterns are exactly the type of extreme weather events we can expect to continue as our climate warms and changes. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-the-midwests-deep-freeze-may-be-a-consequence-of-climate-change https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2019/01/if-you-thought-the-polar-vortex-was-bad-whats-happening-now-is-genuinely-shocking/ If … Continue reading Polar vortex-triggered cold as an extreme weather event
US isn’t the only country with a brutal immigration policy — check out Australia
The current administration's separation of families and expanding detention facilities run by private prison operators are definitely appalling. But Australia's approach isn't any better, just customized for its views and circumstances. The irony of a detainee's book receiving a top price -- particularly when it was written on WhatsApp -- is limitless. Book Written by … Continue reading US isn’t the only country with a brutal immigration policy — check out Australia
Yay! A place for shaming companies that use egregious packaging
Plastic is the evil here. I got to the gym yesterday with a new padlock that I simply couldn't open -- sealed in hard plastic with no place for entry. Had to dig up scissors. That's just wrong. But the more usual, daily problem is produce packaging in the store and boxes that are way … Continue reading Yay! A place for shaming companies that use egregious packaging
If true, vaping may be an effective way of quitting smoking altogether
These results are very preliminary and limited in application. Even if this study proves to be valid, I find the percentage of those who are successful at quitting extremely depressing. Note two important omitted points. One -- many (most?) people who successfully quit do so without the aid of patches or other methods that are … Continue reading If true, vaping may be an effective way of quitting smoking altogether
Going green has benefits beyond the obvious
Stoves that use renewable energy sources rather than depleting the local forests that stabilize the agricultural land and water supply have far more benefits than those obvious "green" consequences. They also keep the cooks and their families from breathing toxic fumes, save the time spent foraging for fuel, and more. Unfortunately, the personal safety issue … Continue reading Going green has benefits beyond the obvious
Context is everything — January actually a record-breaking month for HEAT
Many parts of the US just suffered thru historically abnormal cold temperatures but turns out they lasted a fairly short percentage of the month. January turns out to have been record-breaking overall for heat as explained by one of my favorite weather and climate experts and fanatics, Eric Holthaus, formerly with the WSJ, now with … Continue reading Context is everything — January actually a record-breaking month for HEAT
Fuzzy statistics, cats, dogs — what more could you ask?
Anecdotally we all know that that area a (watch for this scientific word) slew of cats and dogs in the US, most of them well-treated pets. But how many cats and dogs are there? Turns out that the numbers are uncertain, fuzzy, and basically impossible to pin down. A fun article for a Sunday morning. … Continue reading Fuzzy statistics, cats, dogs — what more could you ask?
Climate change includes more extreme events as well as global warming
Those who prefer simple explanations find it difficult to reconcile extreme weather events with climate change. Unfortunately, warming over an extended period in one area can intensify the winds, currents, or other conditions in a nearby region. The extreme cold we've just seen from the diversion and splitting of the normal seasonal polar vortex pattern … Continue reading Climate change includes more extreme events as well as global warming
Maybe it’s time to read some of the books you collected over the years for “some day”
When I made my last big move, I cut the size of my library by half but still had stacks of books on the back of the kitchen counter once I'd reshelved everything onto the shelves I'd kept. One of the most fantastic events in my reading world was the introduction of the Amazon Kindle. … Continue reading Maybe it’s time to read some of the books you collected over the years for “some day”
Juggling more than one book at a time without going nuts
Having time to read anything I'd like is a major joy in retirement, but the volume of possible choices is even worse than today's golden age of TV. I often am reading at least 2-3 books at a time. BookRiot is a favorite source of trivia, ideas, and lists of everything related to the written … Continue reading Juggling more than one book at a time without going nuts
Abycats' Thoughts 