Category: My Family

Without a family, one seldom thinks long term

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chip in with cioppino on christmas eve!

shrimp and langostino!
shrimp and langostino!

As many Californians know, “Cioppino” (pronounced “CHIP-PINO!) is a favorite Christmas Eve meal. Some cooks make it as a hearty soup while others prefer the thick taste of a stew.

There are many stories on the origin of the name and the recipe for Cioppino. My favorite tale centers around fisherman returning with their catch being asked to ‘chip in’ some of their catch to the communal pot; others say this great dish had its roots in Genoa, Italy. Either way, the roots of this dish are definitely from San Francisco where it still is a popular everyday meal!

This was one of my late father-in-laws favorite meals and he loved fishing through the shells for the little treasures of meat. However, although the obstacles of shells make the dining experience more interesting; I remove all of the shells prior to the final assembly.Yes, I still cook the mussels in their shells and retain the water and flavor to start a nice fish stock. Our Cioppino contains whatever we have on hand along with some special shopping when necessary. Shrimp, langostino, clams, penn cove mussels, scallops, crab, wild cockles headline the dish… but my fish of preference is Talapia.

Cioppino is like a seafood gumbo without the ‘rouge.’ However, if you miss the thicker sauce, you can compensate with more tomato and it transforms into a stew. Everyone loves a little wine into the recipe and the choices very. Many like a bit of bite to the sauce and will add a range of things to meet that requirement… from Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco Sauce to orange juice and capers. I like to add a bit of Pimenton (smoked Spanish paprika).

Now that I have what I need, I can rest until the 24th. It’s worth the preparation.

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dear santa, what I really want for Christmas

From the Universal Pictures movie “Bourne Legacy”

I did actually enjoy the movie “Bourne Legacy”. In fact, it is a nice addition to the three previous Bourne movies with a rugged new main character. I won’t spoil it for you, but it is worth the price of a Blue Ray disk.

The rifle that caught my eye was Featured in the movie, it is a high powered rifle that could be quickly broken down and easily assembled… even with your gloves on! Now, that’s my kind of hunting rifle! Italso  nicely fits in a case that can be stowed in your backpack. I am not the only one impressed with this development… here’s a nice article on the gun itself.

Nemesis Arms  makes this rifle (scopes are extra) and believe it or not, they make it right here in California! Check them out on FACEBOOK, too.

When you watch this movie, it’s hard not to want to go out and hunt in the snow!

 

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My favorite psychologist

CLICK on the above to travel to PTCH and watch this fun 40 second experience of my day in Laura's Psychology classes!
CLICK on the above to travel to PTCH and watch this fun 40 second experience of my day in Laura’s Psychology classes!

Laura and I have been married for over 40 years. Of course, we were married as kids and — truth be told — I was a minor. During this time I often enjoyed the opportunity to sit in one of Laura’s classes and learn just a little more about her life.

Our daughter Karen turned me on to this fun ap for my iPhone  (PTCH)  which allows you to integrate pictures, movies and sound to produce a one minute movie… all on your phone! I hope you enjoy this little effort!

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the devils are within the walls

A must read for every parent and every student planning to attend college!

When you live in a university town, one suspects that it is only YOUR university that persecutes unfairly —  sometimes illegally — students, staff and faculty who have crossed some imaginary line. When you see YOUR university violate people’s legal rights, when you witness unconscionable and unethical ( sometimes illegal) behavior, and then see those same individuals proudly promoted, you hope that YOU are seeing only the aberrant behavior of a few individuals in only one troubled university.  Reading Greg Lukianoff’s book clearly documents that YOUR university isn’t really alone. What is most disturbing to me is that never is there an ounce of concern or remorse by college faculty or administrators on the harm they inflict to others, the careers they ruin or the families they harm; they are proud because they feel completely justified; they believe they are on the side of the angels following orders from on high.

The university ‘culture’ is not without justifiable criticism. Speakers coming to campus should be allowed to speak; mob rule is not a form of government. Conformity and compliance are the mainstream values of many faculty and administrators and these values are strongly monitored and strictly enforced. I was once told that the university ‘rewards compliance and not achievement.’  We’ve all seen the result of compliance taken to the extreme before; people have claimed to be “Just following orders” to justify doing horrible things. Under the right supportive conditions, horrible things can be done by almost anyone.

Stanley Milgram wanted to see how far you could push people (Americans) to achieve compliance on a task that may result in the death of another.  His experiment  is legend .

“Milgram devised his psychological study to answer the question: “Was it that Eichmann and his accomplices in the Holocaust had mutual intent, in at least with regard to the goals of the Holocaust?” In other words, “Was there a mutual sense of morality among those involved?” Milgram’s testing suggested that it could have been that the millions of accomplices were merely following orders, despite violating their deepest moral beliefs.” (Wikipedia)

Milgram’s study clearly demonstrated that Germans were not inherently barbarians, but under simple guidance, this barbaric behavior could come from almost anyone, even from Americans.

Greg’s book is a grave warning on the future of American society that blindly complies and allows their ability to speak opposing views restricted. It is chilling to think we are not far from a society where you could be silenced by what you say, or even, by what someone thought you said…. and those in authority would feel no guilt because  ‘they we just following orders.’

Buy “Unlearning Liberty” the Book (Amazon)  a book everyone going to college and their parents should read!