LENTILS

“Gratitude is the least of the virtues, but ingratitude is the worst of vices.” - Thomas Fuller

Lentils are a wonderful food – packed with nutrients, easy to cook in a variety of ways, easily complemented by many different flavours, they are a staple food in many cultures and available year-round. Lentils, like beans and peas, are legumes and are full of protein, fibre and micronutrients like molybdenum, manganese, iron, magnesium and copper. Their high content of fibre lowers cholesterol actively, and they aid in managing blood-sugar disorders since their high fibre content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. Lentils also provide good amounts of two B-vitamins with virtually no fat.

Lentils originated in central Asia, having been consumed there since prehistoric times, and are one of the first foods to have ever been cultivated. Lentil seeds dating back 8000 years have been found at archaeological sites in the Middle East. Lentils were mentioned in the Bible both as the item that Jacob traded to Esau for his birthright and as a part of a bread that was made during the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people. Before the 1st century AD, they were introduced into India, a country whose traditional cuisine still treasures a spiced lentil dish known as “dal”. In many Catholic countries, lentils have long been used as a staple food during Lent. Currently, the leading commercial producers of lentils include India, Turkey, Canada, China and Syria.

Lentils came to mind today as there is a restaurant chain in Melbourne known as “Lentil as Anything”. The good thing about these eateries is that not only do they provide good and nutritious food that is vegetarian and organic, but that what you pay depends solely on you, the customer! You pay what you think the food is worth and what you can afford. It is a fantastic idea and this non-profit food chain provides training and educational opportunities for marginalised people, as well as tasty vegetarian food for its customers. All funds collected by the operations goes to a range of services that help new migrants, refugees, people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed. Most people do not abuse the privilege of being allowed to donate what they can afford into the collection box and you pay what you can in a collection box, anonymously. Most people who eat there are generous and honest, but unfortunately there are some rat bags too…

This is the case in an incident that happened to Ousman Ngom, the manager of the Footscray branch of “Lentil as Anything” on Wednesday evening. While he was out shopping for the restaurant, two men set upon him with a knife and left a 10 cm gash from his ear to his mouth. He had to have plastic surgery. The attack is thought to have had a “revenge” motive as the two attackers were told the previous night to leave the restaurant as they were using foul language and being disruptive. It is sad that the attackers, who were arrested by police, are teenagers 18 and 19 years old.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in the Footscray branch of the chain, which has had many incidents of violence and disruptive behaviour. The general manager even toyed witht eh idea of getting a security guard! As this was one of the most violent and cowardly of attacks, the future of the restaurant in Footscray is now uncertain. It may well close. It goes to show that even when some people go out of their way to help their fellow human beings, they spend their lives doing good, being what each one of us should be, they may find themselves reaping violence and ingratitude as a reward for their good deeds. Some humans are inhuman, regrettably…

Here is a web page that has a wealth of different lentil recipes.

A BREEZE CALLED YASI

“The insufferable arrogance of human beings to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire merely to ripen men's apples and head their cabbages.” - Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac

Another natural disaster has wrought havoc in Queensland. This time the might of a tropical cyclone has all but destroyed one town (Tully) as its fury was unleashed on the coast and havoc was wrought once again on a state that was already suffering the effects of the deadly floods a couple of weeks ago. The fortunate thing about this disaster (if fortunate can be used in this context…) was that at least the cities of Townsville and Cairns were spared and to date there have been no reports of deaths, although a man is missing.

On the news this morning, there was a flash flooding warning as the forecast was for thunderstorms and possible heavy rains in localised areas. News from the USA tell of massive storms that have covered half the country in record snow fall. Reports from other parts of the world also have news of extreme conditions and unruly weather phenomena that have not been experienced within living memory.

These extreme weather disruptions seem to be occurring with alarming frequency these past few years, fuelling the climate change debate. The firm believers of the theory that the earth has started to undergo changes consistent with the greenhouse effect due to excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced by human activity, point to the changing weather as evidence. Skeptics of the theory point to statistics that go back (in some cases) for many decades or centuries, and the climatological evidence locked in sedimentary rocks, thousand-year-old ice deposits in the polar regions and to the fossil record going back for millennia that all demonstrate extreme weather conditions are a cyclical occurrence and we humans have to accept that we live on a friendly, yet whimsical planet!

I mentioned above the phrase “living memory”. This is such an anthropocentric and flippant yardstick when one looks at conditions that affect our planet and have cycles that recur every 10,000 or every 100,000 years – both of these time periods a mere fractions of a second (relatively speaking) on a cosmic scale. In earth’s 4.5 billion year history there have been so many extreme upheavals – in weather, geology, biology – that we puny humans, a late arrival in earth’s history, talk about events in “living memory” and ignore the evidence of billions of years and think in terms of the human lifespan. How insignificant we are, in cosmic terms!

When looking at the weather conditions in the last 10,000 years we are really blessed. Before that, our distant ancestors had to cope with an ice age that lasted for centuries. The big thaw was followed by weather that has been remarkably temperate. It is no surprise that now we are seeing some extremes. Perhaps over the next 500 or 1000 years our planet will experience yet another cyclic ice age (long overdue according to some scientists) –whatever we may choose to do or not do.

It is true that as species we are biologically successful. Within a remarkably small time period (three million years is a mere wink on a cosmic scale, remember) we have become the dominant species on earth. We have altered our environment on a massive scale and have forced thousands upon thousands of other species into extinction. We have selectively created conditions that favoured other species, while using up natural resources on an unprecedented scale – especially so in the last 100 years or so. As a species, we are resourceful and inventive, adaptable and intelligent, but unfortunately not wise (at least collectively speaking).

We pride ourselves on the technology that we have created and which allows us to have control over most of the processes and events around the planet, but compared to the might of Mother Nature, our power is risible. We may have sent man to the moon, yet we cannot control a category five tropical cyclone as it pummels into the shore. We may update our Facebook account and ring each other on iPhones, but we cannot control flood and drought. We may stage decadent, elaborate banquets or transmit the inanity of Master Chef programs on TV, yet millions of our own kind die of starvation annually…

My word for today is fittingly:

hubris |ˈ(h)yoōbris| noun
Excessive pride or self-confidence. Hubris often indicates being out of touch with reality and overestimating one’s own competence or capabilities, especially used in the context of people in positions of power.
• (In Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
DERIVATIVES
hubristic |(h)yoōˈbristik| adjective
ORIGIN Greek - ὕβρις

CANDLEMAS

“The soul’s impurity consists in bad judgments, and purification consists in producing in it right judgments, and the pure soul is one which has right judgments.” - Epictetus

Today is Candlemas (and/or Groundhog Day if you are in North America). Candlemas is officially known as the Feast of the Presentation, and commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the Temple, which took place 40 days after His birth as Jewish law required. According to Mosaic Law, a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered ‘unclean’ for seven days. Also, she was to remain 33 days ‘in the blood of her purification’.

In Luke there is a passage quoting Exodus 13:2,12, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to sacrifice a pair of doves, showing that Mary and Joseph were poor. Once in the Temple, Jesus was purified by the prayer of Simeon, in the presence of Anna the prophetess. Simeon, upon seeing the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord, singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
Your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
Which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the nations
And the glory of your people Israel.

The common name for the feast, Candlemas, comes from the activities associated with the feast. It came to be known as the Candle Mass. In the Western Church, a procession with lighted candles is the distinctive rite. According to post Vatican-II discipline, (if possible) the beeswax candles are to be blessed somewhere other than where the Mass is held. During the procession to the church, the Nunc Dimittis is sung, with the antiphon ‘Lumen ad revelationem’ (Luke 2:32). This procession into the church for Mass commemorates Christ’s entrance into the temple. Since Vatican II, the feast is reckoned a feast of the Lord (as opposed to a feast of Mary), and officially designated “The presentation of the Lord”.

Groundhog Day is rather more prosaic and is definitely more profane than sacred! The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet:

“If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
there’ll be two winters in the year.”

Every February 2nd, people gather at Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, in Pennsylvania, USA. They observe a humble groundhog (dubbed ‘Phil’) as it comes out of its burrow, and observe it to see whether it casts a shadow or not. This event in Punxsutawney was held in secret from 1887 until 1966, and only Phil’s ‘prediction’ was revealed to the public. Since 1966, Phil’s forecast has been widely broadcast by the media.

The groundhog comes out of his electrically heated burrow, looks for his shadow and ‘utters’ his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative. The representative then ‘translates’ the prediction for the general public. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner. Approximately 90% of the time, Phil sees his shadow.

FREEDOM DAY

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” - Abraham Lincoln

It is National Freedom Day in the USA today. It commemorates the signing of a resolution that proposed the 13th amendment of the nation’s constitution on February 1st, 1865. Abraham Lincoln, who was the president at the time, signed the resolution to outlaw slavery. This anniversary is annually observed on February 1st. Major Richard Robert Wright Sr, a former slave who founded the National Freedom Day Association, played a pivotal role in establishing the observance of this day. Major Wright was deemed as a community leader in Philadelphia and was active in education, the media, business and politics. He dearly wished to see a day dedicated to celebrating freedom for all Americans.

The first commemoration of such a day took place on February 1st, 1942, although it was not made into law yet. A tradition of laying a wreath at Liberty Bell also began. On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill to proclaim February 1st as the first official National Freedom Day in the United States. Wreath-laying at Liberty Bell, which symbolises freedom or liberty, has subsequently occurred on this day over the years.

This anniversary takes on an eerie significance with the situation that is evolving in Egypt and the way that it is threatening to involve the USA and the rest of the international community. The USA has traditionally been a strong ally of President Mubarak and now that the wrath of the people of Egypt has turned against their leader (whom they consider a dictator), America is finding itself in an embarrassing situation. It does not wish to alienate itself from a mighty nation that has risen up to fight for freedom, basic human rights and demand democratic elections (ostensibly all that the USA holds dear), but at the same time it does not wish to withdraw support from an ally and a leader it has openly supported for many years.

This embarrassment of the USA is manifest as President Obama’s silence and his unwillingness so far to urge Mr Mubarak to step down. It is a right royal bind! The USA has to reconcile its avowed support for countries that are struggling to put in place democratic reforms, with an actual legacy of supporting “friendly” authoritarian regimes (provided they are willing to serve US interests). President Obama has often spoken eloquently of America’s agenda to better relations with the Arab world and it is with interest that he is being watched in every nation to see whether he will stand up for the idealistic American values of Liberty, Equality, Democracy. The alternative is to remain silent and continue the legacy of secret agendas and realpolitik…

It is a fact that for many decades the USA spent billions of dollars a year in economic and military aid on Mr Mubarak’s corrupt, authoritarian regime. During this time, the USA turned a blind eye to the gross violations of human rights in Egypt, with the excuse that such policy “preserved stability in the region”. And so the boil continued to accumulate pus. All the while the pain of the average Egyptian increased as US funds disappeared to line private pockets of corrupt officials. Successive US governments and administrators knew of this situation but did not overtly criticise the Egyptian regime because of Egypt’s ally status to the USA and the delicate situation in what is a volatile region.

In 2005 Condoleezza Rice said in a speech in Cairo: “For 60 years, the United States pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East, and we achieved neither.” Quite a candid comment and an open admission of defeat of a policy that was obviously not working. US efforts to keep Mr. Mubarak and other US sympathisers in power in the Middle East may have avoided the return of war in the region (thus keeping the flow of oil free), they have certainly not brought stability and growth. As a result, these conditions have allowed extremism and terrorism to develop.

Happy Freedom Day, America!

CREATION - MOVIE MONDAY

“All evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy and misconduct.” – George Bernard Shaw

We watched a good film at the weekend. It was a historical/biographical drama co-produced by the BBC, which usually does an excellent job of such productions in terms of scenery, detail, atmosphere and settings. It was Jon Amiel’s 2009 film “Creation”, which dealt with the part of Charles Darwin’s life relating to the death of his daughter and his psychological struggles to come to terms with it. It is very much an interpolation so, often, historical fact has been sacrificed in the name of poetic licence. The resulting film should therefore not be taken as gospel truth and thus it is not suitable for high school educational purposes (especially in the sciences). However, I found it quite suitable as film to be shown in relation to teaching psychology and counselling as the plot primarily revolves around the loss of a child and a family’s trials in dealing with this.

Darwin’s theory of evolution and his book “The Origin of the Species” (a masterpiece of scientific enquiry) transformed ideas about the creation of the world and many hailed it as evidence against the existence of God. This was not Darwin’s intention and the ideas represented in this book are not contrary to the existence of God, but rather it is a warning against taking the Bible literally. The book of Genesis is a magnificent allegorical creation myth, akin to the creation myths of other religions. Accepting Genesis as a creation myth does not preclude faith in God nor does being a scientist mean that one cannot be a true believer. Much of what we have produced in our literature, in our art, in our most beautiful and inspired of activities has been for the glory of God.

The film, however, does have as one of its strong subplots, the debate between creationism and evolution (anachronistically and with poetic licence) placed within the context of Darwin’s struggle to complete his book “The Origin of the Species”, while coping with the loss of his daughter. It makes a good movie, but most of what is depicted is far from reality. As long as one is aware of this and makes allowance for the inaccuracy, one can enjoy the film for what it is: A man’s struggle with the death of his child, his faltering relationship with his wife and his estrangement from his other children. All this, while he is debating within himself the existence of what seems to be a cruel, vindictive God who takes innocent lives without any reason. Darwin may have become an atheist, but this is not the subject of the movie.

Darwin’s famous voyages are referred to in the film, and there are tantalising flashbacks to anecdotes that he relates to his children, but so much more could have been made of these –then again the film would have been a long mini-series, not a 108 minute movie. On the matter of flashbacks, oh boy! This movie has flashbacks, flashforwards, dream sequences, sequences of altered perception of reality, so many, that we the poor viewers have to wonder sometimes what is going on, is it past, present, future, or part of Darwin’s tortured view of reality where he sees his daughter’s ghost. This is the director’s fault as he co-wrote the movie with John Collee, based on the novel “Annie’s Box” by Randal Keynes. It is “arty” and meant to keep our interest up while “educating us” in terms of our artistic development as cultured cinephiles, but it got to be quite annoying really…

There is much in the movie and some scenes are very repetitive, especially so Darwin’s “loss of mind” and his extreme grief in reaction to his daughter’s death. There could be much removed from these scenes without impacting on the movie, and there is so much more that could have been added to clarify our perception of “Darwin the Scientist” as opposed to “Darwin the Man”. Paul Bettany does a great job acting the part of Darwin and relishes every second of his screen time. There is much praise to be given to his performance, although he very nearly overacts on occasion. Jennifer Connelly as Darwin’s wife also does an admirable job and looks quite stunning in many scenes, which she plays with more restraint. Top honours to Martha West who plays the ill-fated Annie Darwin, their young daughter. A winsome performance played with gusto and the right touch of poignancy.

The music by Christopher Young was saccharine for the most part and designed to twang the heart-strings, often verging on the maudlin. I enjoyed more the apt classical pieces that were used appropriately as Mrs Darwin was playing the piano and exteriorising her emotions. Overall, though, an enjoyable film which I recommend highly, provided one is aware of its shortcomings on the historical front and the business of flashing (forward and backward). The atmosphere is right and the film looks wonderfully authentic. It is touching and tender in parts, while at the same time psychologically tense and suspenseful in others.

EGYPT, LAND OF CULTURE AND ART

“It's a sad and stupid thing to have to proclaim yourself a revolutionary just to be a decent man.” - David Harris

One of the most pernicious and destructive effects of revolution is the mindless assault on civilisation, art, culture, and the devastation of heritage that belongs to all humanity. While the Egyptian unrest and anarchy is going on, however justified the uprising may be to its supporters, the destruction of artefacts in the Egyptian Museum and the looting that began (and was thankfully checked in time) is enough reason for any civilised person to oppose this form of insurrection.

It seems that whatever noble sentiment may cause a populace to rise up against its leaders and strive for freedom, it will also have many ill effects on the fabric of society. Anarchy by its very nature is a state of disorder due to flaunting of authority. This manifests itself in acts of lawlessness and chaos. Unfortunately it is not only the idealists and the downtrodden who are mobilised in such rebellions. There are also the riff-raff, the opportunists, the looters, the dregs of society who in that state of anarchy and lawlessness take occasion to show whatever is worst in the human character.

I have visited Egypt twice and enjoyed both trips immensely. Not only taking in the thousands of years of history, visiting the historical sites, museums and famous landmarks, but also enjoying the interaction with the people, their culture and their everyday life. It is extremely sad to read of the worsening crisis in this ancient land and learn of the threat the political situation is putting on the legacy of the Land of the Pharaohs to not only modern-day Egyptians, but also to the rest of humanity. I sympathise with the Egyptian people, but I denounce the acts of barbarity that are the fall out of revolutionary acts.

History is full of similar situations – one only need think of the French Revolution, the Bolshevik uprising in Russia, the storming of Baghdad by the mob following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and many more such cases. In all instances the cultural losses have been immense, although some would argue that any such loss is preferable to having people living in fear, subjugation, oppression, hunger and destitution. It’s a debate that can keep the adherents of both camps occupied for many hours.

Freedom, personal liberty, assurance of a dignified existence, respect of human rights and the expectation of a safe living environment, adequate food, water and a place to live in are the birthright of all human beings. Can we not as civilised human beings claim those rights without destroying our common world heritage?

For Art Sunday, a sample of Egyptian Art from the Cairo Museum, one of the great museums of the world and a world heritage custodian. These graceful geese are from Dynasty 4, ca 1680-2500 B.C. It is a detail of a tomb painting from the mastaba tomb of Nefermaat at Medum. Height: 27cm (Egyptian Museum, Cairo).

TEARFUL EGYPT

“In Egypt today most people are concerned with getting bread to eat. Only some of the educated understand how democracy works.” - Naguib Mahfouz

Well it was a beautiful summer’s day today in Melbourne, hot but not scorching, a breeze blowing now and then. We had a morning full of chores, but then visited the library and took it easy for while there. In the afternoon, when things started to get a little warmer we sat inside, where it was cool and watched a movie. Went out to dinner tonight ad the night finished relatively early.

The riots in Tunisia and Egypt are occupying a great deal of prime news time. The situation in Egypt especially seems to have reached a critical point. I read with amazement that the country had turned off its internet yesterday, something that I thought was impossible to do, but apparently yes, it did happen through the government putting pressure on the handful of internet provider companies that supply the whole country with its internet access. This is a half-baked attempt to quash dissent and anti-government feeling being expressed through social media and internet-enabled communication services… The truth will out one way or another and there surely must be more than one satellite phones capable of internet access connections.

Things are not good worldwide, and these latest riots are part of the disgruntlement and agitation that is evident around many countries throughout the world. Fortunately here in Australia, things are good and I am grateful for this.

As a special tribute to the Egyptian people tonight, I offer you a wonderful piece of music. It is a collaborative effort between Egyptian and Turkish musicians and called “Kolaymi?”, meaning, “Is it easy?” in Turkish. It is by Omar Faruk Tekbilek, taken from the Album “Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Brian Keane - Beyond The Sky” (1992).

LET'S DO LUNCH

“Let not the sands of time get in your lunch.” - Tony Hendra

Despite the holiday midweek, this was a difficult and busy week with much happening and long hours at work, as if to make up for the “lost” working day. In any case the weekend is nearly here and I look forward to some rest and relaxation. I’ll try to do the least work possible and enjoy the break. Sunday promises to be a scorcher with a forecast maximum of 40˚C so the best place to be is somewhere cool and shady!

I have been trying to have a bit more of a healthful diet, as well as increase the amount of exercise I regularly do. As the years advance, it’s so easy to put on weight especially if one likes good food and drink. Nevertheless, there are so many tasty, healthful, fresh and slimming food options out there now that it’s a shame not to take advantage of them. And one feels so good once the kilos begin to be shed.

I wrote about the benefits of a good breakfast last week so today I’ll write something about a good lunch. In Australia, where we work right through the day (unlike, say, in Mediterranean countries where a post-lunch siesta is the norm, followed by more work), lunch is often a rushed affair, with fast, unhealthy food more than likely the norm. Many people that pack a lunch from home end up eating sandwiches, which depending on the filling can be quite nasty. Others eat out and are tempted by pizza, fried food, chips and all sorts of other take-away horrors that are consumed quickly and on the run, or at our desk. Very few people will have the good option of a protein-rich staple supplemented by complex carbohydrates, fresh vegetables, with lots of fluid, preferably in the form of cool water or green unsweetened tea. Preferably, these will be consumed somewhere away from the workplace, giving us the opportunity for some exercise before and after lunch.

One of the first things to try and reduce in the lunch menu are butter, margarine, oils and all sorts of other fats. One can use substitutes. For example, why not try spreading your multigrain bread with some nice, ripe, mashed avocado? Cholesterol-free olive oil, used sparingly is another good substitute. Avoid mayonnaise, bought salad dressings, ready-made sauces and spreads of all kinds. Cheese can be packed full of fats and calories, although it may taste heavenly – eat sparingly! Cottage cheese is another matter, but its taste (or lack of) is another matter too…

Here are some interesting and healthful lunch suggestions for a whole week:

Monday: On Sunday night, put some chopped zucchini, capsicum, mushrooms and strips of chicken breast into a roasting tin. Lightly spray them with olive oil, season with paprika and ground pepper. Put in the oven on low heat until the chicken is well cooked and the vegetables are tender. Put in the refrigerator overnight. On Monday morning, pack the chicken and vegetables into a container and take to work with a wholemeal bread (or tortilla) wrap and a handful of ready-washed salad leaves. Assemble your wrap at lunchtime, just before you eat it so that it’s not soggy and tastes fresh – delicious!

Tuesday: Spinach, beetroot greens and rocket salad with red peppers, red onion, tinned tuna and a balsamic dressing. The salad ingredients are packed in a container and taken to work sot hat they can be quickly assembled at lunchtime. The salad dressing is made at home and put in a bottle to keep in the fridge at work. It is made with extra-virgin olive oil, a little balsamic vinegar, freshly ground black pepper, a little salt. You can also add lime juice, some Dijon mustard or herbs such as oregano or thyme. You can drink some iced green tea with this.

Wednesday: Roast beef sandwich on rye bread with rocket leaves and horseradish. You can buy pre-sliced roast beef at your delicatessen or if so inclined make it at home (last night’s dinner leftovers, perhaps?). The horseradish sauce is shop-bought (unless you are really into this cooking thing and make your own too!), while rocket is now widely available, in an organic version too. You can supplement this lunch with a piece of fresh fruit, or prepared fruit chunks or some fruit juice.

Thursday: Couscous mixed with chopped vegetables and fresh herbs. If you have never had couscous, you are missing out on an interesting and healthful food. It is full of the goodness of grain, especially if you buy the wholemeal version, and it takes only a few minutes to cook. You can really please yourself with what you mix in it, but try a variety of raw or cooked vegetables, chopped avocado, walnuts or beans and stir in plenty of fresh herbs. Low-fat yogurt can accompany this meal – either in its savoury form on the side of the meal or the sweet form, to be had as a “dessert”.

Friday: Lentil tomato stew with onions and bay leaves. This is a dish that you have to make the day before, but it keeps well in the refrigerator and you can have two or three meals out of it. Use 2 cups of lentils (rinsed and picked over), 1.5 cups of crushed tomatoes (you can use canned ones), 4 tablespoons olive oil, 6 cloves garlic – sliced, 1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage, pepper, 2 bay leaves, 2 onions, halved and thinly sliced. To prepare: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and cook or until softened. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes, salt, cumin, sage, pepper, and add 4 cups of water, bringing to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add the bay leaves, cover and cook for 35 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

Saturday: Homemade vegetable soup with crusty multigrain bread. Fresh fruit salad with low-fat Greek yogurt. All sorts of vegetables can be made into soup and you can follow your whimsy and taste. For example, for spicy parsnip soup, fry chopped onions, spring onions and garlic in a little oil until brown. Add chopped parsnips, potatoes and a spoonful of mixed spices. Add a pint of vegetable stock and cook until vegetables are soft. Blend until smooth and stir in a tablespoon of tahini paste before serving.

Sunday - Option1: Jacket potato with cottage cheese and chives with a large green salad. A cereal bar, if desired. Pierce a washed potato all over and put in the microwave on high heat for ten to twelve minutes, depending on its size. Skewer through to ensure it’s cooked all the way through. Score into quarters and serve with creamed cottage cheese (or low fat sour cream), fresh chopped chives and salad on the side.

Sunday Option2: Poached or scrambled egg on wholemeal toast with grilled field mushrooms and tomato. A fruit smoothie to round off lunch - try blending up a banana, berries and some pineapple with a little orange juice.

You get my drift with these menus. As you can see the recipes have a low content of fat, a fair amount of protein, lots of fibre and fresh vegetables/fruit, small quantities of cheese, milk, eggs, with very low simple carbohydrate and processed food content. Such a diet, combined with some exercise will do wonders for your health and reduce your weight.

DAY OF THE TWO SUNS

“You should treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster” - Quentin Crisp

I was struck by a news item a few days ago that was reported widely, not the least by newspaper that I read on the train every evening as I come home.  The title was sensationalist enough - “Sun to Shine at Double”, but the body if the article continued in the same vein: “The earth could soon have a second sun, at least for a week or two.” This article turned out to be a reference to Betelgeuse, one of the brightest stars in the night sky and a giant red sun in the constellation of Orion. This aging sun is on the verge of exploding into a supernova, which will light up the night sky as if we had a sun shining and in daytime, it will look as though we are being illuminated by two suns…

All this even if Betelgeuse is 640 light years away from (so we are at a safe distance and we won’t bear the brunt of the explosion, don’t worry!). However, in cosmic terms we have a ringside seat, hence the awe-inspiring display. Well, I was wowed by this! To think that SOON we would have this spectacle to witness was amazing! However, as I kept reading I was slightly disappointed. Yes, sure enough Betelgeuse could turn into a supernova soon, as soon as this year, but in cosmic terms “soon” could also mean any time over the next million years. What a let down!

This was a wonderful bit of yellow press reportage where a comment by Brad Carter, Physics senior lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland was taken out of context and sensationalised. Well, it worked! It grabbed my attention. What the good professor Carter said was that Betelgeuse is a very old star running out of nuclear fuel in its centre. When the fuel runs out, the sun will collapse in on itself initiating some complex nuclear reaction that will lead to a massive explosion, with incredible amounts of energy and light produced. Hence the spectacular light show for several weeks.

No doubt helping in the sensationalism of the new item was the name of the star, Betelgeuse – identified with the devil, and also the doomsday predictions of the “ending of time” in 2012, in accordance with the Mayan calendar prophecy. People love a good disaster story and things don’t get more disastrous than time ending and the “Devil Star” exploding in our own cosmic back yard. However, I won’t be losing sleep over this and certainly will not be holding my breath till there two suns in the sky!

supernova |ˈsoōpərˌnōvə| noun ( pl. -novae |-ˌnōvē| or -novas ) Astronomy
A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.
ORIGIN late 19th century: From Latin, super-, from super ‘above, beyond.’ and feminine of novus ‘new’ (because such stars were thought to be newly formed).

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, 2011!

“Our true nationality is mankind.” - H. G. Wells

Happy Australia Day to all my Australian friends! This is a day for all Australians to celebrate the things we love about our country. It is a time to celebrate our freedom – as individuals and as a nation. It is important for us to be grateful for our lifestyle and culture; our land and its beauty. We go out to beaches, forests, and the outback. We acknowledge our history and Indigenous past, while taking stock of and our opportunities and looking forward with optimism to the future. There are many opportunities to celebrate and commemorate this special day: From the smallest barbeque with friends right up to the thousand-strong People’s March down Swanston Street. This is the day where we take pride in our country and reflect on who we are as a nation.

Melbourne, like all state capital cities has a full Australia Day program, which is designed to be as fun, as family friendly and whenever possible free. There are events and activities beginning on Thursday 21st January and running right through to the fireworks on the evening of 26th January. Traditionally on Australia Day, there are “Big Breakfasts” organised in various venues. For example, the Australian Unity Big Brekkie in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, and the RACV Big Brekkie in the Alexandra Gardens. The Australia Day Treasure Hunt in the Fitzroy Gardens is another popular event for young and old alike.

Ceremonial occasions like the Raising of the Flag, where the Victorian Premier and Governor, and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, outside the Town Hall on Swanston Street participate in the official Flag Raising ceremony are de rigueur. There is also the Shrine of Remembrance 21-Gun Salute, as well as Open Day at Government House. An aerial display by the “Roulettes”, the Royal Australian Air Force’s elite formation aerobatic display team is another high point (pun intended! :-). The day finishes with another tradition: The Fireworks display at Federation Square, by the banks of the Yarra River.

As it is Poetry Wednesday, here is a poem by a great Australian poet:

Nationality

I have grown past hate and bitterness,
I see the world as one;
But though I can no longer hate,
My son is still my son.

All men at God's round table sit,
and all men must be fed;
But this loaf in my hand,
This loaf is my son's bread.

Dame Mary Gilmore (1865 - 1962)
Mary Gilmore was born near Goulburn, NSW. She became a teacher and a writer and was editor of the women’s pages of the Australian Worker newspaper for 23 years.  In 1886, Gilmore went to Paraguay in South America to join a group of Australians who planned to set up a new colony where everyone would be equal and would work together. This colony was not successful.

After some years, Gilmore came back to Australia with her husband. She spent the rest of her life writing, doing her editing work and fighting for people who needed help. These included Aboriginal people, children who were forced to work in factories and shearers who were being underpaid. She also fought hard for women’s rights.

In 1937 she was made Dame Mary Gilmore by King George VI. A suburb of Canberra is named after her and her picture is on the $10 note (along with Henry Lawson the only 2 Australian writers to be featured) and on a few of Australia’s stamps.  Dame Mary Gilmore was Australia’s “grand old lady of letters”. She authored over twenty books and was the subject of a controversial Dobell portrait.

A GOOD FARE

“If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The taxi driver got up early that morning. Times were tough and his young family needed more and more support. His son was just starting school, his daughter needed new books for her classes. His parents were ailing and medicines were getting more and more expensive. His mother-in-law needed a cataract operation and the taxi payments had to be kept up. His wife had lost her job only last week… He wasn’t one to complain. His doctoral degree in physics was useless at the moment and with work scarce, driving a taxi was an honest option. He should be thankful, others weren’t so lucky. Yes, all considered, he was one of the lucky ones, able to put bread on the family table. Times were tough but his family had never gone hungry yet…

As he was driving through the dark morning winter streets he was glad to pick up even the short distance fares, thankful for every little bit that helped him live with dignity and provide for his family. He drove, always on the lookout for the familiar raised arm beckoning him to stop. People got in, he drove them to their destination and his daily takings kept increasing. If only he could get a couple of good fares, he might even get enough today to buy all the textbooks his daughter needed. A woman clutching a large suitcase stopped him near the old square. He stopped and got out into the biting cold to help her stow her baggage in the boot. She was young and dressed in black, the winter clothing wrapped tightly around her, her head covered with a black hat, a scarf wound tightly around her neck and lower face. She was deathly pale and her eyes dark and intense – bottomless abysses.

She sat in the back and bundled herself tightly against the closed door. Her voice was quiet and the accent thick as she directed him to the airport. He nodded, happy for this unexpected boon. This was going to be an excellent fare. His young son would have a new uniform. He smiled pleasantly at her through the rear view mirror and tried to make small talk. Her gaze was distant, her eyes glazed over with tears that would not flow. She waved absently at him and murmured something incomprehensible.

He respected her silence and nodded, keeping quiet himself. Still, he could not keep from smiling as he thought of the good day he was having today. His family would not want while he was there for them. And he would do anything to keep them fed, warm and well provided for. The traffic was building up as they approached the airport. The woman spoke again and directed him to the entrance she wanted. Cautiously, he drove through the chaotic traffic and mindful of the other taxis, stopped at the taxi rank. The woman paid him and refused her plentiful change, which he gratefully accepted.

Ever helpful he sprang out opened the door for her and took the suitcase out of the boot. He offered to carry it inside for the woman – the least he could do for the large tip she had given him. She shook her head and grabbed at the suitcase. It was relatively heavy and he, ever chivalrous waved her away, telling her effusively that it was no bother. She looked around them worried and when she saw that their altercation was attracting attention, she grudgingly allowed him to carry the suitcase inside the terminal.

The explosion rocked the terminal building and the people were mowed down. There was fire and smoke, flying bits of debris and deadly metal, nails, and blood and body parts. Screaming and panic followed, alarms rang. The taxi driver died instantaneously, happy, his last thoughts with his family and the good fare – his last. The woman in black died shouting something in her language, full of passion and conviction. Many died in the blink of an eye. So many were injured. All of them innocent, many possibly even agreeing in principle with the woman in black’s convictions.

When the police knocked on the apartment door where the taxi driver and his family lived, his wife answered the door. Her pitiful wails were heard around the building and the aged parents could only sob uncontrollably on and on.

In memoriam of all the innocent people who died in Moscow’s Airport today. Violence may give someone a short victory, but defeat inevitably follows in its wake and it is utter and self-destructive, ultimately.

MOVIE MONDAY - THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE

“We have rudiments of reverence for the human body, but we consider as nothing the rape of the human mind.” - Eric Hoffer

Last Saturday we watched the second of the Stieg Larsson Millennium Trilogy, director Daniel Alfredson’s 2009 movie of “The Girl who Played with Fire”. We had already watched the raw and powerful first film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and when this second movie appeared on the video shop shelves we were keen to watch it also. The Swedes have a tradition in movie making, internationalised and widely applauded through the work of Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007). There is also a rich tradition in literature, with August Strindberg (1849-1912), Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), Hjalmar Bergman (1883-1931) and Pär Lagervist (1891-1974) being some of the shining lights. The success of the Millennium Trilogy as books and then as films therefore, is no surprise.

The books of Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) may not be of Nobel Prize standard (as represented by the Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1909, Selma Lagerlöf, for example) but they have been very popular and if nothing else are extremely powerful documents against violence towards women. Larsson, was disgusted by sexual violence this being because he witnessed the gang rape of a young girl when he was 15. He never forgave himself for failing to help the girl, whose name was Lisbeth – like the young heroine of his books, herself a rape victim. These books are written as testament to the real Lisbeth’s ordeal and as Larsson’s redemption for his weakness or cowardice.

The story picks up straight after the end of the first film in the series, when Lisbeth Salander returns to Sweden after spending a year abroad. She calls on her court-appointed guardian to remind him of his promise to submit satisfactory reports on her behaviour. Mikael Blomkvist continues as an editor of Millennium magazine and the journalists there are onto a major story about prostitution and trafficking of women from Eastern Europe. When the investigative journalist and his girlfriend working on that story are brutally killed, the police announce that Lisbeth is their prime suspect. Lisbeth and Mikael work independently trying to find out who is really behind the murders. They not only learn the identity of the culprits but also some of Lisbeth’s own family secrets.

I think we enjoyed the first movie better, although this one also had quite a lot of action and surprises. It did give the feeling, however, of repetitiveness and wasn’t quite as engaging as the previous movie. There were quite a few bridging flashback sequences from the previous movie and overall I felt that this second I the series was a weaker one than the first. Nevertheless, we watched it with interest and we were entertained, although once again there was much violence and bloodshed (although not as confronting as in the first movie – maybe it’s a bad sign: Are we getting immune to it all?).

Overall, a good film with plenty of incident, action, memorable characters. Mikael Spreitz makes a formidable villain and both Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace do an excellent job of playing the main characters, Mikael and Lisbeth. The cinematography, music and editing are of good standard and the film flows well. Recommended, but if given a choice I would go for the first installment, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. See my review of this movie here.

PRO HART

“Where we love is home,
home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

Today was a hot summer’s day in Melbourne and we had a relatively lazy day. In the morning we visited an elderly friend who is struggling to take care of herself and took her some things including some shopping and frozen meals. She was pleased for the visit more than anything else and we were also happy to have caught up with her. We had a very pleasant lunch and then in the afternoon, read a little and cleaned up our studies. The evening meal was very pleasant and then watched a documentary on TV about life on a remote island – very interesting.

For Art Sunday today, a painting by a famous, popular and dearly loved – but also controversial – Australian artist, Pro Hart. Pro Hart (Kevin Charles) M.B.E. 1976, was born in Broken Hill, NSW, in 1928 and showed early promise in art choosing to illustrate his school essays in preference to writing them. Purely self-taught with no formal art training, Pro Hart, painted in a unique manner and his paintings contributed to the “Australian style” which began to emerge over the decades 60s and 70s.

He was first discovered in 1962 by an Adelaide gallery director and as a result of his first exhibition the Pro Hart legend was born. Pro had a highly individualistic semi-primitive style, depicting scenes typical of the Australian outback. As well as landscapes he has made studies of insects, miners at work, flowers, and cities. His work is widely known and collected both nationally and internationally. He is represented, amongst others, in collections such as Lyndon Johnson (ex-president USA), HRH Prince Phillip (London), Qantas Airways (Hong Kong).

Pro Hart has been the recipient of many awards including Member of the British Empire 1976, and Honorary Life Membership to the Societé Internationale Artistique (England) 1982. Pro Hart sadly died on 28th March 2006 but his art lives on.

The painting above is typical of Por Hart’s Australian everyday life and is entitled “The Sausage Sizzle”. It is a painting that hangs on the wall of one of our friends and I admire it every time we visit. It is a lively, colourful work that has a uniquely Australian flavour and it subject mater and colours are enough to make every Australian home-scik if he were overseas for a little while and they saw this painting…

MEMORY OF OLD

“The leaves of memory seemed to make
A mournful rustling in the dark.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A beautiful warm summer day in Melbourne today. In the morning, the usual routine, chores, shopping, gardening, fixing a few things around the house, going to the library. Then, we watched a film and in the afternoon/evening visited friends. Conversation turned to movies and songs and this group of the 90s was mentioned. One of my favourite groups from the UK, “Mike and the Mechanics”. Here is an excellent song of theirs that brings back many memories for me – happy and unhappy…



“You don’t need me you don’t need anyone at all, you lit the fire and watched the rise and fall 
– Mea Culpa…
You never know what’s in your heart until you look, take a look, just a take a look…
You can’t forgive me, you won’t forget me!
– Mea Culpa…”

ON THE VALUE OF BREAKFAST

“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” - John Gunther

My grandfather used to say: “Breakfast as a king, lunch as a noble, dine as a pauper…” This was sound advice, especially in the times of long arduous days where hard labour was the lot of most people who worked on the land, cottage industries or even manufactories. One used to get up very early to greet the dawn and the table was set with a variety of nutrient-rich foods to “break the fast” of the night and prepare the body for the onslaught of the hard work of the day. This was followed by a lunch later in the day, which provided a much-needed respite from labour and a top-up of nourishment. The evening meal had to be only light, as the exertions of the day were over and everyone went to bed early, which needed to be done on a light stomach.

Our meal patterns have changed greatly over the last century as has our diet. In many countries around the world breakfast has been reduced to a token meal, which typically consists of coffee, tea or milk and toast, cereal or some fat-laden pastry. People may have too little time, may need to eat breakfast alone or may be a victim of a routine that started during their childhood. In any case, the majority of people fail to eat a proper breakfast, being content with a cup of coffee only! Breakfast should be the most valuable meal of the day, or at least one of the most valuable.

Both body and brain need refuelling
after the overnight fast. Yes, the derivation of the word breakfast is right! Energy reserves can be running low after an overnight fast, and doing the things that you need to do during in a busy morning takes energy. Traditional breakfast foods are nutritious
and can provide much stored energy. Grain products like bread and cereal provide carbohydrates for energy, B vitamins, and fibre. Many fruits are a rich source of vitamin C and/or vitamin A. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese are among the foods richest in calcium and vitamin D. Eggs are protein-rich and contain valuable brain foods. One should try and limit the amount of fats that one has at breakfast, so go easy on the bacon, lard, butter, oils and other fatty foods.

Having a good breakfast could help you control your other meals of the day. Studies have shown that those people who don’t eat a good breakfast typically eat more calories over the course of the day. Eating breakfast is not linked to gaining weight. People who eat breakfast tend to be fitter and less fat than those who skip breakfast. People who have lost weight and kept it off for many years report that they usually eat breakfast every day.

Even if you’re short on time, a healthy breakfast is easy to take with you. Nowadays, there many product options in single servings that can be had away from home. Ready-to-eat cereal in a bag with a tub of chilled yogurt with a piece of fruit is a good breakfast choice that travels well. Have it in a park close to your work, while enjoying nature! Heat a microwave breakfast and allow it to cool while you’re in the car or train. Prepare a breakfast smoothie and place in an insulated cup to have it as you are travelling on the train (personally I detest doing that, but there so many people that do it!).

Best of all of course is to get up earlier, and make a habit of preparing a proper family breakfast that you can have with everyone around the table, making it a good quality fun time, as well as a nutritious preparation for the toil of the day. However, one should remember my grandfather’s advice, wise as it is true. If you have a good breakfast, you will need to eat less during the day. Habitually, you should aim to have a light meal in the evening, which should be the lightest meal. All the more reason for having a formal family meal at breakfast-time.

What does a good breakfast consist of? One should avoid simple carbohydrates (e.g. sugar) and concentrate on consuming complex carbohydrates (e.g. starches in grains and rice), lean proteins and healthy fats (polyunsaturated, low cholesterol fats and fish oils). Whole wheat bread, cereals, white meats, eggs, low-fat dairy products, vegetables and fruits are excellent breakfast choices.

Eggs are one of the most popular breakfast foods and can be scrambled, made into an omelette, poached, boiled or fried. They are packed with protein, which “wakes up” the body more quickly. When eaten with starches and grains such as toast or potatoes, an egg breakfast becomes a hearty meal that will provide you with energy until lunch. Other protein-rich foods, such as cold meat cuts, are popular in Western Europe and South America. Usually accompanied by cheese and bread the protein is thus accompanied by carbohydrates for energy.

Dairy products are a great way to start the morning as they can be cool, refreshing, sometimes sweet and usually a good accompaniment to bread. Dairy products (especially the low-fat ones) are full of vitamins and minerals, helpful bacteria and protein. Yoghurts, cream cheeses, cottage cheese, cheese spreads and milk are great breakfast foods. If you have a sweet tooth, try using honey as a sweetener or use natural low calorie sweeteners like stevia.

Fruits and vegetables can be combined with other foods to complement the protein and carbohydrate with vitamin and micronutrient rich sources. Having an avocado instead of margarine or butter on toast is much healthier alternative. Avocados are packed with nutrients, protein and calories that will sustain you longer than just carbohydrate.

A variety of home-made whole grain muffins, nut breads, cereal and nut bars, scones, oatmeal-based foods can be incorporated into the breakfast menu and provide much-needed variety and interest to the breakfast table. Here is a recipe for some breakfast bars, especially suited to breakfast on the run.

HEALTHY OAT & NUT BARS
Ingredients
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 and 1/3 cups rolled, toasted breakfast oats
2/3 cup crushed toasted almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans
1/4 cup raisins

Method
Preheat oven to 160°C. Coat an 20 cm square metal baking pan with cooking spray.
Whisk egg white, honey, oil, vanilla and cinnamon in a small bowl until blended. Combine oats, nuts and raisins in a mixing bowl. Stir in the wet mixture until well coated.
Press the mixture into the prepared pan with a wet rubber spatula.
Bake until lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into 12 bars.

ROSES FOR SEBASTIAN

“The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling are to him like stubble.” - Job 41:28; Old Testament

Today is St Sebastian’s Feast Day according to Roman Catholic heortology. Greek Orthodox Christians commemorate this saint on the 18th December. Remarkably little is known of St Sebastian’s life but his cult adoration was well entrenched by the 5th century AD. He is the patron saint of athletes, the patron saint of archers, and also a protector from the plague. The symbolology of archery and arrows as a protection from the plague hark back to Greek mythology, with Apollo destroying pestilence with his arrows.

St Sebastian was born in France of Italian parents in the 3rd century AD, dying about 288 AD. So as to help his fellow Christians who were dying as martyrs he went to Rome and enlisted as an officer, becoming a great favourite of the emperor Diocletian (244 –311 AD). He converted many to Christianity until he was betrayed to the emperor by a false friend. Diocletian tried to make him change his faith but Sebastian was not to be shaken. The emperor ordered his archers to execute the Saint. Although every part of his body was pierced by arrows and the soldiers left him for dead, Sebastian was alive. A kindly widow, Irene, nursed him back to health and Sebastian went back to the emperor, urging him to stop his persecution of the Christians. Diocletian was intransigent and ordered a new martyrdom for Sebastian. The Saint was clubbed to death in the amphitheatre (hence the connection with athletes).

St Sebastian was buried in the Roman catacombs, but his remains were transferred to a church in the 4th Century. The remains asserted to be those of Sebastian are currently housed in Rome in the Basilica Apostolorum, built by Pope Damasus I in 367 AD on the site of the provisional tomb of St Peter and St Paul. The church, today called San Sebastiano fuori le mura, was rebuilt in the 1610s under the patronage of Scipione Borghese.

St Sebastian is a great favourite of artists, depicted in numerous artworks, especially paintings. He is usually shown as a handsome young man who is being martyred by having arrows shot at him. The connection with the Greek god Apollo is an obvious one and may explain why the saint became so popular, his cult being a surrogate one for the cult of Apollo,  the archer sun god and the curer of pestilence.

A yellow rose, Rosa spp, is today’s birthday flower. It symbolises jealousy and infidelity.  In the language of flowers a yellow rose means: “Let us forget” and may be symbolic of dying love, especially if it is given full-blown.  A rose thorn is symbolic of sin, death and pain.  In the last few decades, the yellow rose has lost some of its old negative meaning and is now more associated with the positive symbolism of happiness, return to the good times and joy about to be fulfilled.

Today is also St Agnes’s Eve. On this eve, young women took their shoes, put a sprig of rosemary in one, a sprig of thyme in the other, sprinkled them with water, placed them one on each side of their bed and said:
    St Agnes, that’s to lovers kind,
    Come ease the trouble of my mind.
They would then dream of their future husband.

The word for the day is:

Heortology |hēôrˈtôl əjē| (noun)
• A term used to denote the study of religious festivals. The term was originally only used in respect of Christian festivals, but it now covers all religions, in particular those of Ancient Greece.
DERIVATIVES: Heortological (adjective)
ORIGIN: From Greek, from heorté, ‘festival, holiday’ and -logia, ‘discourse’.

ELECTRONIC POETRY

“Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry.” - W.B. Yeats

I use an Apple computer and I have been an avid fan of Macintoshes for decades now (gosh, that makes me feel so old! ;-). Apple Macintosh is a computer system that I have always related to well as it allows me to do what I want to do intuitively and with minimal concentration on the workings of the computer. The computer software and hardware are there in the background, while I concentrate on what I do in the foreground, being adequately supported “invisibly” by the technology. Whenever I try and use other computer systems they feel clunky and unintuitive and inhibitory.

The reason I talk about this today is because Apple has introduced into its desktop computer operating system an App Store, similar to what you have when you go into iTunes with an iPhone or an iPad. One may download Apps for the desktop computers as one may download them for an iPhone or an iPad. There are Apps both free and to buy. Once downloaded one runs these like other programs on one’s computer. I have downloaded several and they are exceedingly good. One of my favourites is a program called “SketchBookExpress”, which is a sketching and drawing application.

As it is Poetry Wednesday, I am highlighting another of these Apps, called “Desktop Poems”. It is based on the popular fridge magnet poem generator sets that one may purchase in bookshops and giftshops. In these a selection of words are printed individually on pieces of magnetised plastic and one places these on the fridge door, to rearrange at will into short poems… I’ve always thought this a wonderful idea, much romance and culture hidden in this simple word game that can insinuate its way into the routineness of our existence. Desktop poems does the same in an electronic format on the desktop. One generates lists of words and may then arrange the individual words into clusters, rows, columns, tiers, groups and be inspired by them.

The illustration above is a screenshot of my desktop where I have generated a pile of words and I have captured the moment where I am in the process of arranging them into clouds of meaning. The poem below is the final result:

The Quickest Cut

Evening wine drunk from a dark glass,
While on the far horizon, the orange moon peeks,
Rising slowly, soon to wax into silvern fullness.

I watch as short summer withers the garden
And autumn hidden in the piles of refuse and cuttings,
Lies in wait, soon to appear and paint all with rust.

Your eyes, purple as night – light as your spirit –
Watch as your heart heaves in your bosom,
And your whole being yearns for winter’s peace.

The hand holding a knife is ugly, we think,
Until we need a quick solution to slowly dying problems
And a deft, sharp cut is much the gentlest form of release.

My left shoe pinches my great toe, my right ear itches,
Morning will bring with it fatigue, the price of a sleepless night –
I too, yearn for winter, peace and the knife’s quick cut.

ON BECOMING STRONGER

“Sometimes in tragedy we find our life’s purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus.” - Robert Brault

It is nearly three weeks into the New Year, and although as with every New Year, we expected that 2011 would come to us bearing promises of success, happiness and prosperity, instead it gave us some immediate misfortunes: The bushfires in Western Australia, the flood tragedy in Queensland and Brisbane’s inundation, quickly followed by the Victorian floods, which tested the best amongst us. Although our College campuses in Queensland were spared, many of our staff and students were victims of the disaster and we are experiencing some difficulties in returning to normal operations. The effects on our College and its community are considerably less than what the State of Queensland and the City of Brisbane will face in the near future. Northwestern Victoria is also reeling from flood-caused devastation. Longer-term repercussions of the disaster will affect us as a nation, as a community, as a financial entity in the international scene.

It is important in times like these to remember that within our own small community we are a microcosm, a reflection of the Nation at large, and also the whole world. We are reeling within our communities as we come to terms with our colleagues’ and students’ loss of loved ones and property. We are trying to maintain normality and our routine operations, even as several key areas of our infrastructure are suffering. To this end we are sticking together, gaining strength from each other and providing support where it is needed most. This is what is happening in Brisbane, in Queensland, in Victoria, nationwide, in fact.

The volunteer efforts in Queensland have been remarkable in the face of the flood tragedy, and similarly within our community we are seeing offers for help and support amongst our staff and student body. On the Melbourne Campus we already started a donation drive and many of our staff have made generous personal donations to the flood relief appeal. More fund-raising activities will follow. Strong leadership by the Queensland premier, Anna Bligh, has meant that flood-affected Queenslanders have been assured of open communication channels, good support, comfort and encouragement in their misfortune. Within our College, the leadership of our CEO has meant that we have also been able to overcome this crisis through her efforts.

A sense of perspective needs to temper our emotional response to tragedies such as those recently experienced by Australia. Immediately the Queensland floods and the Brisbane deluge started to claim lives and property, news broke of the terrible calamity in the Brazil floods and mudslides that claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed whole towns and villages. Our own catastrophe seemed to be easier to cope with, knowing that other people in the world were suffering in a similar way, and on a much greater scale. One’s own personal cross is harder to bear, of course, and it is little consolation that other people have to bear heavier crosses. Nevertheless, we should be consoled somewhat in the knowledge that we shall be able to overcome the crisis easier than other, harder hit communities.

Our college campuses survived intact, however, other institutions in Brisbane were flooded, and of course many residential properties were completely inundated. We are dealing with some post-flooding issues within our College, but this seems to be a small price to pay, with our staff and students showing a great deal of patience and understanding. By sticking together, helping each out as much as we can, providing support and encouragement where needed and acknowledging people’s best efforts during a stressful and difficult time we can overcome this crisis and look forward to better days.

In Japan, when an object is mended, the damaged part is highlighted by decorating it with precious metal. The presence of the flaw highlights the history of the object, with its value and beauty perceived as being greater than before. We too shall repair ourselves and wear proudly our scars, as if we are adorned with gold. We shall be whole again; stronger and more beautiful than before.

A RUINOUS FILM

“Let the credulous and the vulgar continue to believe that all mental woes can be cured by a daily application of old Greek myths to their private parts.” - Vladimir Nabokov

We recently watched the 2009 Donald Petrie move “My Life in Ruins”. This was the film that Nia Vardalos made on the wake of her widely successful “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” of 2002 and the 2004 “Connie and Carla”. This latest offering has Nia Vardalos only act (rather than write as well as act), and the screenplay in “My Life in Ruins” is by Mike Reiss. This was a bad move as the script is pure bathos and full of Hollywood clichés, chock full of cardboard cutout characters, predictable plotline and some stereotypical Greek jokes about the place, people and Greek “national traits”.

Nia Vardalos plays Georgia, an American academic in Athens, who has lost her university job. To tide herself over she has begun working as a tour guide, a job she dislikes as she wants the tourists to be as interested in Ancient Greek history, art and culture as she is. The (mainly American - but also Brit, Aussie, Spanish and Canadian) tourists are bored with history and they just want to shop and have a good time. The film takes us on a tour of Greek sites with a tourist group that has a shallow couple, a frat boy, an insufferable teen, a feuding couple, divorcées looking for a man, an Ocker couple, an uppity British family, some grey Canadians and a “funny guy”. There is also a sullen, bearded Greek coach driver in a bus without air conditioning and a competing tour guide who wants to scuttle Georgia’s chances of succeeding in her job for his own selfish reasons. Georgia’s journey becomes an odyssey but as one would expect in this extremely lightweight and barely amusing romp all will end well for everyone…

The “tall, dark and handsome” Greek bus driver is played by Alexis Georgoulis, an actor who has played in several Greek TV series and the odd movie. He looks distinctly uncomfortable in this film, with his character’s name (“Poupi Kakas”) being one of the objectionable scatological attempts at joking in the script. Richard Dreyfuss is another uncomfortable actor in the film, playing one of the American tourists. The only good choice I found was Alistair McGowan, the British actor who is quite successfully cast as the slimy, deceitful and conniving Nico, the competing Greek (sic!) tour guide.

This film is mildly amusing to boring (perhaps offensive, if you are a purist Greek) and unfortunately a waste of Ms Vardalos’ talent, who perhaps should have written the screen play herself and made a better job of it. The film had so much potential but it was really neither very funny nor terribly romantic. Some of the scenery is quite breathtaking (although the continuity is skewed!) and the terrible cast is always blocking the view of beautiful Greece! The idea behind the movie’s plot must have come from the less objectionable: “If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium”, but lacks its charm and relatively good script.

Georgia as played by Vardalos is a self-deprecating parody of  Toula in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and unfortunately she ends up being rather lacklustre and boring in this film. Her transformation in the end is unbelievable and hampered by the weakness of the plot. The tourists are a corny, one-dimensional lot that consistently ham it up and end up being extremely tedious. Richard Dreyfuss was frankly quite annoying (I don’t like him much as an actor in any case). There is also some New Age nonsense interspersed with cheap philosophy and attempts at poignancy that are like an elephant in a tutu trying to dance en pointe.

I don’t recommend this movie at all, unless you are stuck for something to watch and it must be this. In this case, sneak a peek at some nice Greek scenery and try having an occasional titter at the ridiculous goings-on, on screen. Don’t expect wit, don’t expect originality, don’t expect good acting and don’t expect a good plot or believable characters!

A DAY AT HEIDE ART MUSEUM

“What garlic is to salad, insanity is to art.” Augustus Saint-Gaudens

We visited the Heide Museum of Modern Art recently (most often simply referred to as “Heide”). This is only one of Melbourne’s public contemporary art museums and is located in Bulleen, east of Melbourne, only a few minutes drive from our house. It was established as a museum in 1981, and is made up of a number of detached buildings, with surrounding gardens and parklands, which go right up to the Yarra River flats. As well as being a wonderful museum, the site is of historical importance and the whole complex is used as gallery space to exhibit works in various media by contemporary Australian artists.

Heide occupies the site of a former dairy farm that was purchased by the prominent Melbourne art collectors John and Sunday Reed in 1934 and became home to a collective known as the Heide Circle, which included many of Australia’s best-known modernist painters, such as: Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Laurence Hope Joy Hester and others, who lived and worked in the former farm house (Heide I).

Between 1964 and 1967, a new house was built (Heide II), and this is considered to be one of the finest examples of modernist architecture in Victoria, and was designed by acclaimed architects McGlashan and Everist. In 1981, the museum was established on the site, incorporating the existing buildings and surrounding gardens & parklands as exhibition and gallery spaces. The main gallery building (Heide III) was constructed in 1993 and the museum continued to broaden its collection of works to include all forms of contemporary Australian art, including some by contemporary indigenous artists.

The museum underwent major refurbishment in 2005-2006. Part of this renewal was the establishment of several sculptural and installation art pieces, landscaping and redesign of the gardens, construction of a new education centre and gallery space, extension of the Heide III building and various other works.   In 2009 after 19 months of redevelopment, the cafe reopened in November as Café Vue at Heide.

The picture shows the installation piece on the lawns to the north of the museum, entitled “Cows”, by Jeff Thomson, 1987 (photographed by J.Gollings, 2004). The cows are made of corrugated iron, which is integral part of outback Australia (and not only!), being used as a construction material, particularly of house and shed roofs. The rural connections of the material are extended by the subject matter, giving a particularly Australian flavor to the bucolic landscape installation. The piece is quite striking, especially when first seen. There are now many imitations of this piece, with all sorts of animals being up for sale in many a local garden centre so everyone can have a corrugated iron pet in their back yard!

As well as visiting the museum we always visit the wonderful kitchen garden, which was originally a ‘working garden’ supplying vegetables, herbs and fruit for meals prepared by Sunday Reed, an innovative cook. 

The garden is fully enclosed to protect it from rambling animals as well as the effects of extreme weather. Ravaged by floods, even during recent years, Heide’s gardeners have maintained the historical plantings in the garden as well as returning the lower section to rotating crops of vegetables, which are used to prepare meals in the Café Vue at Heide.