"It's Just A Stupid Movie!"

As would be me, I'm writing this about a week later than I meant to, hah.  On September 12 we woke up to news of the outbreaks of riots in Egypt and Libya.  The New York Post ran the front page cover, "It's Just A Stupid Movie!"

That cover bugged me a little.

Yes, it's just a lame video.  But obviously it was significant in other parts of the world not viewing it through American eyes.

We are lucky to have free speech in this country.  The views of all, especially those that challenge our own, should be supported.  New, exceptional truths often come from unexpected places, initially met with resistance.  Jesus seems a perfect example of that one, else he might have lived a little longer...

We are lucky to have the right to free speech in this country, but there is always that side of our people which wants to take our freedoms for granted.  There is a streak of righteousness in us, feeling we are free to do and say as we please.  This last outbreak of riots in the Mideast and beyond is a clear example that shows what we do/say can have DEADLY repercussions.  Rights are not absolute; rights come with responsibilities.

A friend of mine was shocked when I suggested the maker of that video should maybe be prosecuted, saying critical views of religion should be protected.  Except that this isn't the case here, that video is hardly a "critical view" of Islam.  The video was made for obviously inflammatory purpose.  Re-release on or shortly before September 11th, with Arabic subtitles!  Unlike the country preacher, who even he in the end realized the potential repercussions and did not burn the Koran, this guy was entirely savvy about the current state of the middle east ready to blow, purposely trying to ignite the fire.  

There is an exception to our free speech; there are laws against yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater.  If this video didn't create an unnecessary danger, causing injury and loss of life around the World, then I don't know what would.  

9/11 R.I.P.

Here we are again another year later.  The media's calling it Day of Remembrance, though here in NYC it's impossible to not be reminded, on a daily basis, for 11 years now.

I have the utmost respect for those who lost their lives, those who had their lives torn apart, and celebrate the tremendous spirit of responders called to give of themselves for their fellows in need.  We shall, of course, remember and honor.  Let me first be clear that everything that follows is meant with the utmost respect.

I sometimes wonder about Pearl Harbor.  The two events were not the same, only just the most similar, the only similar events in American History.  There were many obvious differences but the similarities beg for comparison.  How was Pearl Harbor remembered and honored at the time?  How much did it take over the psyche of the country in the months and years afterward?  How long did it take to plan and build the memorial, for that matter.  Granted, the following wars were very different.  The difference I wonder about is the sensationalist media-driven world of modern day where we are constantly inundated with images and news of that horror.  If your family was a victim of a horrible tragedy, how would one be able to heal and move on with their lives if every day, day in and day out the reminders never stopped?

The question is not one of remembering or forgetting, but one of moving on.

My Happiness is Worth More Than Your Misery: An Aha Moment Memoir

People were talking about "Aha!" moments in life, a la Oprah.  Life's full of lessons but there is one defining moment that changed me forever more.  The particular situation of how this starts out might not be something everyone can relate to though whether or not you got into fist fights in school, getting pissed off is pretty universal...

Growing up in the countryside where I did was a lot more rough and tumble than what most kids grew up with.  Girls weren't necessarily so fragile, tomboys might rough and tumble right alongside the boys.  Kids in school always found it amusing when a new girl from out of area started a fight, thinking scratching and hair pulling would do the trick, ill prepared for where girls fight like boys.

At the end of lunch one day a girl confronted me.  I've long forgotten her name, one of those school mates you just never got along with.  I don't remember why she was mad, something pushed her to the breaking point.  I had never known her to get in any fights the couple of years I had known her, she wasn't a fighter so far as I knew.

Personally, I had enough on my plate.  I was in enough of a pickle at the time, I really couldn't afford to get into any more trouble, the consequences of which would have been... Severe.  So there I was, in front of all my friends, her friends, in front of the whole school out for lunch... Challenged to a fight I had no interest in getting into but no way you want to look like the chump with everyone there watching.  They say you should just walk away but that's just not a great option in reality when you still end up looking like the loser.  Or should I say, Loser.

Thoughts fly through your head faster than things happen around us.  A million thoughts can go through your mind in milliseconds.  In that moment, walking past the cafeteria, in the moment of decision all these thoughts poured through my head.  I couldn't afford to get into a fight.  The consequences of my getting into trouble was not worth getting into this fight.  I don't even like you!  You are not worth my getting into trouble for you, whom I don't even like.

The moment seemed almost in slow motion as all these thoughts poured through my brain.  What else could I do if I wasn't going to kick her ass?  In that second of time and a million thoughts later, without missing a stride I turned back to look at her, snort-chuckled and said, "You?" shaking my head as if in disbelief, turned back around and kept on walking.  Dismissed.

I snuck a second look over my shoulder after walking away and the look of pain and complete and utter horror on her face was the most satisfying Burn ever!  And I didn't even have to do anything!  Kicking her ass might have had it's satisfying points but Nothing compared to scoffing someone off as not even worth the attention.  With less risk of injury or trouble with the law!

Alright, typically we're not getting challenged to physical fights but this conflict aversion trick has served me well over the years.  Nothing is more infuriating that being ignored.  The trick is not just to walk away, the key is to dismiss them and what they're saying as beneath you, not worth the time of day.  Though I later reconsidered the wisdom of turning my back on an irate subway rider... In  retrospect, there are some crazy people in this town it's a better idea to keep your eye on! Hah.

As satisfying as that burn was, the Aha! moment came in that slow motion millisecond before walking away.  Fist fights in school aside there are plenty of times assholes and stupid people, stupid things want to piss us off.  Maybe it took that rock and a hard place to make the consequences clear but that thought has had a lasting impression over the years.  I don't like being pissed off.  Being upset isn't an enjoyable use of my time.  Before I let some dumb bloke push my buttons I'll usually realize that whatever it is, something I don't like and don't care about is not worth the bother.

Live life well  :-)

Soooooo YUMMM It's Almost a Sin to Admit it's Healthy! -- Veggie Bean Patty Endive Wraps with Mango Chutney & Tomato

Something mundane like sharing a recipe seems would make for a good start to this blog.  Besides which, I can't wait to share this!!!  Although this dish is incredibly healthy in every way, once we tried it it is just so deliciously good that it doesn't seem right to call it healthy!  Restaurant worthy, deceptively healthy, if you try this you have to forget how good for you it is and just look forward to some good food :-)

Now that you know this should not be thought of as health food, then I can tell you how good for you it is!  I originally came up with this dish for a friend who has been diagnosed with kidney failure.  Recommended diets for kidney disease limits sodium intake as well as low potassium and low protein so this dish is spiced using no salt and can actually be made entirely vegan, in addition to being gluten-free.

The hardest part of this dish is making the veggie bean patties (recipe below) but using the regular sized cans of beans makes a lot.  This dish makes a great appetizer for a dinner party but whatever extras you don't use can just go in the freezer.  Freeze them in individual patty servings and you can just pop out whatever you need when you want, and of course the patties can be used in other dishes.

The patties take about 10 minutes to cook, (longer if frozen).  I used my friend's George Foreman Grill which worked great.  Pan frying or baking should also work, if you use an outdoor grill you'll probably want to put foil down over the grill.  I made small-ish sized patties, about a teaspoon scoop, to fit the purpose.

Once you have the patties, this dish is as simple as taking an individual endive leaf, lining it with a layer of rice along the leaf spine.  Put your mini bean patties on the rice and top with mango chutney and diced fresh tomato.  Endives are reportedly has great antioxidants against breast cancer and other cancers, and tomatoes are also supposed to be good in antioxidants (though better when cooked).  We found a good organic chutney with no added sugars or preservatives, and used brown rice, a gluten-free whole grain.

Hope you'll enjoy!

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This is a very loose recipe with endless variations you could try with different ingredients.

Bean Veggie Burgers
1 16 oz. can black beans, drain & rinse
1 16 oz. can chick peas, drain & rinse
1 green pepper, fine chop
1 onion, fine chop
6 cloves minced garlic
1 8 oz. can waterchestnuts, fine chop (for texture, or I was going to try jicama)
1/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
3 tbsp diced sundried tomato
2 or 3 tbsp minced parsley
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp cumin
2 tsp sriracha thai chili sauce or other hot sauce
few dashes of Worcestershire sauce (*contains anchovies, leave out for vegan.  Lee & Perrins website states they are cholesterol free, fat free, preservative free, gluten free and has 80% less sodium than soy sauce)
1 cup bread crumbs (*gluten free bread crumbs)
2 tsp. corn starch, dissolve in 1/4 cup water (for binding, or you could use an egg)

Mash the beans & chick peas first, then just mix in all the other ingredients & separate into patties.

Introductions

Helllloooooo World!

This has been a long time coming, people have been telling me for years to start a blog.  "People need to know someone like you exists!" someone once told me.

As Viewed From Along the Edges is not to suggest I am especially edgy, hah.  In my rebellious teenage years I remember striving for a fine line I imagined along defiance, questioning, breaking the rules... just enough but not enough to get in serious trouble.  It occurred to me that rebelling too hard, too far makes you an "enemy of the state", to be locked away, criminal or insane.  Too far outside the norm and the message is not understood.  Few people listen to PETA when they throw red paint on fur coats; whereas in contrast, as much criticism as you may have for Gore's eco- push, he brought about more actual political buoyancy to the movement than had previously been possible by the original leftist groups.

Later in life I'll always remember a college friend commenting on my getting along with everyone, but that I'll never really fit in anywhere.  That is the life not as an outsider, but from along the edges.  Always almost fitting in but not quite, not being able to fit into any one completely precisely because I can fit in everywhere.

Makes for a unique perspective, I think.

I was going to use the title Talk, or Just Talk before deciding instead on Talk Story.  A pidgin term from Hawaii, talk story is the exchange of stories and ideas among friends which I think better underscores the importance I feel in community.  One person alone, an unexpressed idea, are meaningless alone in a vacuum.  It is only through our connections to each other that we, or information, gain any meaning.  Through our connections we become more than the sum of the parts.

So by all means, comments are encouraged! :-D