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From organizing an "Earth Week" celebration in China to learning about forest management in Thailand, and to helping with a community health program in India, several Princeton students this summer pursued service internships in Asia. The experiences of these students, as well as that of interns before them, have created lasting impressions and deepened their academic and personal goals.
The internships, which are sponsored through a partnership between Princeton in Asia (PiA) and the Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI), enable students to connect across cultures while pursuing hands-on service projects. With a key focus on environmental initiatives, the internships now are expanding to address health issues, always with an overall goal of bringing Princeton students into close collaboration with communities in countries in Asia.
The eight-week internships were conceived to "enable Princeton undergraduates to roll up their sleeves and dig in to real-world environmental challenges in a critical region of the world, thus enriching both the local communities and their undergraduate environmental education," said Kathy Hackett, associate director of PEI.
For rising junior and politics major Nikolai Kapustin, who taught English in China this summer while using environmental topics as a foundation for learning, the experience has given him a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the future. "As the summer winds down, we are hopeful that our Chinese students are going to continue environmental discussions long after we have left," he said.
Since starting as a pilot joint venture between PEI and PiA in 2008, the program has offered internships in energy, forestry, environmental health, biodiversity conservation, environmental education and public health to 46 Princeton students across 19 academic disciplines. This summer, 14 students participated in programs in China, Thailand and India.
The partnership is part of the broader PEI/Grand Challenges internship program, which offers Princeton undergraduates an opportunity to explore and expand their knowledge of complex environmental issues with hands-on research experience during the summer months in 50 countries around the world. The University's multidisciplinary Grand Challenges Program focuses on climate and energy, development, and health. For its part, PiA has been building bridges between the United States and Asia for more than a century by arranging fellowships and internships with host communities in Asia in the fields of education, development, journalism and business.
'Greening' Summer of Service in China
This summer, 11 students participated in Summer of Service (SoS) in China, one notable example of the collaboration between PEI and PiA. Summer of Service is a PiA flagship program through which Princeton students run an English summer program for aspiring English teachers in the city of Jishou in China's rural Hunan Province.
Three years ago, Princeton students launched "Greening Summer of Service," an initiative that introduced environmental programming into the curriculum to cultivate a dialogue with their Chinese students surrounding some of the significant environmental challenges facing China.
Over the past four summers, the Greening SoS program has reached nearly 400 Chinese student-teachers in Jishou. The Chinese students, working with Princeton students, have been inspired to launch a range of environmental protection projects in Jishou.
This summer, Princeton interns in Jishou turned the city's annual Earth Day celebration into an "Earth Week," working with their Chinese students to implement several environmentally friendly projects that they presented to the larger university community there. Local students took pictures of garbage and wrote poetry to accompany the images; others interviewed the city's garbage collectors to document the changes they have seen in the environment over the years and field their suggestions for the future. Another group produced environmental videos on topics from water conservation to the use of public transportation, and yet another group interviewed food vendors to understand the challenges of the food cycle in the city and identify ways residents could help improve the system.
"Our Chinese students recognize the environment as something to be protected, and yet they fully grasp the complications of creating change in China," Kapustin said. "From discussions on the merits and disadvantages of nuclear power to innovative ways to 'go green,' the normally high energy level of our students rises to a peak as they are given the opportunity to produce work they are proud of."
Beyond the impact on the community in Jishou, the Greening SoS program also continues to influence Princeton students after their return to campus. Wendy Lang, a rising junior in chemical and biological engineering who was an intern in 2010, said the opportunity enabled her to connect across cultures over shared environmental challenges.
"To be able to travel throughout China and compare the diversity of lifestyles in just one country alone, let alone on two different continents, was really eye-opening," Lang said. "Whether I'm in a classroom or walking around campus here in Princeton, it's been wonderful to be able to maintain a meaningful connection to SoS and another part of the world that reminds me of what we can do to educate each other and make a difference."
Jennifer Keeley, a member of the class of 2011 who spent two summers as a PEI/PiA intern and helped develop the environmental topics for the Greening SoS course, also emphasized the personal significance of the experience. "My students knew so little about China's environmental challenges, so to see immense damage around me and be able to contribute to the environmental education of the next generation was truly incredible," she said about her first internship at the end of her sophomore year. "That experience really galvanized my interest in environmental studies."
Going into her junior year, Keeley was energized to tackle the environmental challenges she had witnessed in China. She sought out classes that focused on environmental issues in the developing world, particularly on the role that policymakers and the government play in environmental protection, she said. The following summer, as a rising senior, she traveled as a PEI/PiA intern to Thailand where she worked on community forestry issues. By then she had decided to major in English, as well as pursue an environmental studies certificate through PEI.
Engaging with societal issues in Beijing and Bangkok
While the Greening SoS initiative flourishes in Jishou, PEI/PiA internships also have blossomed in other parts of China and elsewhere in Asia. Rising junior Iris Zhou, who is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, spent the summer at the National Resources Defense Council in Beijing, as an analysis and advocacy intern working on reducing environmental pollution from lead.
"Behind the staggering 10 percent annual growth in GDP that China has experienced in the last decade, the Chinese people have paid a steep price in their quality of life, and now they are worried about the safety of the food they are eating," she said.
Through this experience, Zhou said she developed an in-depth understanding of China's policies on heavy metals and helped the local government meet pollution remediation targets laid out by the Chinese government's environmental protection plan.
In Bangkok, rising junior Xiang Ding interned at the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), a nonprofit organization committed to the promotion of community-based management of forest resources in the Asia-Pacific region. Ding, an economics major, worked in RECOFTC's communications and marketing department, where he supported the organization's marketing, web development and fundraising activities.
"The PEI/PiA internships provide opportunities for students like Iris and Xiang to learn how the environmental concerns they've studied in class affect communities throughout China, Thailand and India, and how local communities are addressing environmental challenges," said Anastasia Vrachnos, the executive director of PiA. "Such experiences have proven transformative for the interns' understanding of environmental issues and have impacted their course of undergraduate study, not to mention their appreciation of new cultural milieus, developing world challenges and spicy foods!"
Addressing health issues in India
For the first time this year, the range of student opportunities expanded to include public health internships in Asia.
Rising junior Dora Huang, an ecology and evolutionary biology major, was the program's first health intern. Over the summer, she worked in New Delhi with the NAZ Foundation, a small grass-roots nongovernmental organization that provides an extensive range of programs to local residents, from advocacy and networking to outpatient care and counseling. The foundation also serves as a care-home for 25 children living with HIV.
Huang, whose internship was one of 24 immersion experiences sponsored by the University's Health Grand Challenge, was based at the home for children and was responsible for general communications and programming. Huang said the experience helped her develop her interests on many levels.
"Ultimately, this internship allowed me to not only pursue my academic interests in anthropology, immunology, and the field of global and public health, but also to spend the summer exploring. To be able to live within the community that I hoped to affect, to gain experience in a realistic setting juxtaposing health practices, education, childcare and community outreach, to do something real with my summer -- that was amazing."
She added that her internship enabled her to obtain a firsthand look at some of the most innovative, grass-roots work being conducted in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention in India.
"Whether our students address health issues in India or air pollution in China, they come away from their summer internships with an enriched perspective on critical environmental issues in the context of world cultures and the global community," Hackett said. "These life-changing experiences are nurturing our students to become highly engaged and effective leaders who are focused on making the world a better place."


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Tuesday, August 9, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: Food Wishes Has Been Acquired by Allrecipes!
75 comments:
- AFB said...
Two of my favorite websites joining forces??? Hmm, I can't help but be a bit weary, as I love you guys dearly just the way you are, but you've yet to let me down, Chef John! :)
Best of luck, and congratulations. Sounds like a positive deal all around by what those in the know (you) are saying (This blog post). - August 9, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Best of luck...if this is what is best for you personally, then this is exactly what you should be doing! Congratulations.
- August 9, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Wait a minute... How does AR feel about the ol' tappa tappa?
- August 9, 2011 at 1:24 PM
- Unknown said...
Preston, I'm more concerned they'll limit his cayenne usage! haha.
But on a serious note, congrats Chef John. You deserve it! - August 9, 2011 at 1:46 PM
- August 9, 2011 at 1:48 PM
I just found you a month or so ago and love the presentation and especially your sence of humor as well as your way with words and phrases. I sort of wish ---on a selfish basis--that you would stay like you were but congrats for you personally and your family. My wife and I watch lot of the TV cooking shows but your personality is more fun and to me I think you should be on the TV.
Once again
Gene - August 9, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Congrats Chef John!
- August 9, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Congratulations! You deserve all your success. I love allrecipes.com and you're my favorite online chef so I'm definitely looking forward to your new partnership.
- August 9, 2011 at 1:52 PM
- Ravenous Couple said...
this is fantastic and hopefully will free you up and pay the bills for so much more content! congratulations, john!!
- August 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM
- Kath said...
Congratulations, John! The best is yet to come for Food Wishes, I'm sure!
- August 9, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Congratulations. I hope this doesn't change anything for the worse.
- August 9, 2011 at 2:02 PM
- ItalyLovers said...
Chef John, that is so awesome. Congratulations!
- August 9, 2011 at 2:04 PM
- LolaB said...
Congrats! I'm very happy for you.
- August 9, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- Simplelife4Real said...
Congratulations...I agree with another comment about my two favorite food sites joining forces. I look forward to what you do next.
- August 9, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Congratulations! Wow you are rich now!!
- August 9, 2011 at 3:34 PM
- Tom Palmer said...
Seal Team Six is coming home today. Lower your flag
- August 9, 2011 at 3:36 PM
- Agent Davy D said...
- August 9, 2011 at 3:49 PM
- Damiano Zerneri said...
I'm very very happy for you, chef. You deserve all the best for the great job done in these years of cooking and blogging.
- August 9, 2011 at 3:55 PM
Been a follower for a long time. Hope things stay close to the same. I love AllRecipes too. Blessings to your new adventure!
- August 9, 2011 at 4:21 PM
- Jason said...
Congrats Chef John. So, is All Recipes changing their name to "All Video Recipes"? :)
- August 9, 2011 at 4:28 PM
- Food Junkie said...
Congrats John. I hope this proves to be really good for Foodwishes and you.
- August 9, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Just kidding. I've been singing your praises for years now to fellow cooks. I just hope that you're still as easy to find.
Congratulations! - August 9, 2011 at 4:59 PM
wow, this is the second website that got acquired by a bigger company/website this month that i frequent, anyway good luck john and the folks at AR, your probably not gonna need it (hopefully)
- August 9, 2011 at 5:25 PM
- Monica said...
never heard them but they look great. good luck
- August 9, 2011 at 5:45 PM
- Unknown said...
- August 9, 2011 at 5:50 PM
- Luatica said...
Impressive, congratulations :D
- August 9, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Congrats! Just don't get all corporate-like now. We love you as you are and hope they don't screw up your style with corporate rules and such!
I look forward to many more delicious recipes in the future! - August 9, 2011 at 6:31 PM
- Carolyn™ said...
Congratulations I enjoy your work - man cannot live by bread alone :)
- August 9, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Mr chef John you deserve this and much more in my opinion; the 2nd best chef in the world, my mums first!
Yet I echo the sentiments others have voiced, that we all love you the way you are. - August 9, 2011 at 6:46 PM
- Mike said...
More Chef John...How can this be a bad thing! Congratulations.
- August 9, 2011 at 6:50 PM
- theo said...
YAY for chef John!!! very well deserved, hope it is all that and a bag of chips!
(have you done a chips video recipe?) - August 9, 2011 at 6:55 PM
- Joyce said...
So happy for you, Chef - but a bit wary of changes. Yes, change is a very scary thing for everyone and it's not something to be feared. Change can be good.
I hope your partnership with Allrecipes doesn't compromise your emphasis on teaching technique and your style of using ingredients we can find in our own kitchens.
I've found that AllRecipes is big on using pre-packaged commercial products and I find that infinitely frustrating. I can taste the preservatives and sometimes I like learning how to make stuff on my own. That's why I seek out independent blogers such as yourself.
Be true to what your site is and please don't compromise your signature for commercial purposes. - August 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM
- Howard said...
That is GREAT! You deserve all that the foodie community has to offer. I have been a long time follower and maker. You rule. The one thing I have to know is if they own the rights to the freakishly small wooden spoon. Tell me it isn't so....Good job!
- August 9, 2011 at 7:28 PM
just please stay cool john!
- August 9, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Love you and your work....you have no idea...I truly hope your thumbprint does not change.........Love your integrity, Maria
- August 9, 2011 at 8:05 PM
- Chase Saunders said...
- August 9, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Congrats Chef John! Still remember "discovering you" on YouTube while trying to figure out the best way to cook a pot roast : ) Thrilled for your success - just hope we don't lose what we've had for so long.
- August 9, 2011 at 9:27 PM
Congratz cuz! Proud of you and best (food) wishes to come! Todd & Kitty
- August 9, 2011 at 10:17 PM
I don't know who they are but whatever, congrats!
- August 9, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Congrats. You earned it. You have the best recipes.
- August 9, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Congratulations, Chef John! Cheers to your new successes and as always, Enjoy! ;)
- August 9, 2011 at 11:56 PM
- Chanelle said...
Remember us little people who were watching your videos for years!
Congradulations! - August 10, 2011 at 1:56 AM
- Clararar said...
As a relatively long-time fan, just wanted to say congrats! Really looking forward to seeing even more videos, but hope you don't change a thing! =)
- August 10, 2011 at 7:04 AM
- Bulldog said...
congrats! as someone who more often than not makes recipes from this site anything that gets more of your great recipes(especially the fake asian food ones:p) into my hands is a great thing:)
- August 10, 2011 at 8:07 AM
- Bret said...
Congratulations Chef! I have been a huge fan and promoter of your site. You have changed the way I cook. But PLEASE, do not take down your past content or change your format. I know you said you wouldn't in this post but big companies have a way of changing things for the worse. PLEASE STAY TRUE TO YOUR FANS!!!!
- August 10, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Congratulations! Everytime one of your videos pop up in my subscribtions, it feels a little like getting a present!
- August 10, 2011 at 12:14 PM
- Lori-Vancouver BC Super Host said...
Good on you, Chef John!
Hopefully your blog and videos won't change, we love the format and humour! - August 10, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Congrats CJ!
This is probably a dumb question, but will you still "live" at the Foodwishes URL? - August 10, 2011 at 3:33 PM
- Chef John said...
- August 10, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Congrats Chef John! That is great news. Couple months ago I discovered foodwishes.com and I've been a big fan since! I love your videos :-D
Greetings from the Netherlands - August 10, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Congrats Chef John!
I hope this deal works out for you in every way (and I'm looking forward to even more content!).
BFF (best fan forever), Lee - August 11, 2011 at 8:47 AM
- Greginspace said...
Chef John! Awesome news!! Allrecipes has been a go-to favorite of mine for years. Now my favorite two cooking sites have combined forces! Yay!
- August 11, 2011 at 12:01 PM
I've said it before ...
(Also, I'd attend a "cooking class" type thingy where a small group of us gets the privelege to cook/learn with you -- could happen, RDA is big.)
Congratulations, will continue to follow. - August 11, 2011 at 3:20 PM
- Darya said...
Hell yes!!!! CONGRATULATIONS John!!
xoxox - August 11, 2011 at 5:43 PM
- Chef John said...
Thanks D! And thanks again to everyone who chimed in!! Such an inspiring response from all. I feel blessed.
- August 11, 2011 at 5:56 PM
- philogaia said...
Blessed, of course. But you have worked hard to get here. I know you have researched and worked the angles of cyber-space to be successful. That is not a thing to take lightly. I was down in San Francisco and hanging out with the crazy crew that makes up Klout. I found out that you are among the highest scorers and your name is known in the company as a result. Everyone I've forwarded recipe links to have been impressed (including my ex-husband that is typically impressed by nothing.) I'm so glad to see you being successful at your chosen way of expressing your chef's training and talent.
- August 11, 2011 at 7:56 PM
- Paul D said...
Congratulations Chef John. I'm glad things are panning out. It was time to grow
- August 13, 2011 at 12:20 AM
- Jay M. said...
Hurray! It's all working out as planned.
- August 13, 2011 at 12:30 AM
- Emma said...
Congrats, Chef John, you have done a wonderful job! Please make sure that growing will only mean your family (us :) will grow and everything else that we love so much about you remains the same <3
- August 15, 2011 at 10:05 AM
- dadaDan said...
excellent news, and a huge motivation for those of us looking to follow in your footsteps....just avoid using the word 'brand' unless you want allrecipes to take your soul
- August 16, 2011 at 11:13 AM
My two favorite food sites on the entire Internet are joining together? Is this a glorious dream?
Congrats Chef John! I'm a huge fan of yours, and have learned a ton from your videos.
-Miriam - August 18, 2011 at 2:00 AM
- RJ said...
Best of luck Chef John!
Keep 'em coming :-) - August 18, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Wowww...congrats to you Chef John. I'm so happy to know about this good news. I'm a member of Allrecipes.com too for years. I'm looking forward to see your recipes in allrecipes.com. Best of Luck to you Chef.
-Susan Chin - August 19, 2011 at 2:06 AM
- w3bd3v said...
You're welcome! It's the least we could do for you, considering how much you give to us!
I'll admit, when I first heard the news on your Twitter, I got a bit nervous. However I hope the same ol' Chef John will always be there, if not just more of him! :)
Take care and congratulations, this must be very gratifying for you!
Justin F. - August 19, 2011 at 8:46 AM
- DaleRM said...
Just heard the news - congratulations!! I hope you don't mind if those of us who were fans long before you became famous share your pride in this achievement. So glad I googled "how to cook squash" years ago :) And I still love the hotel-iron-grilled-cheese ;)
- August 30, 2011 at 10:51 PM
- asnwords said...
congrats, chef john!
hope you make more dishes with sambal ;p
*my personal fave* - September 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM
- chromachan said...
I am very happy for you, Chef John!! I have made my beau plenty of your dishes and he's loved every single one of them. Beef Stroganoff is his fave. Congrats!!!
- September 9, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- Talek said...
Quick questions, will your videos still be uploaded to your foodwishes youtube channel? and is this site going to become obsolete?
- September 9, 2011 at 7:32 PM
- Chef John said...
It will be business as usual! Thanks!
- September 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Congrats from Chile. (yes,some of us down here also know about the freakishly small spoon)
Well deserved. Happy for you. - September 12, 2011 at 10:02 AM
- Seduction Meals said...
Congratulations John - I am so happy for you!
- November 8, 2011 at 9:37 AM
- Chef John said...
Thank you! :-)
- November 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM
- Unknown said...
I know this happened a long time ago, but I just stumbled upon the actual posting. I too have loved all recipes.com, in fact they published my chicken enchilada recipe. I was proud of that one. Even though it's basically opening cans and browning chicken. I've been following you for a long time now Chef, and I love your site. I hope this works out for you. Just please keep posting the videos. It really is part of my daily routine. Best of luck to you!!
- July 25, 2014 at 9:02 AM
- CaptChris said...
Dear Chef John,
Congratulations! allrecipes.com is how I originally found your website. As Lisa so aptly said in the press release your site "entertains, educates, inspires and connects home cooks." I wish I could truly express in words the joy I have found the last two years with the new hobby I have discovered and grown to love because of your videos. I hope and wish for your continued success and will remain a loyal viewer! Having a "boss" may be a little challenging at first, but I think you made the right decision at the right time. See ya in the funny papers. - August 7, 2014 at 2:39 PM
- CaptChris said...
Now I just feel stupid...I just realized this post was from 2011. No need to post my comment Chef John...but my sentiments are genuine. Thank you for showing me a fun and easy way to enjoy cooking for the first time.
- August 7, 2014 at 2:52 PM

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Hey guys! This is another picture that I made using photoshop. It is sketched by my little sister and coloured by me. Cute, huh!
Another Miku Hatsune art.
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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Gorilla Portraits
Yesterday we went to the North Carolina Zoo, the third largest zoo in the U.S.A. We got there early in the day when the gorillas were just waking up.
I remembered something I learned in my primate social behavior class. I approached the glass with a submissive posture, looking down at the ground and backing up with my hand out.
The gorilla loved it. She had never seen a human act like a polite ape before. She came right up to the glass and posed for me while I did this half-hour portrait from just two feet away. It was like sketching someone on a subway. I tried to just glance at her discreetly out of the corner of my eye.
I tried the same approach on the chimpanzee, an wild-born 33-year-old male named "H.N."
He watched me draw with tremendous interest.
Every ten minutes or so he wanted me to show him how I was coming along on the sketch.
46 comments:
- Victor said...
Those sketches are awesome. Making that interspecies connection must have been amazing.
- March 16, 2008 at 12:49 AM
- jeff said...
This is great, I love that you know their behavior and that the apes respond in such a positive way.
The chimp's interaction is priceless. - March 16, 2008 at 2:54 AM
- ricardo said...
Oh, man... this is so great.
And yeah, like jeff said, your interaction with them was just fantastic. - March 16, 2008 at 3:11 AM
- Erik Bongers said...
I wonder what they were thinking as they watched you draw them and as you showed them the result.
Did they understand what you were doing ? I thought that primates recognize themselves in mirrors, so what about drawings ?
Is this a new carreer opportunity ?
Would these customers be willing to pay with bananas for a 20 minute portrait ? - March 16, 2008 at 4:44 AM
- Jennifer Rose said...
That is really amazing that you were able to sketch so close to the gorilla and I have to remember to act the same way when I get the chance to draw gorillas to see if I can get as close. It would be interesting to find out like erik said if primates would recognise themselves in drawings.
- March 16, 2008 at 6:17 AM
- James Gurney said...
Erik, good question: I really don't know if the chimp recognized himself in the sketch. I suspect not. Drawing is such an abstraction.
But both the gorilla and the chimp were keenly interested in the fact that I was making marks on paper, and they seemed especially observant--in their nonchalant way--of my pencil sharpener, maybe because it was such a novelty.
Koko and other gorillas who have been studied clearly recognize themselves in photographs and in mirrors, and many retired trained chimps pass the time by painting semi-objective images.
In this case the keeper in the zoo told me they really don't work with the animals here any more than they need to to administer medicines and that sort of thing. - March 16, 2008 at 7:53 AM
Holy cow that is so cool, what an awesome way to start my day. First, I had no idea our NC Zoo was that big, we live in Charlotte and have never stopped by there --- where is it?? Raleigh?
Anyway, thanks for this post, I came away from it with a HUGE grin and great feeling. How wonderful it must have been to make those connections. Excellent drawings by the way! :) - March 16, 2008 at 7:57 AM
- Laurel Neustadter said...
This is a wonderful post! It made me feel good and smile. The drawings,photographs, and prose are all great.
- March 16, 2008 at 8:29 AM
That's great! :)
Did you hear about the dolphin in New Zeland who rescued two beached whales? - March 16, 2008 at 9:33 AM
- Unknown said...
Fantastic sketches and a great post. It really made me smile.
- March 16, 2008 at 11:29 AM
- Kim said...
I'll have to remember that next time I'm at our local zoo. Last time I got some great gestures of a chimp mother playing with her baby. I didn't want to intrude on them, so I kept my distance and sketched from a bench a couple yards away.
They didn't seem to mind when I sketched, but as soon as I pulled my camera out, mother shooed her baby away into their hiding place. I assume they've learned where all those annoying flashes come from and didn't want anything to do with it. - March 16, 2008 at 12:16 PM
- Chuster said...
Great post. I must tell you how much I enjoy your blog. Wonderful work and very generous with your knowledge. Thank you!
- March 16, 2008 at 12:18 PM
- Brine Blank said...
That's pretty great you were able to do that...if you ever get by the Columbus Ohio area the Columbus Zoo has pretty sharp exhibits with differing members of the ape crew (plus some other new builds that allow for indoor drawing opportunities...the new fox-bat exhibit is where I am looking forward to some sketch-time...) the problem has been for me each time I've went that the people haven't always been so cordial...slapping the glass or running in front of the windows to get reactions while the zoo keepers try to educate the patrons on proper behavior of not slapping or 'staring down' the animals...I'm hoping this coming spring break might allow for some time to hit it with a low traffic turnout...
- March 16, 2008 at 1:19 PM
- Dan Gurney said...
Great post! I love the way you use art as a way to open up the world and see beyond the surface. Yesterday I started a book, "Your Brain on Music" that talks about the many similarities between artists and scientists in their approach to work. I immediately thought of you.
You said: "Koko and other gorillas who have been studied clearly recognize themselves in photographs and in mirrors, and many retired trained chimps pass the time by painting semi-objective images."
That makes me wonder if you can direct us to any websites where their paintings can be seen. I wonder if they look anything like children's art. - March 16, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Here's a fun page about animals painting (including Koko and another gorilla): http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/animals/are_animals_conscious.htm
- March 16, 2008 at 4:16 PM
- Erika Baird said...
I've been an avid watcher of this blog for quite some time (usually commenting as Starhorse, when I have something to say that hasn't been said already) and I have to say, this has been one of my favorite posts so far. I've gotten priceless hints on color, composition, painting...many of which have helped me in my schoolwork. But this one is just so simple and...honest? Kind of struck a chord in me I guess as one of those more beautiful moments as an artist.
Erika/Starhorse - March 16, 2008 at 5:26 PM
- The Paint Studio & Gallery said...
Great sketches, what fun drawing him from real life, I bet he knew he was the subject and was just laughing it up with his friends see you peeking at him now an then.
Love the art cones also, great idea. I have thought of using yellow crime "art" scene tape also. Great Blog - March 16, 2008 at 5:35 PM
- Leslie Sealey said...
What a great post, I really enjoy reading your blog.
- March 16, 2008 at 6:43 PM
- Unknown said...
I love the picture of you showing the chimpanzee your sketchbook. That, to me, is the definition of art: expression that spans all divides.
- March 16, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Hey - Any of them ol' boys play the banjo half way decent?
- March 16, 2008 at 9:19 PM
I loved your post, even went back to it a few times to read it again. I have one question though, who took the photos? Did they approach in the same way and did the ape/chimp react to the photographer?
I will be visiting some goats this weekend. Any tips on getting them to pose?
Thanks for a great blog! - March 17, 2008 at 7:37 AM
- James Gurney said...
Kathy: My wife Jeanette took the photos. She hung back a bit and used telephoto with the flash off. I love sketching goats, and goat owners tell me that they don't really want to eat your sketchbook, just taste it. If you figure out how to get them to pose, let me know.
Hey, Swampwater! I'll never forget your performance of Brown-Eyed Girl. The crowd went ape over it!
Lizzie: You probably know already that the zoo is in Asheboro, east of Charlotte. I added the link in the post.
Cat: thanks for that fascinating link. I remember there was another one about a gorilla rescuing a toddler that fell into a zoo enclosure.
Dan, There is a whole gallery of paintings by the gorillas Koko and Michael at koko.org. Even though the images look gestural and abstract to our eyes, apparently they were all representational to the gorillas, who titled them with the names of the people and animals they were portraying. Koko usually worked from memory. She was very deliberate in her color choice and strokes. She even painted a self-portrait!
There are also websites showing the paintings of Ruby the Elephant at the Phoenix Zoo.
Thanks to everyone else for you kind comments, which really mean a lot to me. - March 17, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Yet another fascinating Gurney Journey, I had to pass on this story to all artists I know. I will concur with everyone that this has been one of the best posts thus far. A true artist can reach everyone with his craft -makes me wonder if the animals get lonely and if they enjoy the interaction. It is somewhat different to flashes and staring. It'll make me think differently about the inhabitants of the zoo the next time I'm there. Thank you!
- March 17, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Great post. The comments about whether or not the other primates recognize themselves in the drawings are interesting. I will say that I am consistently amazed by how early on in their development my nephews started recognizing faces of people in photos. Maybe abstraction comes easier than we know? At the National Zoo in DC there is an ongoing experiment with the orangutans to see if they can use abstract symbols as a sort of language. It was fascinating to watch the huge male orang use the touch-screen computers as he participated--I think of him every time I operate an ATM!
- March 18, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Your behavioral tips will come in really handy. Last time I was at the San Diego Zoo trying to sketch a gorilla, he jumped at the glass and then after disappearing for several moments returned and threw a handful of crap at me that splattered all over the glass right in front of my face. Everyone's a critic! I found the sleeping lion a much more cooperative subject! LOL
- March 22, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Thanks, this is brilliant advice. Why should approaching an animal in a zoo be any different than approaching that same animal in the wild? Obvious when you think about it, but it never would have occurred to me!
- March 22, 2008 at 8:06 PM
- Lindsay said...
I'm so enjoying both your site and your brothers. I love both your sensitivity to all your subjects and the thoughtful way you present your posts. I'm also learning a lot.
- March 23, 2008 at 8:14 AM
- James Gurney said...
Thanks, Lindsay, my big brother Dan (Mr. Kindergarten) is a big inspiration to me, and was the guy who got me started drawing in second grade.
Joe: I forgot to mention in the post that the glass in front of the chimpanzee enclosure had a huge crack in it. A guard explained that it had been hit by a rock: "If they can find something to throw, they throw it," he said. - March 23, 2008 at 8:40 AM
- poggy said...
I can't believe I found out about this blog so late! I love it to pieces - it's not just resourceful, it's also very entertaining ;-)
Anyway - that chimp is awesome. - April 2, 2008 at 5:13 PM
- Fabian Göranson said...
Very interesting. So are you supposed to approach them with your back and hands towards them?
Made me think of writer/artist Desmond Morris.
He wrote The Naked Ape analyzing human behavior with zoologist methods and is also a collector of primate art.
/jan - June 21, 2008 at 9:46 AM
- Keeper Jesue said...
Mr. Gurney,
I am a gorilla keeper at the NC Zoo and that is an amazing sketch of our 40 year old female Donna. She is very interested in people, especially children, but I'm glad she spent time with you. Do you have any copies of that picture? Please let me know!
Aaron Jesue
Gorilla Keeper
NC Zoo - July 12, 2008 at 10:38 PM
- James Gurney said...
Aaron, it's so cool to hear from the keeper. Sorry I mixed up Donna's gender. Please email me your mailing address (jgurneyart (at) yahoo.com) and I'd be glad to send you a photocopy of the sketch.
Everyone should check out his Aaron's blog about working with the gorillas at the NC Zoo. - July 13, 2008 at 6:22 AM
- Mikey said...
Awesome stuff, James!
I noticed a similar principle in action while sketching dolphins.
I used to work at Sea World (Orlando) and I enjoyed spending the early mornings - before the park opened - sketching in the dolphin underwater viewing.
I decided that the best way to approach this was to adopt a passive role, to observe, not to try to interact. Plus, it helped me to focus on the task at hand and not get sidetracked.
At first the dolphins found it strange that a human was just sitting there, watching them and scratching away on something, but not trying to interact, not vying for their attention.
Some of the animals - particularly the younger dolphins - were curious, and would come to see what I was doing. Some of them became regular visitors and would come up to check out what I was doing. They found the drawings curious, I'm not sure whether they recognized the subject matter.
Eventually, they became used to my presence, and I was able to observe their more innate behaviors and movements, and to begin to see differences between the individual dolphins.
I look back with gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to observe them in this manner.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_4iEj8EzENO0/RrQOrWCl-SI/AAAAAAAAACU/8sFOAGlAdIk/s1600/MikeyStarkyC35.jpg - September 22, 2009 at 5:48 PM
- One Woman's Thoughts said...
I don't even know where to begin . . . first congratulations on being a blogger of note, and my compliments on your beautiful, educational and intriging blogsite. Fantastic. I have enjoyed the creative process you share and am most fascinated by the section in regards to animals, especially on the chimps. I am looking forward to repeated returns. Bravo and best wishes!
Katharina - November 25, 2009 at 9:16 PM
- James Gurney said...
Thanks, OWT! This was a rare encounter, and I'm glad I remembered my sketchbook. I'm always amazed at the sagacity of animals. I'm glad you took the time to visit earlier posts.
- November 25, 2009 at 9:26 PM
- Juliette Wade said...
This is wonderful, Mr. Gurney. Just the kind of thing that fascinates me, as a linguist-anthropologist turned science fiction writer. I may use this as inspiration for alien behavior in one of my stories for Analog magazine in the future - who knows? I've passed the link along to the followers of my blog, who will also love the post.
- December 18, 2009 at 4:53 PM
- nuum said...
This is, by far, the best post I´ve ever seen in an Art site.
Simply wonderful.
What about an animal sketchbook ?
Your book (The Artist´s Guide to sketching) is one of my reference in sketching and drawing.
I Love your approach.
Yours is the first site I open in the morning
Keep up this beautiful work.
God bless you and your family.
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - December 19, 2009 at 6:31 AM
- Dr. Lucy said...
A friend of mine sent me your blog - not sure how she found it...but she knows of my love of animals and art, that I am teaching a course on primate behavior, and also and that there is a story in my book about a chimpanzee, Hondo, that lives at the NC Zoo. It sheds some additional light on how these amazing animals interact with their human caretakers, and about how much they do, or don't, understand about our intentions. The book is, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes - see http://www.rhinowithglueonshoes or http://www.drlucyspelman.com The story about Hondo by Dr. Barb Wolf is excerpted here on line: http://www.enotalone.com/article/20522.html. Great blog! ~Lucy
- December 20, 2009 at 10:37 AM
- Harold Fowler said...
Dude, thats like totally insanse!
www.anonymous-web.cz.tc - December 20, 2009 at 11:56 AM
- Daniel Silberberg said...
That is just delightful. Now I can't wait to go to the zoo!
- December 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM
- James Gurney said...
Thanks for all your interesting comments, Daniel, and have fun looking through the blog!
-JG - December 24, 2009 at 6:18 PM
- Unknown said...
Just plain awesome! The drawings, the attitude you took towards those animals in captivity and the feeling that the post obviously has on people. :) Awesome!
- October 7, 2010 at 1:05 AM
This is great! Saw this from your link on your 2500th post (congrats by the way!), it's so cool that someone else knows ape etiquette! I went to a summer camp at my zoo and learned the do's and don'ts of interacting with them, they're amazing creatures and these are some amazing sketches!
- April 7, 2013 at 11:17 PM
- Warren JB said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- July 12, 2014 at 8:44 AM
- Warren JB said...
Apologies for commenting on a 6-year-old blog entry, but I followed a few links here and greatly enjoyed reading about your experience and advice here. (Not to mention seeing the results from your sketchbook) It reminds me of when I sketched chimps at the Belfast Zoo recently - one of the youngsters came up and peered through the glass, intensely curious about the the contents of my pencil tin. And there was a similar connection some time before... with a blue-eyed cockatoo! It also came up to the glass to watch me as I sketched it. I showed it the results afterwards and it's crest went skyward - I still don't know if it was praise or criticism!
(I enjoyed your latest Station Points article about sketching animals, by the way. Looking forward to the next issue of International Artist to see part two.) - July 12, 2014 at 8:45 AM
- James Gurney said...
Thanks, Warren. I wonder if animals have a universal fascination with drawing. Or at least crows, parrots, and apes.
- July 12, 2014 at 8:50 AM


text:
long coat
Monday, October 05, 2009The VOGUEKnitting long coat.
I finished it right before my trip and ended up wearing it a lot. Like I said, I am not happy with how the photos turned out. After tasting wine, I simply forgot to check the settings on my camera and also forgot that little rule about how photos turn out better if not taken in direct sunlight. However, I really don't feel like retrying to take photos, so here you go.
I love so much about this sweater, the long ribbing in the sleeves, the ribbing in the back waist, the low neckline, the circle pattern on the side, and of course the yarn. I even thought that if you wanted to omit the asymmetrical aspect on the right side, it would still look great. And on size 8 needles it was a pretty fast knit.
Pattern: VogueKnitting Fall '09, #1 long coat
92 comments
Love the coat it is beautiful. Hope the illness goes away quickly without infecting anyone else.
ReplyDeleteoh how beautiful your coat is! looks great on you. so glad you decided to knit it and ignore the angry girl pictures.
heal quickly boys!You make that coat look spectacular! I hope rest of your clan stays healthy and that you get some knitting done while you have boys on the couch.
ReplyDeleteLove the coat! I like your version without the asymmetrical front even better than the version in Vogue! Hope your boys are better soon.
ReplyDeleteThe coat is more than darlin'! I wish I could knit as well as you! sigh.....I want SO much to graduate from scarves and hats to some REAL stuff. sweaters. gloves....eeeek. I need a knitting mentor. LOL.
SO sorry about the sick boys.Sorry, I had to delete and re-post because I didn't double check what I wrote. Oh, the dangers of commenting while at work!
Oh, it turned out so well! It's gorgeous!
Drink some tea and take care of yourself. Sending healthy thoughts the way of your little one... <3Wow, it is so beautiful! I love the color and style, and it looks great on.
Sweet new header too!
Hope everyone is feeling better soon.Oh Leslie, it's so wonderful and the colour is to die for. I was so excited to see these pictures after the little tease the other day.
Really hoping that the sickness passes quickly and that the rest of you manage to stay clear of it.That is amazing! I love the color, perfect for fall.
I also just noticed the shoes in your banner. I'm wearing the same ones today. :)Beautiful coat!.. I hear ya on the boys.. I"ve been battling w/2 for 3.. w/ then for the last month.. The latest virus lasted 3 WEEKS!!! Hope they feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful! It looks great on you!
Hope the boys get better soon and that your daughter doesn't succumb to the sickness too. Yech.Wowza - I love it! I need it:) I hope your boys get better - I am laying on the couch myself today - seems to be going around - groan!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks beautiful! The header is great, too (did you knit the sweater, and what pattern is it?).
Sorry to hear about your kiddos. Hopefully it'll clear up soon. =)gorgeous!!
and the header really couldn't be better.
hope the littles are feeling better soon.- Anonymous10/05/2009
oh, it is so cute. I love the ribbing at the waist too. you are so awesome.
ReplyDelete So lovely. It looks warm, and perfect for this time of year. Your knitting is truly amazing
ReplyDeleteThe coat is wonderful. It turned out so great. I like your version much better! I'm sure you'll get lots of wear and plenty of compliments on it! Hope your boys get better soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful coat. It looks like one you wear quite a bit this fall.
Hope the boys are both off the couch soon!It's so pretty.
I forget about the rules of photography...even if I haven't had a glass of wine.
I love the wine barrel.
I hope your boys feel better soon and that you make it out of the quarantine unscathed.OMG, nooooooooo! Another sick one?! This is really going to affect the knitting time! Hope he's better soon!
Oh, and yes, the coat is spectacular!Oh, no! I hope Libby stays immune. That sweater is beautiful. You truly are a master knitter.
ReplyDeleteYour coat looks fantastic, great colour choice and I agree about the ribbing too, perfect.
Loving your new header too!Love the coat!
Give those kiddos lots of extra TLC- hoping things pass quickly and relatively uneventfully for you all!! I wouldn't wish my last week on any Mother...It looks beautiful and I can imagine wearing it a lot myself. Good to hear it was a fast knit! Great automn color! Congratulations!
ReplyDeletei hope that your boys get better quickly! its not fun being sick :(
the coat is so very lovely, the red color is pretty! perfect for fall.
wishing you a wonderful week,
kendallOh that neckline! LOVE IT! such a beautiful sweater coat!
Here's some get well wishes for the boys!Wow, that is a long coat, does it take days to finish, lots of st st and mindless knitting !
dont worry, great photos. tks.I love the coat. You're a great knitter. Your garments are always stylish and fit well. I hope for a speedy recovery at your house.
ReplyDeleteso pretty Leslie! you are so talented...I am stitching my way through your toasty pattern, its my first try with double pointed needles.
The ribbing in the back is wonderful! I made Norah Gaughan's Annikki which is similar and have been wearing a ton!
Hope your boys are feeling better fast!That is just beautiful. I wish my knitting looked that good. I wish I was a quick as you, too. But that is another story.
ReplyDelete- Anonymous10/06/2009
This really turned out great! I was thinking, since 15 balls is a heck of a lot of yarn, this would still look great shortened about 10 in. or so. It would ruin the regal effect, but still it would be a great coat! Love the circular side and the long ribs on the sleeves!
Ok, what's next since you will be sitting at home with sick ones for a while!? the coat is amazing, i love the color! it must look great with your blonde hair! :)
hope the sick boys are off the couch and feeling better!fabulous sweater coat.
sorry 'bout the nasty flu that has hit your house - it's out here on the Pac NW as well. blech.Wow, your sweater coat turned out beautiful. I love, love, love the color. My favorite color is brown, but every once in a while a shock of color is just what we all need. And this red is just shockingly wonderful! Looks like this is going to be one long flu season. Keep well.
ReplyDeleteGREAT coat. Just great. I love that ribbing in the back, and it looks fabulous on you!! I think the photos look nice, too!
ReplyDeleteThat coat is lovely, it wouldn't suit me as I am short but looks great on you. I hope the little ones get better soon.
ReplyDeleteLOVE it!! Love the color you chose also! Very beautiful, glad you are getting a lot of use out of it.
ReplyDeleteoh, i think the photos came out lovely! I love this one. i hope the boys are feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous!! And the yarn you used is so yummy I can imagine how soft this feels in person.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful coat! I love the ribbing on the back and the pattern detail coming up the sides. It looks great on (and the pictures, full sun or not, are still lovely!). Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove your new banner, the coat is up to your normal standards (i.e. amazing) and I certainly hope the tiny Friendster feels better:)
ReplyDelete- Wendi10/06/2009
My favorite part is the ribbing on the waistline. Good pick...(I definitely wouldn't have picked that one from the Vogue picture!) absolutely love it, all the details etc! i think photos and wine tasting might not go together, but the pictures look way better than you think! i want one!
ReplyDelete- Anonymous10/07/2009
I *love* the back of the coat!!! Great job. Hope your kids feel better soon. I had one home on Monday -- it definitely throws a wrench in a mom's day!
ReplyDelete - Anonymous10/08/2009
This is by far the most beautiful hand knitted garment I've seen!!!! It looks amazing on you. I'm sure you'll get alot of people asking where you got it, and you can proudly tell them "I made it!"
ReplyDelete I actually really like how the photos turned out! They are very natural - feels like we're out for an autumn stroll in an apple orchard, drinking apple cider and discussing world politics and whatnot. And you look fantastic in that long coat. :D
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous sweater! It would take me years to knit something so wonderful. Hope your family is on the mend soon!
ReplyDeleteyou have inspired me once again!
i love the colour, it looks so great on you.
love your new header picture tooFAB.U.LOUS!!! I rotate between so many passions.....scrapbooking, knitting, making jewelry....I can only do a little bit of knitting at football practice...but I may have to pick up that Vogue and get crackin'.....it would be a perfect addition to any wardrobe!! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I found your blog from a blogger friends.
That sweater coat is AMAZING! And you knitted it?! I am SO impressed. I so wish I could knit that well. I have a cute vest I started last winter (stopped because I got stuck) and am determined to finish it this winter.
You have inspired me to start knitting again, thanks! : )Completely understand what your stance on this matter. Though I might disagree on a number of the finer details, I think you probably did an awesome job explaining it. Sure beats having to analysis it on my own. Thanks. Anyway, in my language, there aren't a lot good supply like this.
ReplyDeleteCompletely understand what your stance on this matter. Though I might disagree on a number of the finer details, I think you probably did an awesome job explaining it. Sure beats having to analysis it on my own. Thanks. Anyway, in my language, there aren't a lot good supply like this.
ReplyDeleteI was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. Its really fun to read. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a great point to deliver up. I supply the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where an important thing can be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around issues like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Anyway, in my language, there are usually not much good source like this.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, yea I can see what you did there. I actually liked that part, however hehe I'm not that harsh like my dad with these things. He all the time tells me loopy tales again within the day and calls me a loser. I suppose it is time I move out of my dad and mom' basement LOL. Aaanyways, what about you? what does your dad suppose xD" Anyway, in my language, there aren't much good source like this.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, yea I can see bp claims process what you did there. I bp claims process actually favored that half, but bp claims process hehe I am not that harsh like my dad with these things. He bp claims process all the time tells me loopy stories back within the day and calls me a loser. I bp claims process assume it is time I move out of my mother and father' basement LOL. Aaanyways, what about you? bp claims process what does your dad suppose xD" Anyway, in my language, there aren't a lot good source like this.


text:
And his dad sang Forever Young at the service which was something so beyond anything I can put into words without my foot going in my mouth (I think I've used that phrase here before but only because it can be so easily applied in my case). Really amazing.
Oh, then I learned about a bunch of people from Black River Falls, Wisconsin that all went crazy and killed each other in the late 1800s from a family friend. So you know, that was nice. Wisconsin Death Trip FTW.
Oh right, fashion blog. I WORE A BLAZER WITH TIGHTS AND CUTOFFS AND A BALMAIN-INSPIRED SHIRT!!!! Actually, a lovely yellow Samantha Pleet dress and this dress on Sunday. But that's not important! What's important is that Spencer will probz post about it soon (and if not, he's now obligated because I said he would) but you should all go to his blog anyway. Go! Now! *throws Lanvin bone*Today's outfit.. I theeeeeeenk inspiration is coming back? Knock on wood. This is one of my favorite outfits I've worn in a while, also the most seizure-inducing. The recent slow down in posts has been not just because of my incredibly busy and professional life of eating chocolate in science class while working on my science project of making Rodarte and Comme collages/talking to Karl about Bob balloons, but also because I'm just not that inspired. Why force it, eh?
Thrifted this shirt some time ago and am going to use the colorful fabric to make a skirt but so had to try it in its loony state first.
Tried to do with my skirt what Nozomi Ishiguro did with a dress from this picture from Belle's post on Nozomi but kindofafail. Will try it when I have more time. Everything he makes is perfect... as my wife (Belle, for the newbies) said, why the hell has he not gotten as much recognition as other designers from the CDG house?!?!? Oh, speaking offff, Spencer's friend Sheba told me about her friend's experience with Yohji and about how intimidating he is but I have a feeling I would be shot down with tulle rope and drapery if I told you guys of HIS WAYS~. I don't know why I gravitate towards all the anti-social designers. Pictures of Margiela have never been circulated like... ever, I don't think.Oh hi school friend walking by hi awkward waving
Hm, so the Met thang happening tonight. What I do like is that it's technically red carpet but still awesome with all the dresses because it's actual fashion and not a bunch of hideous ZOMG STYLE ICON gowns. Stuff that TV Guide would call a "don't" is actually awesome and I'm not the only one that thinks so.
Blossom petals are littering our yard. Don't you even care about the environment, tree?!?! Littering does harm to not only our world, but animals too! Just look at my poor poor dog.thrifted shoes, shirt, b/w skirt, and belt. childhood closet floral skirt. celeste stein tights via mytights.com. idk headband.


text:
Mercilessly pounded by catastrophes that send it rocking and erupting into a fury, it would seem as if the Earth is falling apart. This weekend most of us probably watched in shock as a massive earthquake shook Japan and minutes later a gigantic Tsunami wiped out kilometers of coastal region in northern Japan. Now while we all sit on edge praying that the developments in Fukushima do not add more devastation, my mind cannot help but ponder on thoughts about the epoch we are currently living in.
We watch live via internet as catastrophes occur, observe bloody wars fought and Dictators overthrown, all from the comfort of our living room. The internet has provided us with easy access to be a part of it all and I wonder at what costs. I wonder because I am a mother and I worry what effects this freedom of information will have on my son.
I am very pro internet, so do not get me wrong. I see the advantages the internet offers but sadly am also aware of the many disadvantages. Parenting has always been like walking on razors edge. As parents, we constantly do a balancing act, juggling between how much is good, or sufficient without going overboard on anything. Take your pick of topics: food, rules, homework, play, TV, we are constantly trying to provide equilibrium for them to follow, without indulging in extremes.
Our children are living in such a fast paced world, where information is available at the punch of a key. They are so in touch and aware of the world around them. Usually this would not be a bad thing, but I contemplate the weighty burdens they are forced to carry with the excessiveness of the knowledge they absorb.
I do not have all the answers. However, I do my best to answer Soeren's questions as delicately as I can. Questions about why a dictator would choose to kill his own people, what happens to children who lose their parents, what does nuclear meltdown mean or how will people ever be found in all that rubble. And when I do not have answers, I do what I can do to provide him comfort. We shut the notebook, switch off the TV and close the door to the troubles of the outside world. At least for a while.
We curl up on the sofa and snuggle up under blankets, reading a book or resting our minds and recharging our batteries. As adults we cannot run to mom or dad for reassuring words or a simple hug. Instead, we find our own path to a trouble-free world. Comfort comes in many forms and for me it speaks the language of love through food. When we crave safety and yearn comfort, I will wander into the kitchen, gather my strength and put away my fears. A hot healing soup, creamy chocolate puddings or a bubbling stew will put our minds at ease and for a while it take us away to a serene and less cumbersome part of the world. The doors to the real world will re-open soon enough, but for now, we are happy to settle down on our own island away from the turbulence.
Ossobuco is one of the most comforting dishes I know. A classic Milanese dish of veal shanks simmered in stock and wine with flavorings of sautéed carrots, onions, tomatoes and herbs. The name ossobucco means "hollow bone" and is taken from the cut of meat it comes from – veal shank with its center bone. This famous Milanese dish is usually served with a tangy gremolada and its perfect partner, Risotto alla Milanese.
In my recipe I have totally strayed away from the traditional method and added my own spin to this classic dish. One could say it's fusion food of the tasty kind as the flavors of my Ras El Hanout Lamb Tagine with Pumpkin and Apricots inspired me to experiment. This ossobuco is braised in vermouth and veal stock, while dried apricots and prunes add a fruity note to it, and a pinch of saffron gives it an extravagant highlight. Rounding it off is the wonderfully zesty gremolata with pine nuts, lemon, garlic and lots of fresh parsley.
Printable version of recipe here
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 2.5 hours
For the Ossobuco
- 1.4 kg veal shanks, about 2 cm thick. Ask the butcher to leave the skin around the veal to hold it in place to the bone.
- 120 g shallots, finely chopped
- 80 g carrots, diced
- 100 g parsnips, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 60 g dried apricots, coarsely chopped
- 60 g prunes, coarsely chopped
- 250 g pearl onions
- 200 ml dry vermouth
- 400 ml veal stock
- 400 g canned tomatoes
- Pinch saffron threads
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 stems thyme
- 6-8 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper
- Zest of 1 organic lemon
- 1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
The taste of this Ossobuco is divine, succulent and rich with fork-tender meat easily falling off the bone and deliciously melting in the mouth. Savor the harmony of flavors as the sweetness of prunes and the fruity apricots counterbalance the tang of the tomatoes. Scoop up the thick gravy filled with powerful earthy notes of parsnips, onions and carrots and finally relish the subtle crunch of roasted pine nuts and herby parsley. It all comes together in this one robust dish and the flavors will comfort, cocoon and heal.
I'd like to take this opportunity to say a prayer and offer my deepest sympathies to the people who have lost so much this weekend. Like a silver lining hope glimmers amongst the devastation as stories of survival filter through. It gives me faith to believe we are a resilient race and while blows may set us back they will never really break us.
Japan we are thinking of you.
Other News …
For those of you with a very sweet tooth I have a special treat for you. Over at The Foodie Bugle, a brand new, shiny online magazine, I take you on a trip to the Decadent Desserts of the World, in my first article. Hope you enjoy indulging in some of the worlds most finest desserts.
I'm also ecstatic to share my feature in the brilliant South African online magazine Crush Online. On pages 10 and 11 Crush features five of my recipes in the Which wine? Which food? section. I love the interactive feature – click on the wine bottles and you'll be presented with one of my recipes that best match. You can also easily print out recipe cards and shopping lists in PDF.
More Comfort Food from WFLH:
Yellow Bell Pepper and Fava Bean Soup | Carrot and Red Lentil Soup with a Hint of Cumin | German Lentil and Sausage Stew |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1695-1956
A help guide for accessing the images of parish registers recording the events of baptism, first communion, confirmation (to 1907), marriage (to 1930) or death (to 1956) in the Diocese of Belleville (Illinois), Roman Catholic Church. The index to some volumes may reference pages within a given volume beyond current publication dates. As such, these images are not currently available. In addition to traditional parish registers, this collection includes a small number of census, church history, family and financial records. To assist the researcher I have broken down the available registers by county and name of parish, including the years covered by those parish records.
Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1695-1956 Read More »


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Forever Green Lawns in Hunton
If you live in Hunton, and are looking for a fake grass supplier, or a full installation service, get in touch with Forever Green Lawns? We're a family run business, situated in Maidstone.
Available in 1/2/3/4/5 metre widths.
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Through our nationwide network of installers we can assist you in finding your local approved professional installer should you require a full installation service.
To receive an online supply only quote, or for a local approved installer to contact you for an installation quote, please click here. Please remember to supply your full address along with garden dimensions as this will assist us and our approved installers to give you a guide line costing.
Office Hours;
Monday – Thursday 9.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. Friday – 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Saturdays – 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
CLOSED – Sundays & bank holidays.
We have been supplying top quality artificial grass since 2005.
Why not come and visit our show lawns area, here you can see for yourselves how good our range of artificial grass products could look in your garden.
Unit 1A, Monchelsea Farm Estate, Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4JD.
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To view our full range of products, or to place an on line order please click here
We offer quality artificial grass products in Hunton depending on your needs and preferences:
Chicago 30 mm Pile.
Available in 1/2/3/4/5 metre widths, and is very thick, dense and soft.
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To place your online order please click on the following link, online order. Here you can choose from our Standard Or Premium Range. Simply choose your grass, size, then follow the check out procedures.
With a fraction of the maintenance required by 'real' grass, an artificial grass lawn will reduce the time needed on its upkeep – there's no mowing, no watering, no seeding, no muddy or bald spots – so you can have a perfect garden, sports pitch or lawn for what activity you require all year round.
Fake grass is not 100% maintenance free, see our power brush pages for the perfect solution for maintaining your Artificial Lawn.
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An fake lawn can put grass allergies in their place, make bad grass burns a thing of the past, coupled with they don't transform into a slippery muddy bog whenever it rains or with bad weather.
If you have children playing and pets using the lawn together, it's good to know you can use a disinfectant to clean up animal mess, ensuring a clean and hygienic playing environment for everyone, along with the peace of mind knowing your lawn is not going to die or turn yellow or brown after disinfecting it.
Direct from our warehouse, we can either cut to your required length, or you may find an off cut/remnant, all of which have been heavily discounted,
(See our pre-cuts or off cuts pages for full listings).
Forever Green Lawns is a leading supplier of a wide range of Artificial Grass throughout the UK with a nationwide supply and distribution service. Our range of fake turf products, are soft, durable and tactile, with no need for sand or rubber infill – offering a durable and weatherproof surface for all year round play.
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To order by phone call one of our experts on 01732 323122 or get a quote online here.


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What if we, as a society, could cut down on the incidence of mental illness by backing away from hitting, grabbing or pushing our children?
That's a prospect raised by a new study in Pediatrics, which finds that harsh physical punishment increases the risk of mental disorders — even when the punishment doesn't stoop to the level of actual abuse.
What qualifies as appropriate punishment is a hot-button topic among parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes corporal punishment, but studies have shown that up to 80% of parents report that they rely on it to some extent. What constitutes physical punishment is also wide-ranging: everything from a light slap on the hand to an all-out whipping with a belt or a paddle.
"In the general population, there is a belief that physical punishment is O.K. as long as you're not doing it in anger and you're a warm and loving parent," says Tracie Afifi, the study's author and an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba in Canada. "But there's no data supporting that."
(MORE: Why Spanking Doesn't Work)
Afifi and colleagues decided to examine five forms of physical punishment — pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping and hitting — that took place in the absence of even more severe acts of abuse or neglect such as punching, burning, physical neglect or sexual abuse. Other related research has not specifically included or excluded more severe types of abuse, meaning that the abuse — and not the grabbing or slapping — may be driving the relationship between physical punishment and mental disorders.
She did not examine spanking because it's not easy to define: what's considered spanking varies from parent to parent. But, she says, "a push is a push, and a grab is a grab."
In the study, researchers analyzed more than 20,000 people in the U.S. who were age 20 or older: 1,258 who had experienced pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping and hitting sometimes or very often, and 19,349 who reported they had experienced it rarely or never. They adjusted results for gender, race, marital status, education and a history of family dysfunction; if the person's parents had drug problems or were hospitalized for mental illness, that could have affected their use of physical punishment.
Across the board, people who'd experienced physical punishment were more likely to experience nearly every type of mental illness examined. Their risk of mood disorders, including depression and mania, was 1.5 times greater than people who hadn't been slapped or grabbed. The risk of depression alone was 1.4 times greater, which was the same rate for anxiety. People who'd been physically punished were 1.6 times more likely to abuse alcohol, and 1.5 times more likely to abuse drugs.
(MORE: How Child Maltreatment May Scar the Brain)
"There's going to be lot of people that think that a parent absolutely needs to use physical force to raise a compliant child," says Afifi. "It's pretty well established that physical abuse has a negative impact on mental health, but this is showing the same effect even when you look at milder forms of physical force. This is saying that physical punishment should not be used on children of any age."
George Holden, a professor of psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas who published research last year on the first real-time study of parents physically disciplining their kids, says Afifi's findings fit into a "large constellation" of studies that show children whose parents use physical force are at greater risk for depression and anxiety. "This is yet another study documenting that this practice can result in unintended negative consequences," says Holden. "Other studies have shown corporal punishment in childhood carries over to adulthood in terms of aggression, so there's no reason why it wouldn't in the area of mental health."
Afifi hopes that "reasonable" parents will read about her research and decide to swear off physical punishment. Pediatricians can be part of the solution, talking to parents about alternative methods. "It's never too late to stop," she says, though she acknowledges a "cultural shift" needs to happen in order to turn the tide.
MORE: The New Science Behind Children's Temper Tantrums


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Doing several things at the same time can be tricky – Dr. Manhattan knows that well. :D
I gathered the ingredients for this recipe while watching Nigella and talking on the phone - something got lost in between. I ended up using less cinnamon sticks than required but the ice cream still tasted wonderful - the cinnamon flavor is subtle but you can definitely feel it.
I had doubts about posting the recipe due to my mistake, but my best friend helped me make up my mind – she liked the ice cream so much I thought I should share it with you, too.
Cinnamon ice cream
from The Perfect Scoop
1 cup (240ml) whole milk
¾ cup (150g) sugar
pinch of salt
four 3-inch (8cm) cinnamon sticks, broken up*
2 cups (480ml) heavy cream
5 large egg yolks
Warm the milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon sticks and 1 cup (240ml) of the cream in a medium saucepan. When it comes to a boil, cover, remove from the heat and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour – mine steeped for almost 2 hours.
Rewarm the cinnamon-infused milk mixture; pour the remaining 1 cup cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
Stir the mixture constantly over medium-low hear with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula – do not let it boil.
Pour the custard through the strainer into the cream and discard the cinnamon sticks. Set aside to cool then refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
Freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
* the original recipe calls for 10 sticks, but I got distracted and used only 4; since they were strong (the Fauchon cinnamon sticks I got from my friend Clarice) the cinnamon flavor was subtle, but noticeable.
Makes 1 quart (1 liter)


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Unrefined, cold pressed, extra virgin sesame oil from the first pressing. Lightly filtered, retaining sesame's aroma, rich flavor, and nutrients. Sesamol and sesamin, antioxidants in sesame, are natural preservatives making it a very shelf-stable unrefined oil. A beneficial cooking oil, excellent for all cuisines and cooking styles. Amber glass protected.
Eden Organic Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is made from Eden selected, certified organic, white sesame seeds. After cleaning and removing the hulls, the seeds are cold pressed to extract the oil. The oil is placed in settling tanks where sediment is allowed to settle out. It's then double filtered at ambient or lower temperature through a 100% cotton canvas filter press resulting in a clear, bright colored oil. This pure unrefined, extra virgin oil is then nitrogen flushed bottled in amber glass to protect the aroma, flavor, and valuable nutrients.
Organic Eden Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is made only from the finest grade organic sesame seeds and is produced naturally without the use of chemicals. Expeller cold pressing preserves the oils valuable nutrients, color, and delicious nutty flavor and aroma. Although there is no legal definition for extra virgin sesame oil, it is generally understood among oil producers that it means the following: it is made from 100 percent sesame seeds, is oil from the first cold pressing, no excessive heat is used in the process, the free fatty acid is below 1 percent, and the taste is sweet and characteristic of sesame. Eden Extra Virgin Sesame Oil meets all of these conditions.
Most commercial seed oils, including sesame oil, are made by crushing the seeds and heating them beyond the smoke point, then treating the seed with hexane for a more complete extraction. It is then treated with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), bleach, and chemical deodorants. All commercial oils are the same pale color and taste very similar regardless of the seed type due to this chemical processing.
Sesame Sesamum indicum is a treasured herb native to Indonesia and Africa. It has been widely grown in tropical and subtropical Asia and in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. The first formal cultivation of sesame occurred around 3000 B.C. in the Middle East and 1600 B.C. in Egypt. The Egyptians are credited with being the inventors of sesame oil. Sesame seeds were introduced to Japan around 645 to 793 A.D. by Buddhist priests from Korea and China. Sesame oil production in Japan was recorded during the Heian Period (794 to 1191 A.D.).
Sesame plants grow about two to five feet and produce pretty purple cone shaped flowers. There are several varieties of sesame that produce creamy white, brown, black, or red seeds. When ready for harvest the seeds are encased in a protective hard shell that rattles with its precious contents. The entire plant is cut off at the base of the stem and stacked in an upright position against racks and allowed to dry. While drying the capsules that hold the seed split open. The plant is then turned upside down and shaken, the seeds drop onto a cloth.
Eden Extra Virgin Sesame Oil contains 5g monounsaturated and 6g polyunsaturated, and is cholesterol free. Sesamol and sesamin, naturally occurring antioxidants found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, make unrefined sesame oil especially nourishing, and they act as a natural preservative in the oil. One of the most shelf stable unrefined vegetable oils. Provides 35mg omega 3, 6269mg omega 6, and 5454mg omega 9 essential fatty acids (EFAs) per 1 tablespoon serving.
Eden Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is a delicious ingredient for making mayonnaise, dressings, spreads, and pasta toppings. Highly versatile and can be used for virtually all cooking needs from sautés and stir fries to baking. Try one of our favorites, Sesame Orange Vinaigrette, in the recipe section of this site.


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A middle school jab goes something like this: "We're having an A-B conversation, so you can C your way out." I bring this up because there's a workplace parallel to this that doesn't seem to have a name. It's when you're having an A-B email conversation and one party suddenly copies your boss, manager or someone more senior, in order to get an advantage in the discussion at hand.
Let's call it the acc. The A can stand for angry, awkward or annoying. We already know blind copying (bcc) can be toxic (read: congressional aide Kurt Bardella's secretly copied emails to a New York Times reporter that led to his firing), and openly copying more interested parties in a benign situation usually doesn't bother anyone. But it is not cool to use the cc as a weapon. And that is the stuff of the acc.
Our stab at a working definition for the acc: The situation in which new recipients are unexpectedly added to an existing email chain by one of the original parties with the intent to undermine the other original party's position.
Putting aside that it's not fair to the third party who's getting dragged into a situation for which he lacks context, the acc is just an unnecessary, passive-aggressive move that blindsides the original party. The point you are making should either be valid on its own, or part of a wider conversation to begin with. There's an implicit rank-pulling or tattling involved when you add an acc; bringing in someone else is no way to e-behave.
As far as we can tell, this irritating practice doesn't have a widely adopted name. Don't know if acc will stick, but let's try it out, folks. And if you want to, email me about it. Just be mindful of whom you cc.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Chinese authorities clamped down Friday on information coming out of the high-profile corruption trial of one-time rising political star Bo Xilai.
As NPR's Anthony Kuhn reported on Morning Edition, during Thursday's opening day in court Bo appeared to run circles around the judges and prosecutors. He denied any guilt, claimed a confession he gave had been coerced and called the testimony of his own wife "laughable."
"The government feels like it lost control," Anthony told Morning Edition host David Greene. So, unlike on Thursday, very little was posted Friday on a micro-blogging site that is tracking the trial. Also, streets outside the courthouse in Jinan were cleared. On Thursday, people had gathered and engaged in lively debates about Bo. Friday, there was no one.
NPR's Frank Langfitt previously summed up the case this way:
"Bo is charged with abuse of power for allegedly obstructing the investigation of a case that saw his wife convicted of murdering a British businessman in the southwestern city of Chongqing, where Bo was party boss until he was removed last year. Bo also is accused of taking about $3.5 million in bribes from two businessmen in northeastern China, where he had earlier served in top political positions."
Frank also added this observation:
"No one doubts that Bo will be found guilty at the trial. The case is largely seen as the result of a power struggle at the highest levels in China. The Communist Party is above the nation's judiciary, and despite officials' frequent protestations to the contrary, China does not have the rule of law."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.