Sherrill Joseph's Blog, page 5

Spam!

Hello, Readers,

As we get ready for Thanksgiving in the USA, our thoughts increasingly turn to FOOD as we plan the feast: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and . . . Spam?

This week, I have found myself thinking about Hawaiian food, including Spam, no doubt in light of Saffron Street: Island Danger, recently released and set on O’ahu. And as it turns out, there is a link between Spam and the Japanese Americans’ incarcerations post Pearl Harbor, central to my book’s mystery. Keep reading!

I found an interesting article by Kiki Aranita about the history of Spam, a food abundantly served throughout the Hawaiian islands. According to Aranita, who grew up on O’ahu, many people on the Mainland denigrate this popular food as over-processed, unhealthy, salt-laden, canned junk food. Not so in Hawai’i! For Aranita and Hawaiians, Spam, especially served with eggs and rice, is wrapped in the history and nostalgia of the islands there.

Also from O’ahu, Chef Chung Chow of New York City’s Noreetah restaurant associates Spam with home. He serves Spam in a fine-dining context in an attempt to change Spam’s image on the Mainland. On his menu is an array of Spam musubi. He finds it interesting that Spam costs more on the Mainland ($5.00) than in Hawai’i ($1.99) despite it being produced in Minnesota and Nebraska!

Spam’s Hawaiian history was born of suspicion and food insecurity. In the late 19th century, “work contracts of the Japanese laborers who had come to work on Hawai’i’s sugarcane plantations expired. Many of them, skilled fisherman, turned to commercial fishing. They could earn more than working on the plantations. The Japanese displaced the Hawaiians in commercial fisheries . . . and eventually monopolized the deep sea fishing industry.

By the 1930s, the US military came to view this as a threat to national security. . . . There were concerns that the fishermen were being interrogated by Japanese Navy officials on hydrographic conditions in Hawai’i, ending the careers of many fishermen. But even after the attack on Pearl Harbor, none of these claims were substantiated. As Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps on the mainland, this effective ban in Hawai’i on deep sea fishing by “aliens” obliterated the industry and left Hawai’i’s Japanese population stranded.

The iconic Spam musubi was borne from this sudden lack of fish to eat as people came to subsist on canned foods — an adaptation that is, painfully, not unique.”So, get a clue, Readers. I hope you will read Aranita’s article to learn more about Spam’s history and why it’s so special to the Hawaiians. Happy Thanksgiving for all our blessings, no matter what foods complement your feast!

Yikes!

Dear Readers,

Did you see the news today about the “2022 Word of the Year”?

It’s been chosen by the U.K.-based Collins Dictionary. In fact, its top ten words of the year have a definite theme: “the ongoing crisis the world is facing.”

Some don’t pay much attention to these yearly “contests,” but this year’s word might be something many of us can relate to, unfortunately.

Here it it: The number one word of 2022 is PERMACRISIS. As you might guess, it means “an extended period of instability and insecurity–the emotional equivalent of your feet dangling off a ledge as you try to find a safe landing.” Yikes!

Sounds scary, right? The people at Collins Dictionary in charge of selecting the words of the year considered our global “political instability, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and the cost-of-living crisis.” They also looked at a database of over 18 billion words and “took ‘snapshots’ at intervals throughout the year to analyze newspapers and social media among other sources.”

So, get a clue, Readers. If you’d like to see some of the other nine words of the year and read more about this topic, please click HERE. And may your life NOT resemble 2022’s Word of the Year. But if it does, I hope you have positive ways to counteract the feeling. Remember! This, too, shall pass.

 

Five Reasons to Celebrate Halloween

Dear Kids and All Other Halloween Revelers,

Some people do or do not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons. Regardless, many people love Halloween, and I am no exception.

Did you know that there are important scientific reasons to celebrate Halloween?

Embracing and celebrating scary things in life could compel us to make some beneficial changes on how we deal with them. For example, holidays like Halloween and Dia de los Muertos “ritualize our fears, mainly of death . . . turning horror into play, death into levity, and gore into laughter,” says Dacher Keltner, founder of Great Good Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life, at UC Berkeley.

According to Jeremy Adam Smith, a psychologist, also at Greater Good, there are five scientifically validated reasons why human beings need Halloween:

Halloween is a ritual. Rituals keep us together. They do this by getting us out to socialize, perhaps with the neighbors during trick-or-treat. This “social-capital enhancement” can make us happier, kinder, and healthier.We need candy. It’s proven that one ounce of dark chocolate can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and boost the mood.

If you would like to read on to find out important reasons number 3, 4, and 5, please click HERE.

So, get a clue, all you Halloween revelers! I hope you enjoyed the article, which might help you prepare for an even Happier Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, and beyond . . . into your everyday lives!

 

That Creepy Feeling!

Hi, All Readers, and Happy October!

This month, culminating in Halloween, seems perfect for discussing creepy feelings! One, in particular . . .

Have you ever experienced deja vu? That’s French for “already seen”–a perhaps paranormal sensation that you’ve experienced the same exact situation before, even though that’s impossible? If you have, you’re in good company. Two-thirds of us have had this weird experience!

The Conversation, a nonprofit organization working for the public good through fact- and research-based journalism, published its “Curious Kids” segment on October 3, 2022, about deja vu. Kids and adults can write in questions for experts to answer. This time, a ten-year-old from India asked why people experience that “been there; done that” feeling.

Anne Cleary, professor of cognitive psychology at Colorado State University, answered the question. She has completed a thorough review of others’ findings from over 100 years and is currently doing her own scientific study about deja vu.

Would you like to read more about the history of deja vu and what Cleary has discovered? If yes, please click HERE.

So, get a clue, readers. Have you experienced deja vu? I know I have–many times! May all your “been there; done thats” be pleasant!

 

Love Match

Hello, Kids, Readers, and Tennis Fans,

I am saddened by the news that my favorite tennis player Roger Federer is retiring from competitive tennis on September 25, following his last tournament, The Laver Cup, which he’s playing in London this coming weekend.

Roger started his professional career in 1998 at the age of 17 and will leave as a 41-year-old role model for young and old alike, having won 103 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) singles titles.

He and tennis will remain a “love match” in my opinion–love here meaning a mutual compatibility between the man and his sport.

Even more than his balletic moves on any court, impossible shots that he made look easy, twenty major singles titles (Grand Slams–eight at Wimbledon alone), and record-breaking consecutive weeks (237) as the World’s No. 1 tennis player, I was always mesmerized by Roger’s consistently great sportsmanship, kindness and positivity, and charitable giving that mostly benefited kids’ educations and living situations in Europe and Africa. For me, he was and will remain a class act first and an unequaled champion a very close second. 

Last week when Roger announced on social media that he would be retiring–but not leaving tennis entirely, he said about his fans, “The inspiring feeling of walking into full stadiums and arenas has been one of the huge thrills in my life. Without you, those successes would’ve felt lonely, rather than filled with joy and energy.”

Thank you, Roger Federer, for so many years of tennis elegance and your eloquence on behalf of the sport. It was an honor to behold your style and virtuosity.

Want to read more about Roger’s announcement in his own words in an NBC news story? Please click HERE.  And click HERE if you’d like to read other tennis greats’ glowing tributes to Roger.

So, get a clue, Readers. Tennis is the love of Roger’s life. We will see him play again, but on his own terms. Perhaps like me, you will be watching for those magical golden opportunities.

“The Cowboy and Queen Elizabeth”

Dear Readers, Horse Lovers, and/or Admirers of the late Queen Elizabeth II,

Here is a heartwarming story from the New York Times by Jenny Gross, dated September 12, 2022, that I thought might be as interesting to you as it was to me.

Mr. Monty Roberts, an eighty-seven-year-old legendary horse trainer from California, has special reasons to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II this week.

They shared a three-decades-long friendship.

In April of 1989, Queen Elizabeth invited Mr. Roberts to England’s Windsor Castle to discuss his intriguing method of training horses. There, she witnessed his gentle techniques in which the horse is taught to see the rider as a member of the herd, rather than as a master.

During that visit, Roberts demonstrated his techniques for the queen using twenty-three of the royal family’s horses. That started the long friendship that sometimes meant taking a phone call from the queen in the middle of the night! Thereafter, he visited England six to seven times each year to assist the queen.

Her Majesty encouraged Mr. Roberts to write a book about his method. He did, and The Man Who Listens to Horses became a NYT bestseller!

In 2011, the queen designated Roberts an honorary member of the Royal Victorian Order for his service to the royal family, the queen, and the racing establishment.

From his 100-acre horse ranch in Solvang, California, Roberts reflected this week on how horses brought the queen a sense of calm and escape. While riding horses, she could briefly become a horsewoman instead of a queen.

He will be one of 2,000 friends and dignitaries at her funeral on September 19.

So, get a clue, Readers. Could your passion make a great book that might benefit others? I hope you will be inspired to write as was Mr. Roberts. RIP, Queen Elizabeth.

Where Does Your Birthday Rank?

Dear Kids and All Readers,

I think it’s safe to say that all kids love birthdays. I mean, cake and presents! My attitude is that birthdays are important because they beat the alternative, so light those candles and enjoy.

Did you know that certain birthdates occur much more frequently than others?

Tomorrow is September 9. It is the #1 most popular birthday in the United States! In fact nine out of the top ten most frequently occurring birthdays are in September. The only one that isn’t is July 7.

The interesting birthday information was gathered from aggregated data on the number of births on each day of the year from 1994-2014, as compiled by the CDC and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, and the Social Security Administration.

You’re probably wondering which day of the year has the least births? It’s December 25, closely followed by January 1. Babies are least likely to be born on holidays, including Halloween. And few are born on the 13th of the month! (Superstitions?)

The most common birth month is August; the least common is February.

And which day of the week has the most births? That would be Tuesday!

Want to find out where YOUR BIRTHDAY ranks on the popularity list? Click HERE to find out, or go to zippia.com/advice/most-least-common-b....

So, get a clue, readers. No matter how popular your birthday is or isn’t, don’t forget to have a great time and eat cake! Those are requirements.

Crew Helps Crue

Dear Readers and Rock Music Lovers,

I just wanted to share something fun with you today–one of those happenstances that I couldn’t have foreseen when I set off for the grocery store last Saturday morning.

One of our San Diego stadiums hosted a huge rock/punk/heavy and glam metal music concert on Sunday, August 28th. It featured Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on one of the last stops of their 2022 tour.

Imagine my surprise when a stadium crew showed up at my store to do some grocery shopping for the four groups! The guys stopped in “for a few things” for the bands and after buzzing around with multiple carts, they left hours later with so many boxes that they couldn’t take everything in one trip. The crew planned to come back for Joan Jett’s later.

So, get a clue, Readers. You never know when something newsworthy might happen. Keep your ears and eyes open! 

 

 

 

Bloats and Crashes

Dear Kids and Animal Lovers,

Recently, on one of my morning walks, I saw a murder of crows in a tall, otherwise barren eucalyptus tree. The fifty plus large black birds were waiting for . . . coffee?

But wait!  “A murder of crows? What’s that?”

That’s the collective name for a group of crows–one of my favorite birds and terms. Seeing those crows inspired me to seek out other animal group names to share with you. This is a great way to build your vocabulary. I found the perfect online site at https://owlcation.com/stem/collective.... Click to see if your favorite animal is listed or to learn something new.

At the site, the group nouns are categorized as “Mammals,” “Birds,” “Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish,” “Insects, Arachnids, and Other Animals,” and “People.”

Here are a few more of my favorites: a bloat of hippos, a crash of rhinos, a cauldron of bats, a parliament of owls, and an embarrassment of pandas!

So, how did these collective nouns originate? According to owlcation.com, the names date back to 1486 when a nun named Juiliana Barnes published them in The Book of Saint Albans. Then, the names were used as hunting terms, but they have become part of everyday English speech. Many, however, are considered archaic.

So, get a clue, Readers. Which collective names are your favorites? You might raise eyebrows if you use some of them today. But, take a risk! Help build vocabulary. You won’t crash.

 

Table It!

Hello, Readers!

Perhaps like me, you ran across this engaging op-ed by Ellen Jovin on page A11 in the Friday, August 12, 2022, edition of The L.A. Times. It’s available digitally and in print.

Entitled “How Fighting Over Grammar Can Help Fix a Divided America,” it details Ms. Jovin’s goals to set up and run a “Grammar Table” on the streets of New York City to answer grammar questions from passersby. She has a strong background as a professional editor, teacher, and writer, and is a self-proclaimed lifelong grammar nerd. (Yay!)

Ms. Jovin used a folding table and chair and attached a homemade “Grammar Table” sign. Then, she waited for customers. The first arrived within thirty seconds!

Before long, she noticed that “any rancor [generated from disagreements over grammar issues] was mostly feigned and the chats cathartic” as she kept moving the table around the city. Eventually, having answered questions from all ages, races, political parties, socio-economic classes, and job descriptions, she came to realize that “the disputes that played out at her pop-up grammar advice stand were always friendly and grounded in mutual respect.”

Ms. Jovin and her husband filmed the Grammar Table for a documentary, visiting forty-seven states before being halted by the pandemic. She realized that her grammar chats helped create tiny bonds between people, which, she believed, can “support the larger connections we need for our communities to thrive.”

So, get a clue, readers. Can your untangling a smaller problem with others help eventually unite a fractured neighborhood or society? Sometimes, little successes can grow big results!