Yéle Haiti & the Earthquake

Haiti - Outside of the earthquake that just devastated the region, Haiti is real need for help. It is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and is right in our backyard. An estimated 50,000 people have died so far, the entire nations infrastructure is in ruins. We can't land a full sized military cargo plan on their capitals runway to provide aid because it is too short. Haiti is in a trying time.

The short story that sums up Haiti problems is this:
Poverty is the source. Haitian citizens have deforested their country past the point of natural regrowth. Cutting down millions of trees over the past few years has caused serious issue in regards to the health of the topsoil in the region. Flooding is constant issue as is the lack of high crop yields. The citizens cut down these tree because any other heating/cooking method is too expensive. One cuts a tree to cook for their family. A million people follow suit. All the sudden there is no forest, no soil, no food. Now they have to rely on imports, very expensive. Mud cakes are routinely sold on the streets for food to the poor. They provide some mineral nourishment, but mostly help suffice the burn of appetite. Wyclef John born and raised in Haiti has been and is probably the most influential person in the country, supporting sustainable growth, replanting forest, offering monetary aid to the nation.

Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yéle’s community service programs include food distribution and mobilizing emergency relief. Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti Wyclef Jean founded Yéle Haiti in 2005. For more information please go to www.yele.org

I invite you to assist Yéle Haiti as they begin to mobilize medical and emergency supplies for Haiti. You can donate via their website at www.yele.org or text “yele” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund.

Happy Holidays!

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Happy Holidays!

Sugar Sand

What is great about the Ocean is that it is always different. Anyone who has lived on or near the ocean will tell you that no two days are alike. This shot was taken in Gulf Shores, AL on what used to be called Baldwin Beach. Now it is simply known as West Beach. It is tucked right near the sand spit that opens to Mobile Bay. A beautiful area that in essence what sub-tropical Gulf of Mexico is. It is a very bountiful land with great fishing, 80 degree summer water, & endless 'sugar sand' beaches.

I took this photo on a common sunset stroll down the beach, on an uncommon clear sky of a night. Mobile Bay brews a many storms throughout the year. I am lucky though because where our house is, very often will not be hit by what the bay brews up. Unless of course a Hurricane is on its way. One can see purple electrical storms over the water all night, with only a brief drizzle over head. It is truly a remarkable place.

This shot was taken with a Canon Rebel XT, Aperture 5.6, ISO 200, 1/20 shutter speed. I think what came out is something majestic. Showing a calm night in a place that seems to never be calm.



Enjoy.

Peace

After an surprising political win for Barack Obama, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I felt obligated to write something after a month of silence...
Here it is: PEACE mon'.
I am switching between Bob Marley and Xavier Rudd while I write this to help set the mood.

Every other prize they honor someone who has contributed substantially to society similar to the Peace prize. The only difference with the peace prize is that viewed in current year, while the others are subject to the unspoken decade rule. It's funny to think to can evaluate the years worth of history in October, but that's how they do it.

Hopefully this win will give Obama the political clout that most news people have been claiming that he is lacking. He has been given the extraordinary tasks of Health Care & Energy. I know I am leaving out the war, but the moat important in regards to $moolah$ are these. Congress is debating a Cap & Trade piece of legislation this week, in addition rumors of a health care bill to emerge with enough support in the immediate horizon. This win by Barack will help him out dramatically. It would be political suicide to fight tooth and nail over outlandish propaganda from the coal or health care industry. Millions are spent every year to put off the formation of a cap-n-trade market scheme. It simply corrects a market failure that uneducated people still believe that excess carbon in the atmosphere created by human industry is a hoax. Well, European society used to think the world was flat, once reaching the edge you would fall off the world into some form of an underworld. A frightful end to nice trip on a boat I say!

I shared a good article about how the next decade's # isn't 2010-2020, but 350 titled: A New Number For a New Era: From 9/11 to 350. 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere that is. While we currently hover at 390, and wonder how far we can push it; other countries are attempting at taking the lead in a new world order. The order of the green sustainable revolution. I have 2 syllables for you So-Lar. Oh the all mighty bounty of solar radiation. I blame Regan and Bush 1, for us not needing coal to power our homes today. They put solar research into the dark ages until Clinton was elected. Heck, Regan tore down the wall and tore down the solar water heater on the white house at the same time. With the veil of individual freedoms for all, we pocketed a few extra for crony capitalist instead of mindset of sustainable economic development. Sustainable economic development in my humble opinion relies 100% on vast amounts of clean, cheap, and accessible energy.

So what is our government going to do? Vote for 'clean coal' or photovoltaic research? Natural gas extraction from Pennsylvania or wind/tidal capture research?

oh compromises....

The Anatomy of Gumbo

Speeding through the last few pages of my newest pleasure, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto, I come bearing a few words of pleasure, habit, & truth. My beautiful wife is stirring up one of my greatest pleasures in food... Gumbo (mmmm, yes, that's right)! The traditional New Orleans fare is our current ambition to master. Good food, tradition and companionship is the most essential part of culture- Defining the core of what all of us value. Here is a link to Kelly's favorite online cookbook: 101 CookBooks, by Heidi Swanson (which Kel references multipul times a week for scrumptious homecooked vegetarian fare). Search for Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe and add some good turkey sausage and maybe a good Las Palomas cocktail and join us.

Michael Pollan's book, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto; outlines much truth in our societies habits concerning food. While I dwell over the dubbed term 'The French Paradox' which brings light to the opposition between French and American eating habits; whereby the F'ies maintain (and have for hunderes of years) a high cost, high fat, small portion intake, with overall far higher health ratios comparitively. The Americans, in contrast, have come to maintain this kind of brian-washed ideal of cheap, chemically induced mass-produced food. When will we open our eyes to this inter-cultural reliance and acceptance of the spread of such conglomerates as Wal-Mart, Costco and all other mass production food chains which supports not only the concept of over- consumpumtion but over-conception? Each of which paralleling on the notion of living beyond our means, over-consumtion to such a level that is beyond what is both not good for us as indidividuals as much as it as not good for our earth (Monsanto cares nothing of our health or our earth).
In Pollan brings to light mind-numbing statistics such as Americans eating a fifth of all their meals in the car, or how Americans spend the least amount of their disposable income (9%) than any other industrial society while eating upward of 30% more than any other industrial society; I ponder. Anyone who has not read this alarmingly eye-opening piece by Pollan, needs to educate themselves on the effects of what our government has instilled in our mind. An Eater's Manifesto has given me a goal to maintain alongside my wife... to eat an entirely vegetable-based salad for every lunch I can. Reading this book has illuminated my vision on eating healthy, or should I say eating to preventing chronic disease named after what has been called 'The Western Diet'.

I challenge us all to get to know your farmer. Asking them how they grew the food we all consume and begin to understand the more we know, the more care in the thing we consume, the more we can truly appreciate ourselves. The 1st grade term of we are what we eat holds true, and it wasn't until I read this book did I really do some soul searching in understanding why what food I consume and how I consume it really effects my life. Enjoying a home cooked meal of locally grow produce with my beautiful wife, laughing over life's challenges and triumphs is the root of culture, & most importantly happiness. If we can't enjoy every bite with the ones we love; what are we spending our time doing. Eating a microwave dinner, with a can full of high-fructose corn syrup in front of a T.V. is not living, it's dieing. I apologize if I have offended anyone, but dig deep and think. I believe that a stronger connection to our food will only enhance life. The extra time spent eating, speaking, cooking will only grow our personal happiness.

I leave this entry with a painted picture. My best-friend, lover, & wife cooking up a tasty meal that originated in the city we got engaged (& spend our 1 yr anniversary) listing to some great music, drinking, eating, smiling, and laughing. It is what life is all about.