strida at areawearAreaware is a New York City based company renowned for unique design products with an emphasis on forward thinking technologies and original expression. Our products are decorative but go beyond ornament.
strida.us
Thursday, November 27, 2008
folding bikes
strida at areawearAreaware is a New York City based company renowned for unique design products with an emphasis on forward thinking technologies and original expression. Our products are decorative but go beyond ornament.
strida.us
mole poblano
The ingredient list is long, but many ingredients are used in small quantities and it is their subtle blending that makes mole poblano the classic Mexican dish. Fear not - a sublime dish waits for you.
* 4 pounds chicken pieces, skin on
* Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted, for garnish
Mole Poblano
* 9 mulato chiles
* 7 pasilla chiles
* 6 ancho chiles
* 1 cup plus 9 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard + additional as needed
* 4 - 5 tomatillos, husked and cooked until soft
* 5 whole cloves
* 20 whole black peppercorns
* 1- inch piece of a Mexican cinnamon stick
* 1 tablespoon seeds from the chiles, toasted
* 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds, toasted
* 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted
* 8 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
* 4 garlic cloves, roasted
* 3 tablespoons raisins
* 20 whole almonds, blanched
* 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
* 2 corn tortillas, torn into pieces
* 3 stale French rolls, cut into 1-inch slices
* 6 - 7 cups reserved chicken broth as needed
* 1 1/2 ounces Mexican chocolate, chopped
METHOD
In a large stock pot, parboil the chicken in water seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Drain, reserving cooking broth, and refrigerate until ready to assemble the dish.
Mole Poblano Sauce: Clean the chiles by removing stems, veins and seeds; reserve 1 tablespoon of the seeds. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a heavy skillet until it shimmers. Fry chiles until crisp, about 10 to 15 seconds, turning once; make sure they do not burn. Drain on paper towels. Put chiles in a nonreactive bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain chiles, reserving the soaking water. Puree the chiles in a blender with enough of the soaking water to make a smooth paste. It may be necessary to scrape down the sides and blend several times to obtain a smooth paste. In a heavy Dutch oven heat and additional 1/2 cup oil over medium heat and add chile puree (be careful it will splatter). Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside.
Puree tomatillos in a blender. In a coffee or spice grinder, grind the cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, and toasted seeds. Add seed mixture and garlic to the pureed tomatillos and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Heat 6 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy frying pan. Fry each of the following ingredients and then remove with a slotted spoon: the raisins until they puff up; the almonds to a golden brown; the pumpkin seeds until they pop. If necessary, add enough oil to make 4 tablespoons and fry the tortilla pieces and bread slices until golden brown, about 15 seconds per side; remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon. Add raisins, almonds, pumpkins seeds, tortillas, and bread to the tomatillo puree and blend, using 1 to 2 cups reserved chicken broth, as needed, to make a smooth sauce. This may have to be done in batches. In a heavy Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add chile puree, tomatillo puree and Mexican chocolate(it will splatter) Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Add remaining5 cups chicken broth, cook over low heat for an additional 45 minutes, stirring often enough to prevent the mixture from scorching on bottom. During last 15 minutes, add parboiled chicken and heat thourgh. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve with Arroz Blanco.
Serves: 8
in mama's kitchen
* 4 pounds chicken pieces, skin on
* Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted, for garnish
Mole Poblano
* 9 mulato chiles
* 7 pasilla chiles
* 6 ancho chiles
* 1 cup plus 9 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard + additional as needed
* 4 - 5 tomatillos, husked and cooked until soft
* 5 whole cloves
* 20 whole black peppercorns
* 1- inch piece of a Mexican cinnamon stick
* 1 tablespoon seeds from the chiles, toasted
* 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds, toasted
* 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted
* 8 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
* 4 garlic cloves, roasted
* 3 tablespoons raisins
* 20 whole almonds, blanched
* 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
* 2 corn tortillas, torn into pieces
* 3 stale French rolls, cut into 1-inch slices
* 6 - 7 cups reserved chicken broth as needed
* 1 1/2 ounces Mexican chocolate, chopped
METHOD
In a large stock pot, parboil the chicken in water seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Drain, reserving cooking broth, and refrigerate until ready to assemble the dish.
Mole Poblano Sauce: Clean the chiles by removing stems, veins and seeds; reserve 1 tablespoon of the seeds. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a heavy skillet until it shimmers. Fry chiles until crisp, about 10 to 15 seconds, turning once; make sure they do not burn. Drain on paper towels. Put chiles in a nonreactive bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain chiles, reserving the soaking water. Puree the chiles in a blender with enough of the soaking water to make a smooth paste. It may be necessary to scrape down the sides and blend several times to obtain a smooth paste. In a heavy Dutch oven heat and additional 1/2 cup oil over medium heat and add chile puree (be careful it will splatter). Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside.
Puree tomatillos in a blender. In a coffee or spice grinder, grind the cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, and toasted seeds. Add seed mixture and garlic to the pureed tomatillos and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Heat 6 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy frying pan. Fry each of the following ingredients and then remove with a slotted spoon: the raisins until they puff up; the almonds to a golden brown; the pumpkin seeds until they pop. If necessary, add enough oil to make 4 tablespoons and fry the tortilla pieces and bread slices until golden brown, about 15 seconds per side; remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon. Add raisins, almonds, pumpkins seeds, tortillas, and bread to the tomatillo puree and blend, using 1 to 2 cups reserved chicken broth, as needed, to make a smooth sauce. This may have to be done in batches. In a heavy Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add chile puree, tomatillo puree and Mexican chocolate(it will splatter) Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Add remaining5 cups chicken broth, cook over low heat for an additional 45 minutes, stirring often enough to prevent the mixture from scorching on bottom. During last 15 minutes, add parboiled chicken and heat thourgh. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve with Arroz Blanco.
Serves: 8
in mama's kitchen
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
musubi
What You’ll Need:
• Musubi Press (get it at any kitchen or on amazon)
• 1 package firm tofu (cut into 1″ x 1/4″ strips)
• 1 butternut squash (skinned and cut into 1″ x1/4″ strips)
• 2 cups of sushi rice
• 3 tbsp Maple Syrup
• 3 tbsp Shoyu
• 3 tbsp Rice Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
• 1/4 cup Orange Juice
Directions:
1. Prepare sushi rice according to directions on bag.
2. Combine shoyu, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and orange juice into a marinade.
3. Lightly oil a casserole dish, put in squash and tofu, pour on marinade and bake at 350 for about 30 min until tender (but not mushy).
4. Cut Nori sheets into 1 inch strips. Each piece of Musubi will be wrapped by 1 strip.
5. Press rice in the Musubi Press, cut in half, add toppings, wrap with a nori strip, and seal the strip seam at the bottom with a drop of water.
For variations, try avocado, pickled radish, mushrooms, or other marinated veggies. Thanks to Aylssa and Jodi for this yummy treat!
November 28 is Buy Nothing Day
BUY NOTHING DAY is a holiday that is more important than Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, and yes - even New Years? Why, you ask? Because the integrity of the ecosystems we depend upon for survival hang in the balance. Consumption - something Americans are better at than the rest of the world, requires production. Production requires resource extraction. Every product has to be dug up, ripped out, cut down, or gathered - it doesn’t magically appear! Even greenwashed products, unless totally recycled or thrift, requires a piece of the landbase in some form. So on November 28th, let freedom ring - exercise your right NOT to go shopping!
reverend billy and the church of stop shopping
reverend billy and the church of stop shopping
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
herbert kohl
center for teaching excellence and social justice university of san francisco
Teaching for Social Justice
A veteran educator offers pedagogical and personal suggestions learned over 30 years experience.
By Herbert Kohl
It is a sad statement on the moral sensibility of our schools and society that one has to advocate for teaching for social justice.
As one of my elementary school students once told me, "You know, Mr. Kohl, you can get arrested for stirring up justice."
One problem is that many people - children as well as adults - do not believe that justice is worth fighting for. One cannot assume an idea or cause will be embraced merely because it is just, fair, or compassionate. Contemporary society values self-interest and personal gain over compassion and the communal good.
So what are social justice teachers - those who care about nurturing all children and who are enraged at the prospect of students dying young, going hungry, or living meaningless and despairing lives - to do? How can they go against the grain and use their classrooms to work in the service of their students?
My suggestions are both pedagogical and personal.
* First, don't teach against your conscience. Don't align yourself with texts, people, or rules that hurt children; resist them as creatively and effectively as you can, whether through humor or by developing alternative curricula. Try to survive, but don't make your survival in a particular job the overriding determinant of what you will or won't do. Don't become isolated or alone in your efforts; reach out to other teachers, community leaders, church people, and parents who feel as you do. Find a school where you can do your work and then stand up for the quality of your work. Don't quit in the face of opposition; make people work hard if they intend to fire or reprimand you for teaching equity and justice.
* Second, hone your craft as a teacher. When I first began teaching, I jumped into struggles for social justice. During one of my efforts a community person asked: "So, what's going on in your classroom that's different than what you're fighting against? Can your students read and do math?" I had to examine my work, which was full of passion and effort but deficient in craft. I realized that I needed to take the time to learn how to teach well before I extended myself with authority and confidence in organizing efforts. This is essential for caring teachers. We have to get it right for our own students before presuming to take on larger systems, no matter how terrible those larger systems are. As educators, we need to root our struggles for social justice in the work we do every day, in a particular community, with a particular group of students.
* Third, look around at the many effective ways of teaching children. I don't believe there is a single technique or curriculum that leads to success. Consequently, pick and choose, retool and restructure the best of what you find and make it your own. Most of all, watch your students and see what works. Listen to them, observe how they learn, and then, based on your experience and their responses, figure out how to practice social justice in your classroom.
* Fourth, it is not enough to teach well and create a social justice classroom separate from the larger community. You have to be a community activist, a good parent, a decent citizen, and an active community member as well.
Is all of this possible? Probably not. Certainly it isn't easy and often demands sacrifices. And at the end of the day it might also make you sad, because there is so much more that needs to be done, so many students who don't even have the advantage of a decent classroom and a caring teacher.
This leads to my final suggestion.
* Protect and nurture yourself. Have some fun in your life; learn new things that only obliquely relate to issues of social justice. Walk, play ball or chess, swim, fall in love. Don't forget how to laugh or feel good about the world. Have fun so that you can work hard; and work hard so that you and your students and their parents can have fun without looking over their shoulders. This is not a question of selfishness but one of survival. Don't turn teaching for social justice into a grim responsibility, but take it for the moral and social necessity that it is.
Herbert Kohl, author of numerous books on education, is director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco.
Teaching for Social Justice
A veteran educator offers pedagogical and personal suggestions learned over 30 years experience.
By Herbert Kohl
It is a sad statement on the moral sensibility of our schools and society that one has to advocate for teaching for social justice.
As one of my elementary school students once told me, "You know, Mr. Kohl, you can get arrested for stirring up justice."
One problem is that many people - children as well as adults - do not believe that justice is worth fighting for. One cannot assume an idea or cause will be embraced merely because it is just, fair, or compassionate. Contemporary society values self-interest and personal gain over compassion and the communal good.
So what are social justice teachers - those who care about nurturing all children and who are enraged at the prospect of students dying young, going hungry, or living meaningless and despairing lives - to do? How can they go against the grain and use their classrooms to work in the service of their students?
My suggestions are both pedagogical and personal.
* First, don't teach against your conscience. Don't align yourself with texts, people, or rules that hurt children; resist them as creatively and effectively as you can, whether through humor or by developing alternative curricula. Try to survive, but don't make your survival in a particular job the overriding determinant of what you will or won't do. Don't become isolated or alone in your efforts; reach out to other teachers, community leaders, church people, and parents who feel as you do. Find a school where you can do your work and then stand up for the quality of your work. Don't quit in the face of opposition; make people work hard if they intend to fire or reprimand you for teaching equity and justice.
* Second, hone your craft as a teacher. When I first began teaching, I jumped into struggles for social justice. During one of my efforts a community person asked: "So, what's going on in your classroom that's different than what you're fighting against? Can your students read and do math?" I had to examine my work, which was full of passion and effort but deficient in craft. I realized that I needed to take the time to learn how to teach well before I extended myself with authority and confidence in organizing efforts. This is essential for caring teachers. We have to get it right for our own students before presuming to take on larger systems, no matter how terrible those larger systems are. As educators, we need to root our struggles for social justice in the work we do every day, in a particular community, with a particular group of students.
* Third, look around at the many effective ways of teaching children. I don't believe there is a single technique or curriculum that leads to success. Consequently, pick and choose, retool and restructure the best of what you find and make it your own. Most of all, watch your students and see what works. Listen to them, observe how they learn, and then, based on your experience and their responses, figure out how to practice social justice in your classroom.
* Fourth, it is not enough to teach well and create a social justice classroom separate from the larger community. You have to be a community activist, a good parent, a decent citizen, and an active community member as well.
Is all of this possible? Probably not. Certainly it isn't easy and often demands sacrifices. And at the end of the day it might also make you sad, because there is so much more that needs to be done, so many students who don't even have the advantage of a decent classroom and a caring teacher.
This leads to my final suggestion.
* Protect and nurture yourself. Have some fun in your life; learn new things that only obliquely relate to issues of social justice. Walk, play ball or chess, swim, fall in love. Don't forget how to laugh or feel good about the world. Have fun so that you can work hard; and work hard so that you and your students and their parents can have fun without looking over their shoulders. This is not a question of selfishness but one of survival. Don't turn teaching for social justice into a grim responsibility, but take it for the moral and social necessity that it is.
Herbert Kohl, author of numerous books on education, is director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco.
su tung po
From one side the mountain looks rounded;
From another it is pointed.
Because one is on it, it is never the same.
One cannot know the true aspect of the mountain;
All one can know is that one is there.
From another it is pointed.
Because one is on it, it is never the same.
One cannot know the true aspect of the mountain;
All one can know is that one is there.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
birthday tarot
Wheel Of Fortune how you feel about yourself now
Perhaps you feel due for a bit of good luck or indeed are experiencing some at the moment. The Wheel of Fortune is a card of destiny. What is happening now we could call fate, so if positive things are happening with your love life, career or finances this is no coincidence. If no such things are happening, expect a sudden change in fortune.
The Hermit what you most want at this moment
The cards suggest that what you most want at this time is to know what to do, as well as companionship or a lover as you feel somewhat lonely or isolated at the moment. Perhaps you are feeling exhausted and in need of a rest - if you have been ill this is a time for rest and recuperation.
The World your fears
You are afraid of taking action and lack confidence and will power, but this is a time to be positive and proactive, otherwise you will experience loss of momentum, delays and stagnation. Completion and success are only a step away, don’t give up, lose heart or change direction when you are so close to the finish line.
Strength what is going for you
Brave heart! Your self-confidence and courageous spirit is unstoppable at the moment. Be patient and compassionate, self-disciplined and strong and you will reap great rewards for your courage.
The Hierophant what is going against you
You are simply struggling to conform to others expectations of you and everybody has an opinion of what you should do. Perhaps you are having a crisis of faith and are unsettled at a very spiritual level. Ask yourself who you really are? What is important to you? What makes you happy? Seek out advice or wise counsel if you wish, but accepting who you really are and going after what you want instead of what others want for you is the most important.
The High Priestess outcome
Your intuitive powers are at their height at this moment in time; only by listening carefully and trusting them completely can you embrace that power. Do this and you will make strong, clear, self-assured decisions. Allow for flexibility and expect promising outcomes.
from http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/readings/1_reading.php
Perhaps you feel due for a bit of good luck or indeed are experiencing some at the moment. The Wheel of Fortune is a card of destiny. What is happening now we could call fate, so if positive things are happening with your love life, career or finances this is no coincidence. If no such things are happening, expect a sudden change in fortune.
The Hermit what you most want at this moment
The cards suggest that what you most want at this time is to know what to do, as well as companionship or a lover as you feel somewhat lonely or isolated at the moment. Perhaps you are feeling exhausted and in need of a rest - if you have been ill this is a time for rest and recuperation.
The World your fears
You are afraid of taking action and lack confidence and will power, but this is a time to be positive and proactive, otherwise you will experience loss of momentum, delays and stagnation. Completion and success are only a step away, don’t give up, lose heart or change direction when you are so close to the finish line.
Strength what is going for you
Brave heart! Your self-confidence and courageous spirit is unstoppable at the moment. Be patient and compassionate, self-disciplined and strong and you will reap great rewards for your courage.
The Hierophant what is going against you
You are simply struggling to conform to others expectations of you and everybody has an opinion of what you should do. Perhaps you are having a crisis of faith and are unsettled at a very spiritual level. Ask yourself who you really are? What is important to you? What makes you happy? Seek out advice or wise counsel if you wish, but accepting who you really are and going after what you want instead of what others want for you is the most important.
The High Priestess outcome
Your intuitive powers are at their height at this moment in time; only by listening carefully and trusting them completely can you embrace that power. Do this and you will make strong, clear, self-assured decisions. Allow for flexibility and expect promising outcomes.
from http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/readings/1_reading.php
let the sun shine
"You are probably familiar with the term New Age, and you may have heard or read about the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. This simply means that we are leaving one age (Pisces), and entering into a new one (Aquarius). This happens every two thousand years - the last one coinciding with the arrival of Christ. What does this have to do with you? Well, it has quite a lot to do with you and everyone else on the planet. For a start, if you haven't already undergone any changes, you might be feeling the urge to change now, or you may be witnessing changes around you. Either way, you will certainly be aware that life on planet Earth seems to be going off the rails in one way or another. This is characteristic of the changing of the Ages as people struggle to adapt to the new energies. You will also have noticed certain major developments - such as science, computers and technology, all of which are now forming the backbone of our society. UFO's, alternative medicine, astrology, vegetarianism and other subjects previously considered weird or cranky are growing rapidly in popularity, and are all subjects associated with the sign of Aquarius. These subjects will become more and more commonplace, and astrology and other 'mystical' methods of self-help and understanding will help people to become more in tune with their spiritual selves in preparation for the New Age. People are already beginning to look within for the answers they seek, instead of outwards to money, possessions and other people. The more enlightened members of society will welcome the New Dawn with its emphasis on humanity, kindness, truth, spirituality and enlightenment."
You also probably have heard the song, Age of Aquarius, "the one about the time when Jupiter aligns with Mars. Well, there's really more to it than that, as Jupiter and Mars align relatively often. What's really remarkable about this epoch is the powerful change that will sweep through our world, the shift in mood, action and intention that is already palpable. The estimated start date is thought to be sometime around the millennium, but, though its exact start date is contested among astrologers, astronomers, theologians and others, the effects of the Age of Aquarius have already been felt."
read more here
You also probably have heard the song, Age of Aquarius, "the one about the time when Jupiter aligns with Mars. Well, there's really more to it than that, as Jupiter and Mars align relatively often. What's really remarkable about this epoch is the powerful change that will sweep through our world, the shift in mood, action and intention that is already palpable. The estimated start date is thought to be sometime around the millennium, but, though its exact start date is contested among astrologers, astronomers, theologians and others, the effects of the Age of Aquarius have already been felt."
read more here
Thursday, November 6, 2008
maple bacon ice cream
Serves 10
Elizabeth Falkner serves this with pomegranate reduction, puff pastry squares and apple cubes.
* 1 strip smoked bacon
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 2 cups milk
* 1/2 cup maple syrup
* 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
* 8 egg yolks
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions: Cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on a paper towel and chop finely.
Combine bacon, cream and milk in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a simmer then turn off the heat and let the bacon steep in the milk for 20 minutes.
Combine the egg yolks, maple syrup and brown sugar in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
Rewarm the bacon-cream mixture and gradually whisk into the yolk mixture. Pour the liquid back into the saucepan and cook over low heat until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain, add salt and cool completely in the refrigerator. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.
Per 1/2 cup: 315 calories, 5 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate, 24 g fat (13 g saturated), 242 mg cholesterol, 168 mg sodium, 0 fiber.
from the SF Chronicle
Elizabeth Falkner serves this with pomegranate reduction, puff pastry squares and apple cubes.
* 1 strip smoked bacon
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 2 cups milk
* 1/2 cup maple syrup
* 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
* 8 egg yolks
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions: Cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on a paper towel and chop finely.
Combine bacon, cream and milk in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a simmer then turn off the heat and let the bacon steep in the milk for 20 minutes.
Combine the egg yolks, maple syrup and brown sugar in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
Rewarm the bacon-cream mixture and gradually whisk into the yolk mixture. Pour the liquid back into the saucepan and cook over low heat until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain, add salt and cool completely in the refrigerator. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.
Per 1/2 cup: 315 calories, 5 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate, 24 g fat (13 g saturated), 242 mg cholesterol, 168 mg sodium, 0 fiber.
from the SF Chronicle
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
obama
last night i was relieved - this morning i cried - it's the first day i've ever felt good about an american president!here are some great pictures
seriously - obama on the internet
and more here
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
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