Elaine and Manfred Krankl own a cult winery in California called Sine Qua Non that makes wines that get soaring numbers from Mr. Parker. A friend of mine gets an allocation of these wines which I was totally unaware of. He is trying to sell some of his allocation, he has some Syrah and some Grenache so if anyone is interested drop me a note.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
We Spend So Much on Health Care Because We are Fat and Eat Badly
Read all about it in Michael Pollan's NYT OP Ed piece.
If we're going to reform health care we have to reform the food industry.
Fat chance (pun intended).
Interesting statistic from the piece:
30 percent of the increase in health care spending over the past 20 years could be attributed to the soaring rate of obesity, a condition that now accounts for nearly a tenth of all spending on health care.
If we're going to reform health care we have to reform the food industry.
Fat chance (pun intended).
Interesting statistic from the piece:
30 percent of the increase in health care spending over the past 20 years could be attributed to the soaring rate of obesity, a condition that now accounts for nearly a tenth of all spending on health care.
Burma Update
Amazingly brave Op Ed written by U Win Tin a senior member of the opposition in Burma:
Washington Post (Oped): An 'Election' Burma's People Don't Need
By U Win Tin
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb's recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue -- the potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.
In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma's people.
While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue -- based on peace and mutual respect -- that could address Burma's critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake -- these two issues are linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.
The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase "elections" and claiming that "disciplined democracy" will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined "foreign ties" from holding public office -- catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.
Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.
The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organize. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.
How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Burma's regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbors, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China." Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Burma's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Burma's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.
In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.
U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Burma's National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.
Washington Post (Oped): An 'Election' Burma's People Don't Need
By U Win Tin
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb's recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue -- the potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.
In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma's people.
While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue -- based on peace and mutual respect -- that could address Burma's critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake -- these two issues are linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.
The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase "elections" and claiming that "disciplined democracy" will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined "foreign ties" from holding public office -- catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.
Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.
The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organize. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.
How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Burma's regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbors, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China." Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Burma's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Burma's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.
In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.
U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Burma's National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.
French Fries, Cheese Curds and Gravy = Poutine
I was walking up Ludlow street the other day on my way to Yoga when I pass this woman washing the window of this new restaurant called T Poutine.
I laughed and said to her: You must be French Canadian?
She was Canadian, but an anglo who had lived in Montreal.
When I was a kid my favorite meal when I went out with my grandmother to the Kresges food counter was french fries and gravy with a coke. So you can imagine my delight when I first went to Montreal in my late teens and discovered how much better this combo was when you added cheese curds! Hot fries out of the oil sprinkled with chunky curds and covered in gravy, the heat from the fries and gravy melting the curds creating a gooey, cheesy, gravy soaked, crispy potato orgy of wonderfulness!
In a way it's surprising it has taken so long for this hearty French Canadian dish to find it's way here, but I can tell you it was worth the wait.
Not only does T Poutine specialize in Poutine they have items on the menu as well: Salmon, Steak, Chicken and Sausages my favorite is the there dessert rift on "Canadian" food:
Sweet potato fries dusted with cinnamon sugar and a side of Maple Syrup - Yum!
Cheese curds have never been so well represented on a menu, they have them panko coated and deep fried, in the Pot Pie with chicken gravy, chicken and peas, and my favorite, an ode to Montreal's famous smoked meat a Poutine variation that includes, yes smoked meat appropriately called: The Montreal Meat Lover
Dude lets down a few Molsons and check out this new Poutine place, eh?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Whole Foods Update
The other day I got an email from the folks at Food Democracy Now who not only have an essay and petition calling for CEO John Mackey to resign (my response when I first read his editorial) and also a poll.
They also link to the letter Michael Pollan wrote about how he is still shopping at Whole Foods. He believes their support of local farmers and long history of good deeds is more important then Mackey's thoughts on health care.
Tom Philpott weighs in at Grist he's not a big supporter of Whole Foods, nor does it sound like he shops their much. He points out a few interesting tidbits that were news to me like:
Fetishizing the creed of personal responsibility is a bit much, coming from a man who once assumed an Internet identity to pump up his own firm’s share price and talk down that of a competitor, which he was simultaneously trying to buy.
Apparently wikey wacky Mackey is well know for his out there behavior.
In the end Philpott concludes:
I deplore Whole Foods’ active lobbying to gut the Employee Free Choice Act. But I don’t shop there much anyway. I can’t be bothered to actively boycott Whole Foods—or denounce those who do.
In his article he mentions and links to a piece Barth Anderson wrote for Huffington Post.
Anderson comes closest to describing what I feel, which is not that I am so outraged by Mackey's views on health care, which I do find repulsive, (actually what I find more repulsive is that the OP ED in the WSJ started out with a quote from Margaret Thatcher: "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." What? That makes no sense. People who pay taxes shouldn't get something for them? It is everybody's money and is for the common good). It's that I feel duped, conned and lied to.
Anderson points out that the real issue here is how shoppers at Whole Foods, like myself, feel betrayed. The "core" shopper as we have been identified by natural foods marketing researchers Hartman Group. A core shopper is someone who shops:
with big concepts in mind (sustainability, worker rights, environmental, and various political issues), and you want food label claims proven to you. You like research, you like information, and you like knowing how things work in the food world.
He goes on to talk about how core shoppers are trendsetters, the point that really rings true to me is this:
The core consumer is more likely to choose to buy the product, then decide where to buy it. The "where" decision is based on a number of emotional factors, including which stores have a knowledgeable staff, which stores are perceived as having values similar to the shopper's, and which stores the shopper feels most comfortable in...
Bingo, emotional factors here I was spending all this money thinking I was supporting a good progressive, fair, company who was trying to do the right thing, not only by farmers, but by their employees and for the environment, only to realize that the guy who runs the place thinks it's all just a clever marketing tool to manipulate his shoppers so he can increase profits.
Michael Pollan's claim about not wanting to hurt farmers seems a little far fetched, as I see it their is very little local food at Whole Foods and the products carried are only from the biggest farms and rarely organic. Most of their produce is either from large California Organic companies or from "conventionally grown" mega farms in Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and other far off places.
There are a ton of disturbing inconsistencies with Whole Foods that I have mentioned here before, like what I see as their misleading labeling of seafood and the use of the MSC logo, but that is just the tip of the melting ice burg.
More than anything I don't feel like I am capital B boycotting Whole Foods, I just feel like I am over them. I'm really enjoying shopping at my local East Village "natural" store and spreading my dollars out to more local retailers. I'm lucky because I have the time to go around to smaller shops to get the things I need. My shopping is, and has been for a long time now, centered on farmers markets. This is where I go to first.
What Whole Foods really succeeded in doing very well was creating a nice place to shop in where you could get everything you needed under one roof. They capitalized on the "natural food" movement at an early critical point and exploited it for their profits. They cleverly marketed themselves as the we care we really care grocery store chain in order to give all their core shoppers the warm and fuzzy feeling we all wanted when shopping for our daily food.
More then boycotting them I feel I have just moved on, they aren't the only game in town and if I am going to be true to myself and my core belief's I need to make the extra effort (and it's not really much of an effort) to not only eating locally and seasonally, but to support local shops, not some big Texan owned multinational run by a freaky Ann Rand spouting Thatcher quoting nut job.
Debbie's Birthday Menu
White and Golden Peach Bellinis
Organic Local Edamame
with Maldon Salt
Mixed Organic Greens and Sorrel
with baked Goat Cheese
Sexleby Cheese Selection
House Made Sally Lund Bread
House Made Bread and Butter Pickles & Pickled Beets
Local White Corn Puddling Souffles with Cream and Chanterelle Fricassee
Salted Butter Carmel Ice Cream
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
with Maldon Salt
Mixed Organic Greens and Sorrel
with baked Goat Cheese
Sexleby Cheese Selection
House Made Sally Lund Bread
House Made Bread and Butter Pickles & Pickled Beets
Local White Corn Puddling Souffles with Cream and Chanterelle Fricassee
Salted Butter Carmel Ice Cream
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Watermelon Juice
This just in from Ecco Geek:
Ugly Watermelons Could Make Good Biofuel
New research has come out that indicates watermelon could make a good biofuel additive. Now, I know you're immediately cringing because watermelon is a food crop and that spells disaster, but the good news is that no one is proposing that we start taking over arrable land with watermelon patches. It turns out that 20 percent of every annual watermelon crop is unused because, well, it's ugly. Misshapen or bruised fruit doesn't sell, so farmers leave them in the field and take a loss. Those extra watermelons could be processed for their juice, which could then be made into biofuel.
Ugly Watermelons Could Make Good Biofuel
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