Lars Toomre

Some Personal Thoughts, Observations and Trivia
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Buddha on Persistence

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength, but through persistence.

Buddha

Merchants and Risk

Load the ship and set out. No one knows for certain whether the vessel will sink or reach the harbor. Cautious people say, "I'll do nothing until I can be sure". Merchants know better. If you do nothing, you lose. Don't be one of those merchants who won't risk the ocean

Rumi

Sufi Poet and Mystic

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Manners

There is always a best way of doing everything, if it be to boil an egg. Manners are the happy ways of doing things.

Margaret Lee Runbeck on Apology

Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift.

Dealing With Sorrow

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?", unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way.

Madeleine L'Engle on Aging

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.

Going Backwards To Proceed Forward

Like an ox-cart driver in monsoon season or the skipper of a grounded ship, one must sometimes go forward by going back.

American novelist and short-story writer

The Artist's Way Every Day - March 8th

It takes an effort to be clear about things. It is easier and much sadder to be muddy, to never take the time to clarify our thoughts and connect to our own perceptions. The act of paying attention is what brings us peace. In mediation, we pay attention to the breath or to the image or to the mantra. We concentrate on something, and that concentration, that stillness, brings us to the point of knowing that we are all right, that God is in his heaven and all is right with the world — even if we believe in no God and no heaven. The act of concentration is that powerful, that filled with blessings.

Mastin Kipp About Patience and Life Journey

Patience child, patience. Remember, life is a journey. If you got everything you wanted all at once there'd be no point to living. Enjoy the ride, and in the end you'll see these "set backs" as giant leaps forward, only you couldn't see the bigger picture in the moment. Remain calm, all is within reach; all you have to do is show up everyday, stay true to your path and you will surely find the treasure you seek.

Founder of The Daily Love

American-born al Qaeda Spokesman Adam Gadahn Captured

Various news reports indicate that the American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn has been captured in Pakistan's port city of Karachi on or about March 7th 2010. This reported capture comes on the same day as As Sahab, al Qaeda's propaganda arm, released a video of Adam Gadahn praising Major Nidal Hasan, the Muslim US Army officer who murdered 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009. "Brother Nidal is the ideal role model for every repentant Muslim in the armies of the unbelievers and apostate regimes," Gadahn apparently said.

Mr. Gadahn was charged with treason in the United States back in 2006 and there apparently has been a million dollar award offered for information leading to his arrest. Those charges of treason are the first in more than fifty years and could lead to his death if convicted. "By aligning himself with al Qaeda, by moving overseas to be closer to al Qaeda’s base and leadership, and by joining in advocating al Qaeda’s terrorist agenda, an agenda that includes the overthrow of the United States government and the murder of American citizens, Adam Gadahn has committed treason against the United States of America," said US Attorney Debra Wong Yang. He is the first American to be indicted for treason since 1952.

It will be interesting to see how President Obama and Attorney General Holder approach this case should Mr. Gadahn be turned over to American authorities. Will there be a public judicial trial or will he join some of his al Qaeda compatriots at Guantanamo Bay's excellent prison facilities?

Hot Vegetables

Hot Vegetables, Carpenter, Hugh, and Sandison Teri , Berkeley, California, p.112, (1998)

Pinchitos Morunos

Example of Pichitos MorunosIn celebration of a friend's forthcoming trip to Morocco, the preparation of marinated kebobs in the Moroccan tradition recently became a focus. The Moors introduced both skewers and marinated meat to both Morocco and Spain.

These little yellow kebabs are a particular favorite of Andalusia region of Spain, where many butchers sell the meat ready marinated. One can use any type of meat for these kebabs. In Morocco they are prepared with lamb, and in Spain it is traditionally prepared with pork.

For a leaner alternative, one also can use chicken breast, although I would recommend using turkey thigh as it is very tasty and moist, and does not dry out like breast meat often does.

H.E. Luccock on Teamwork

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.

American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Gandhi on Worry

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.

Confucius on Goals

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

Great Chinese thinker and philosopher

Further Explorations of Spanish Cuisine

Coast line in Costa del Sol, SpainMy first-time ever trip to Spain last summer with my then girlfriend Mary Olsen was a very special and memorable experience. I knew little about either Spain or the Spanish cuisine before our trip. Those wonderful eight days in Spain made me wish that I had traveled there earlier and left me determined to return soon to explore further.

Although we spent most of our time in the southern Costa del Sol region, we got to sample some of the rich variety in the broad and varied Spanish cuisine. As Catalan writer Josep Pla (1897-1981) once said, "A country's cuisine is its landscape in a cooking pot." Our week-plus glance into the Spanish cooking pot revealed more than just Spain's geography. It is said that to savor a nation's culinary customs is to experience the unfolding of an entire culture.

Although I am now single some eight months later, I have continued to experiment with various aspects of the Spanish culinary richness and customs. One way has been to prepare various recipes from some excellent Spanish cookbooks. These cookbooks include:

Some of these experimental preparations have had mixed results; others have been quite delicious! Those dishes that have been made several times (with the instructions modified as appropriate) have been added to the recipe section of the Lars Toomre website. No doubt more such instructions will be added in the coming months!!

Mother Teresa on Love

If you judge others, you will have no time to love them.

Japanese Proverb on Vision

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.