In Vino Veritas, Wine Chat from a Michigan Girl

I grew up on wine lore from my Grandpa Kinney, that wonderfully mostly Irish guy who drank Cask Cream Sherry daily and Manischewitz on Sabbath. I don't know why. We weren't Jewish.

I started drinking wine in 1982. Riunite D'Oro, raspberry, Liebfraumilch from Drink-All in Muskegon. Tosti Asti Spumante on special occasions.Don't judge. There was no wine culture then.  I've come a long way since then. Wine is the universal language.
Wine Meanderings from a Michigan Girl

When It's Bullying, Racial Profiling and When It's Not

An incident occurred on "National Taco Day" which highlights American cultural ignorance and underscores how profiling can stem from said ignorance. I subscribe to a Latino empowerment group, Presente.org. An update was sent which explains:

"Not all Latinos grow up eating tacos. The idea that we do is just another harmful stereotype of Latino people and cultures. But that stereotype was embraced, validated, and propagated by Fox News Channel host Brian Kilmeade. During a celebration of “National Taco Day” on the October 4 Fox and Friends broadcast, Kilmeade asked meteorologist Maria Molina, "So what are the tips we need to know? You grew up on tacos, correct?" But Molina was born in Nicaragua — tacos aren’t even commonly eaten in her country!"

Presente.org is demanding an apology from Kilmeade to Molina. I signed the petition, but I have some concerns. Americans tend toward both extremes, ethnocentricism and ethnic slurring. There's a lot of talk of "we" and "they" but there's no such thing as a full-blooded American, save the native American Indians. White settlers are just a hodge-podge of people from different countries. We're all immigrants."We" are all also "they." And ethnic profiling and polarization is rampant. But not all stereotypes are negative. When is an ethnic stereotype profiling, discrimination and bullying and when is it not? How should we handle profiling?   National Taco Day Insult Underscores Racial, Ethnic, Religious Profiling Issues - News - Bubblews

Observe Labor Day the Union Way, Globally

Labor Day is more than just a another beer-drinking, flag-waving holiday. A lot of union people worked really hard so we could enjoy workplace rights. The way we celebrate a holiday reflects how we believe. If I focus only on partying I show that's all I care about. This Labor Day, thank a union worker. You enjoy that weekend, 40-hour work week, 8-hour day, thanks to collective bargaining. Kids don't work in sweatshops in the U.S., thanks to unions. Even if you work in a non-union place, you're benefiting from the efforts of organized labor. Here's how we celebrated labor as a family.   How to Observe Labor Day the Union Way 

Xavier Rudd Plays Australian Aboriginal Didgeridoo Outback Music

My kids and I consider ourselves musical leftists: radical and revolutionary (husband too, if he'll admit it). We are always on the lookout for way-out of the (squeeze) box sounds. Australian Xavier Rudd and his didgeridoo (also spelled didjeridu) satisfy our collective soul. Never heard of a didgeridoo? Don't feel inadequate. Neither did I until I heard Xavier Rudd play it. Even then my tongue rumbled the pronunciation. My son said, "Mom, watch my mouth and repeat after me 'did-jer-ee-doo'" It's really fun to say, as are many Australian words which involve a great deal of onomatopoeia. Read on Australian Xavier Rudd and Izintaba Plays Aboriginal Didgeridoo Outback Music

Forget Your Stuff, Cmon Get Happy! Less is More

This picture shows my recent kitchen remodel. We are unabashedly frugal and make no apology for living simply. This project cost us $990. I wrote an article about it. homes.yahoo.com/news/floor-ceiling-diy-kitchen-makeover-990-190800346.html.

Some commenters said they hoped this was the before pic. Some suggested it looked cheesy, was still cramped, yada yada. Like I didn't know, living here 13 years, it was little.

Yes, well I happen to like that little kitchen. Some very special men fixed it up for me. No, it's not sour grapes. We could blow our money on something bigger or better. Somehow, it would feel like losing my soul to gain the world. And certainly, my little kitchen is bigger than most homes in developing  or third world nations. So read on to Forget Your Stuff, Cmon Get Happy! Less is More

50 Foods from Around the World, Globe-Trotting Recipes

Are you planning an 'Around the World' theme for your school, church, VBS, scout troop, camp, library, 4H or community group? Need some quick, easy inexpensive food ideas that you can easily make or better yet, pull off the shelf of your local grocery store? Most all of these foods are available where you would normally shop. You will not need to make a special trip to an ethnic deli. These foods are 'local'; they grow or are made with products from the region. Most have long historical connections You'll find ideas for over fifty different countries and six continents. Team this with my article on literature around the world and you've got a great lesson plan! 50 Foods from Around the World

Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom

Ecology and sustainable green living are two important habits schools should teach. Unfortunately, science classes often focus on boring, paper-and-pencil lessons (anything but eco-friendly!) Classroom recycling accomplishes several objectives. It's practical. Kids see immediate benefits. It makes schoolwork meaningful. It reinvigorates same-old curriculum. It gives hands-on experience in real-life activities. It builds healthy habits that carryover into life outside school. And it feels good to care for the earth. Here are ways to weave recycling into classroom lessons.Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom