yes we are

sounds good to us

Gnocchi With Cider and Sage Butter Sauce
Makes 4 servings

* 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup apple cider (or apple juice plus 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 10 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced (divided)
* 1 1-pound package gnocchi
* 1/4 cup lightly toasted pine nuts (see note)
* 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Add the cider, salt, pepper and half of the sage and return to a simmer. Do not boil.

Simmer until the liquid has reduced by about half, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi according to package directions, being sure to drain them as soon as they float to the top.

Transfer the gnocchi to a large serving bowl.

Strain the butter-cider reduction through mesh strainer.

Pour the butter reduction over the gnocchi and toss lightly.

Top the gnocchi with pine nuts, Parmesan shavings and reserved sage.

Note: To toast pine nuts, spread on baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Check after 3 minutes. They go from browned to burned in a matter of seconds.

bump us, baby

if you wanna hold our hand, may we offer you our elbow instead?

TO the pantheon of social arbiters who came up with the firm handshake, the formal bow and the air kiss, get ready to add a new fashion god: the World Health Organization, chief advocate of the "elbow bump."

If the avian flu goes pandemic while Tamiflu and vaccines are still in short supply, experts say, the only protection most Americans will have is "social distancing," which is the new politically correct way of saying "quarantine."

middle-of-the-night pome

spill

teach me again,
life, that i am
as empty handed as
a blade of grass

lifestyle choices

"Flinching is the body's natural reaction to the knowledge that it is about to absorb a blow."
(see below)
++++
feminism is not a lifestyle choice
falling in love is not a lifestyle choice
ptsd is not a lifestyle choice
fear of failure is not a lifestyle choice
chronic cynicism is not a lifestyle choice
colitis is not a lifestyle choice
naturally blonde is not a lifestyle choice
trisomy 13 is not a lifestyle choice
surviving sexual abuse is not a lifestyle choice
passive aggressiveness is not a lifestyle choice
eloquence is not a lifestyle choice
beautiful ankles is not a lifestyle choice
openmindedness is not a lifestyle choice
heart on your sleeve is not a lifestyle choice
emotional unavailability is not a lifestyle choice
flinching is not a lifestyle choice
playing out of tune is not a lifestyle choice
being boring is not a lifestyle choice

do you believe in media ethics?

we were taught that pay-for-play is a no-no.
we believe it still is.
we understand that some today think everyone gets paid to say their piece.

"Paying for It," from American Journalism Review, April 1999