stem cells

The Miracle Sticks (the twisted and knotty willow branches) from Easter lasted a good few days after bursting into colour. Eventually, they did fade and wilt but I noticed that they had developed quite an extensive root system in the vase full of water—funny non-differentiated little roots that came directly out of the stem, like the bristles of an onion. I planted them in a big pot and tried to keep the barest green shoots left to the sticks alive with a lot of water. One germ of a twig looked promising but I thought the rest were dead, and I never expected them to regenerate like they have and grow into proper trees. I guess miraculous things carry on.

injunction

Hearing speculation about the polls in Greece ahead of the Sunday evening elections, a dead-heat and a photo-finish most held, I was worried that the EU would have its Bush v. Gore moment. That time was more than a moment, rather an epoch that spanned from days after the disputed election in November 2000 until at least January 2009, and it is yet to determined if it’s really over. The party styled the fiscal conservatives have a slight edge over the liberals, and the victors are positioned to build a coalition among the among parliamentarians from minority parties, committed to retaining the common-currency and remediating the Greek economy by adhering to the conditions and reforms of economic assistance package.

The winning party, however, has no mandate from the people and no basis to strengthen its claim that enduring all the punishment won’t just be in vain but also beneficial. The liberals were no understudy to chaos, and while their round rejection of the austerity and targets twain to keeping the euro in favour of social justice and support has sensible and popular appeal, they are not presently able to offer plans on what the inheritors of the new drachma should do the next morning. Voters’ appeal could still turn and the choices as portrayed do not seem to offer healthy alternatives. It seems that a lot of oaths and deeds have already been sunk and are sinking and buoyed on the not on hopes or politics nor even on the mechanics of peace and prosperity, but the neediness of advanced economies desperate for attention. Greed, I guess, steals away too the care and concern touching on bigger questions and difficulties and holds decision in suspense.

de re coquinaria

I was looking through a cookbook that we found the other day, one that reached all the way back to the kitchen and cuisine of 1898, and noticed that organizationally and instruction-wise, like other older volumes of recipes that we have, there’s a verse-like brevity to them, almost like a haiku and something self-contained, with mostly no measurements, cooking times and temperatures. If you have to ask, then you are obliviously are not a good homemaker and Hausfrau. There are some interesting basic meals and descriptions of sauces that would be interesting to try to recreate, and it was worth noting how one can rate the familiar and the exotic food of the time, given the attention to detail and exacting instructions for preparation: one dish that’s described as italienisch was steamed rice with green peas and was called “Risi-Pisi.” I cannot imagine a good bürgerlichen family of the turn of the century asking for such a thing by name from far away Italy.  It will be fun to experiment and see what other changes in tone and method come up.

happy fathers' day

Here is a candid gathering of famous and infamous dads. Don't forget to tell yours how special he is and Happy Fathers' Day!

panhandlers and paupers

I am not quite sure what to call the growing and morbid fascination with ruin and distress on exhibition, and thankfully no one has tried to apply the label of poverty porn universally because there are significant differences in degree and dialogue. Of course, things can slide into neglect and disrepair quickly and destitution can be an equalizing force, but it does not do to compare the Sword of Damocles hanging over Greece and Europe with the Rustbelt of the United States and explicit profiles of crumbling and de-peopled urban centres. Detroit is a pinup girl.

The so-called poster children of the eurozone, however, are not positioned to relinquish hope, sovereignty, identity or anything else and will continue to engage the union and their people in setting this framework.

The euro is not in danger because of debate or controls more stringent and exacting than were originally agreed to (though perhaps not abided by) but is rather reinforced by vocal and public investigation and scrutiny. Trying to force American-style solutions of throwing money at problems, hollowing out social support programs and allowing the banks and markets to dictate to government and the real economy is obliviously a threat, even though the crisis stems from a uniquely American export, greatly exacerbated by American-style over-exuberance and over-exposure. Budgets and expenditures, though crises can be enlightening for systemic problems, could have continued at a parallel pace if it was not for one costly mistake, and with attention and care can be realigned and made stronger. The peep-show comes in the form of rallies, strikes and street protests and threats to monuments, artefacts and infrastructure rather than the abject desolation, that many like to ogle over but that’s apparently all talked-out.

as seen on tv

From the creative franchise that offers the daily web comics Toothpaste for Dinner, Married to the Sea, and Natalie Dee, there is a new Sharing Machine blog, The Worst Things for Sale, that is an intelligent and funny commentary on culture through reviews of the craptabulous and derivative ways to part people from the money and good senses.  You should check out them all. 

magic carpet ride

Germany has, it seems, acquired a taste for political scandal and airing dirty laundry, and though taking advantage of one's public office to curry grace and favour is a very serious offense and an abuse of power, German government scandals seem rather tepid and would be in the written instructions elsewhere. Several career-politicians have fallen on their swords, for better or worse, over offenses like over academic dishonesty or for accepting gifts that did not pass the test of party or public scrutiny, and now the Minister for Development is being berated by the media and the parliament over purchasing a rather fancy rug while stationed in Afghanistan, returning home via a German intelligence service flight and neglecting to declare it for import taxes. I am sure that this was an oversight and the attacks unwarranted or even fitted to the business of government ethics, since it was not like the individual was on holiday or that anyone would risk job and reputation for smuggling and has promoted works abroad that confirm his character. The heated words are sometimes too much to bear from the opposition and I fear distractions for more systemic problems, but perhaps because of the hue and cry over these amateurish transgressions, corruption might not be allowed to advance further.