Rainbow Millet Tabbouleh

In Place of Other Grains: Rainbow Millet Tabbouleh Millet is capable of doing the job of pretty much any other grain. For example, tabbouleh is usually made with bulgur but a gluten-free version can be made with millet. It’s delicious by itself or served with your favorite Mediterranean dishes. The different colored vegetables give it

Uncle Pen by Bill Monroe

For those who have not heard Uncle Pen, here is your chance! Listen to Uncle Pen

My Bucket List: Places to go in the Philippines

THIS ARTICLE provides useful information about some fantastic, off-the-beaten-track places to go in the Philippines.  I already had my own list of places for reclining and recreating in the Philippines, but this list adds several new and astonishing ones to the mix. CLICK HERE

Is it South China Sea or is it West Philippine Sea?

Philippine Sea — South China Sea Dispute (Non-Interactive) This is an interesting book by Philippines Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio that lays out an historical analysis of the legal claims to Scarborough Shoal, the Spratleys and many other islands in the Philippine Sea wast of Palawan (aka South China Sea). TRANSCRIPT: Justice Antonio Carpio on

How to tune a Banjo

I am learning to play the Banjo.  I have two long-nick Plectrum Banjos, one for each tuning, a beautiful 5-string Banjo, and an Irish Tenor Banjo. CLICK HERE for a useful list of different tunings for some kinds of Banjos (in the USA and Ireland)

KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: A Fulbright grant

I am happy and grateful to receive a 2017-19 Fulbright FLEX grant for doing research at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic (AUCA). My research project is develop and write an “indigenous” curriculum for higher education and creative practice at AUCA, in the nascent Department of TV, Cinema and Visual Arts. In doing my research

WAR Of the WORLDS by Orson Welles

LISTEN to “WAR OF THE WORLDS” A ONE HOUR RADIO DRAMA READ about “WAR OF THE WORLDS” READ SCRIPT of Orson Welles’ “WAR OF THE WORLDS”

Now there’s Trump so I return to Zinn

Some folks are long overdue for their first reading of A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.  In my case, I was overdue for a re-read and it has been very helpful.  With recent political developments as they have been and a tendency to forecast ominously for the future I provide this link to

Quran English Translation

I hope this is useful to someone, at least as a resource and reference.  Someone forward the file to Donald Trump, he needs one for reference. Quran-English-Translation-clearquran-edition.

Bill Monroe “Uncle Pen”

A lot of good things in the performance of this tune.

Pilipino History (US-Philippines War 1898-1910?)

Pinoy Kollektor HERE is a link to a fascinating educational web presentation of historical photographs and information about Tobacco in the Philippines.   Good for comparison of Blogspot and WordPress too.  

Defiant Defectors from the US Army

I am developing a docudrama about a soldier in the US Army who defected to the enemy side in 1899 during the Philippines-US War on the island of Luzon. Throughout US History there are lots of other great examples of defection, some recent, but I’m most interested in Black US soldiers in the Pilipino-American War who defected

Concerto for Oboe & Orchestra by John Corigliano

        I remember being deeply thrilled with wonderment when I first heard John Corigliano’s Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra. It seemed so new and insane, yet ancient to my ears in a wonderful sort of way. Movement #1 Movement #3 It is a wild ride, so nice. John Corigliano: http://www.johncorigliano.com    

RIP Richie Havens, thank you!

A lot of bad news flowing around these days and the news about Richie Havens’ death can be added to the unfortunate list. ABOUT RICHIE HAVENS As a guitarist I have been greatly influenced by Havens’ guitar playing style and the wonderful sound of his music.  His voice resonates in a profound way and his energy is captivating.  I was fortunate

The repression of dissent: The Occupy movement was (temporarily?) quashed by a coordinated BLOB of Police, FBI, and Banks

Thanks to my friend, Myles Cummings, now in the UK, who steered me to an interesting article with very ominous overtones about the FBI coordination with banks for the crackdown upon the Occupy Movement activities. SEE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/29/fbi-coordinated-crackdown-occupy I have written in earlier blog entries on this site about my philosophical support for the Occupy movement

In memory of my friend, Bob Morgan

I had a dream last night that was full of music, specifically, Saturday Night Waltz–from Aaron Copeland’s RODEO.   To my ears, this is a melodic dance from a timeless heavenly valley.   I have loved that piece since I was a 3-year old boy.  I don[‘t recall the story of the dream but I

Skeeters or Snakes?: You have to pick your poison

http://news.yahoo.com/venomous-snakes-harbor-deadly-brain-swelling-virus-210958870.html Fascinating story, possible horrible.  Is the potential for mosquito mayhem a further ramification of global warming?  As I understand the problem, an increase in mosquitos is the result of the winter cold snap not being sufficient to wipe our last year’s crop of the critters, so they keep getting bigger and more problematic for

Alan Dershowitz: My hero, Alan Allen and Woody Dershowitz

This link has three interview clips with one of my heroes, Alan Dershowitz, a great thinker, scholar, and advocate for justice. LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/newsmakers/legal-system-treats-celebs-differently–dershowitz-says.html It is well worth the time to watch the interview(s). –Woody Dershowitz? –Alan Allen? My fascination with Dershowitz is enhanced by the fact that Dershowitz’s voice reminds me so much of Woody

Guro Dan Inosanto: PE Teacher at Malaga Cove School

I was lucky as a young person at Malaga Cove intermediate school. I was lucky because I had GURO Dan Inasanto was my PE teacher in grades 6, 7, and 8.  GURO=GURU (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guro) Guro Dan Insosanto’s website is: http://www.inosanto.com As our teacher and role model, he was authentic and awe-inspiring.  I believe this could be said about all

The true test of a filmmaker–doing anything to get the best shot

I love this photo because it illustrates the unflagging willingness of a true filmmaker to do anything, including going eye to eye with the king of the forest, for the sake of a good shot.

Poetry and fragrances in ol’ Araby and in all the lands of Islam

POETRY OF THE TALIBAN I know that the Taliban are not necessarily Arabs, nor are they known for their poetic works, but this article sounds promising about a new book about the Poetry of the Taliban. Read about the book, Poetry of the Taliban,  HERE An interesting and important read. Salam Verses of the Holy Q’uran

Why are Job-creating Republicans so upset about Obamacare?

I have been trying to figure out, with some precision and specificity—Why so many Republican-Conservative-“job-creators” are so bug-eyed and frothing at the mouth about Affordable Health Care?  The months and years of simmering disdain have spiked upwards to a boiling point in the last 24 hours, exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that upheld

The road to a long life

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/want-to-live-to-100–sleep.html This article was an interesting read, in my view.  It’s time to put everything in balance.

James Carville

In the past I didn’t understand Carville’s approach or persona; but in the last few years I have grown to greatly respect and enjoy his writing and sense of humor.  It’s a good read. http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/14/opinion/carville-middle-class/index.html The USA has formed a dangerously inequitable gap between the haves and the have nots, where the have nots are