This is a MESTIZO POST, meaning it is mixed. It might be an ajiaco. It could be a curanto. And a cocido madrileño sounds good right now. I should make one, buying ingredients at La Tienda Punto Com. 1. Research Insight A commentator here suggested that the world’s fascination with Barack Obama’s racial mixture bespoke … More Cocido Madrileño
I have been told I should elevate one of my earlier comments to the Dutchman to Post Level, so I am. The context is that the Dutchman felt that since I am an American I do not speak actual English, only a variant of it, so that “my” understanding of the term “Black” was probably … More Early Dutchman
He’s a Dutchman. He was my Frisian conversation partner in El Salvador. He lives in Japan. Recently he said: “My students say Obama is not Black, but mixed, and they are trying to come up with the right English term for his color. The closest English term to the equivalent Japanese word is ‘Negroid.’ I … More What I Told the Dutchman, Who Asked
In ceramics, you have to aim for a perfect piece from the beginning, or you will not get one that is good enough. Good enough means that it holds together. If you only aim for good enough at the beginning, you will lower standards too far and the piece will fly apart before the end. … More On Perfection
As we know, it is economic crunch time. And the amount I am required to contribute to the retirement system is now 11% of my monthly check, as opposed to 8% heretofore. And this money goes directly to Wall Street. The cost of groceries has never been a serious factor in my economic problems, but … More Papaya Juice With Orange
I could, but do not have the energy or time, to reproduce my spontaneous speech in class today but it was only the second time I have ever had students applaud and the first time was at the traditional time, at the end of class on the last day. It was in response to certain … More Professor Zero Discusses History
If you had followed me on Twitter today – and I do not “Tweet,” although I do “Facebook” – you would have seen that I: prepared class, gave class, prepared class, gave class, met with students, met with faculty, and did paperwork. All of this took 11 straight hours during which I ate 1/2 of … More Corazonada
I am hitting some real shoals on this piece. It was to have been finished in a few days but this is not possible. Typically I finish one thing and then start the next but I am going to stagger this piece with the next one, but in such a way as not to get … More InaDWriMo Alert
When I first arrived in Bahia I was picked up at the airport by a chauffeur driven Chevette and taken to the house, which turned out to have mango trees and a broad porch with large white columns. On the porch stage center was a matron Velasquez could have painted, holding a small dog, standing … More Visceral Whitemen
1. Bonus product review, very fresh: contact lenses. I have contact lenses. I am new to glasses and did not know I would ever be a candidate for contact lenses. However, after several twists and turns I walked out of the store wearing contact lenses that cost less than good glasses and realized I could … More The Contact Zone. Close Encounters
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