Mama Linda’s Filipino Style Spaghetti

If you liked yesterday's recipe, you might try this one from Gerry Alanguilan, a Filipino cartoonist who has drawn for the X-Men, Wolverine, X-Force, Fantastic Four for Marvel, Superman and Batman comics. I saw this at Belmont Club (Richard Fernandez). It’s really funny. I don’t think I’d ever heard of banana catsup, although hot dogs with spaghetti sounds downright midwestern. Banana catsup apparently was developed during WWII when tomatoes in the Philippines were in short supply. I'll watch for it next time I wander into the international aisle at Meijer's.

Baked Orzo with Gruyere and Peas

I've been a bit under the weather today--had to skip the Advent noon services so my husband served Communion in my place. I've had ONN on, a channel I don't think I've ever watched because I don't get it in my office. I walked through the living room and saw Robin Davis of the Columbus Dispatch explaining how to make BAKED ORZO WITH GRUYERE AND PEAS--which is sort of macaroni and cheese, orzo being rice shaped pasta. It looked awfully good--but don't they always when the TV cooks make them? Here's the link. And I'm going to write out the ingredients since I print my blog:

4 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1 pound orzo pasta
1 cup milk
4 ounces shredded Gruyere cheese
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into cubes
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup fresh white bread crumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 2-quart serving dish. Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add orzo. Cook until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer orzo mixture to a large heat-proof bowl. Add milk, Gruyere, mozzarella and peas. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs. Toss to moisten with butter. Stir in cheese and thyme. Sprinkle over orzo. Bake until mixture is bubbling and topping is golden brown, about 20 to 30 minutes.

PER SERVING: 374 calories; 19 g protein; 48 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 12 g fat (7 g saturated); 36 mg cholesterol; 231 mg sodium

Looks like a great dish for a pot-luck. She said the cubed mozzarella would melt but remain in cubes--offering a surprise when found by the eater. You can also use broccoli flowerettes in place of the peas.

Not much has changed in a thousand years

When you have access to a library of a few million books and journals just two miles away and freedom to browse in the stacks, it is easy to come home with topics about which you never gave a thought, such as The reformation of the 12th century by Giles Constable (Cambridge University Press, 1996). So far, I've only made it through the preface and introduction, the extensive bibliography and index, and skimmed a few chapters, but I've seen so much that looks familiar in the religious and secular life of the 11th and 12th centuries that reminds me of the 21st. Other names, titles, and concepts are totally unfamiliar like names of monasteries, phrases in Latin that don't translate well into English, places, and Roman Catholic theology. Even when I get out the dictionary, or check the extensive index, I don't have a frame of reference to understand. A Cluniac is not someone obsessed with movie star George Clooney, nephew of Rosemary, for instance. And black and white monks have nothing to do with race. And then there's the internet problem, always there when I read a book, finding things like The Medieval Sourcebook, which I didn't know I needed until I started browsing.

But before I run off on another tangent about medieval times I'll just note a few phrases that caught my eye, that reminded me that everything we (or at least I) think is contemporary, happened before, because human nature really doesn't change that much.

• . . . reform and revival was seen as a result of the increasing population and approaching end of the world. Whether you're a global warmist fanatic follower of Al Gore, holy Cap and Trade, robed in the vestments of green hype or a Christian dispensationalist scanning the headlines to compare with the Books of Daniel and Revelation--this should sound familier
  
• whether the reformers were from wealthy or humble origins, their followers were often well off [and from my cursory reading, feeling a bit guilty about it], but since it is the writings of the reformers that are available, the diversity and equality that is described may be the exception rather than the rule
  
• charismatic preachers [politicians] recruited actively for converts to their reform movement--transfers from one house or community to another created personal, legal and political problems
  
• rules circulated in written form, such as manuscripts and letters, but were carried out mainly through associations, personal contacts and visits--personal influence and connections were paramount
  
• opponents of reform were not necessarily bad men, but they were set in their ways and opposed to change in principle as well as in practice
  
• when faced with change, they resisted both passively and actively
  
• resistance to change has been recorded by the reformers, not the resisters so is distorted or left out of the record
  
• it was easier to start a new house than reform an old one
  
• reforms of existing institutions and communities almost always involved some pain and difficulty, occasionally with activie resistance and open violence
  
• an involuntary reform or change of order was a blow to the self-esteem of members and resistance was not always selfish or unreasonable
  
• even the poorest monastic community needed land, buildings, books, vestments and other supplies, thus it needed patrons as well as spiritual founders, and these patrons often claimed rights over the community so the interests often clashed
  
• even the most generous patrons hoped to get away as cheaply as possible
  
• some reformers removed existing settlers
  
• recruiting the next generation [of the reformed group] was always a problem when the first generation died out--newcomers didn't share the memories and ideals of the early years. The second generation was often the most dangerous period of institutional development
  
• almost every new, reformed house that survived and flourished later went through a painful period, even a crisis as it grew in wealth and numbers
  
• the new orders and reforms created diversity in the 12th century, with unforeseen consequences of competition and eventually greater uniformity and traditional solutions, so that as the age of experiment drew to a close, the traditional ideals and institutional patterns reasserted themselves within the monastic order and brought the period of change to an end.

Ah, change. It's an interesting concept, isn't it?

Other People's Children

A review of two books at Books and Culture.

“Population control carries the implication that it would be preferable for some people not to be. Whether these undesirables are defined as a Yellow Peril threatening to sink the West, hordes of the hungry ready to kill each other or you, or even just slovenly neighbors bullying your babies or absorbing welfare checks, fear of other people's children has been a powerful engine of public policy.”

Forced Altruism

With every public and private school in the country requiring "community service" hours, there just aren't enough projects for the needy--unless cleaning up your own bedroom, or sweeping out the garage for dad could get on the list. Don't bet on it. Colleges and schools are taking a second look. It's not "volunteer" if it's required, is it? Same way with companies or state agencies that require staff to "volunteer" at various community projects. It builds a "white man's burden" mentality (even if the student isn't white)--the teen version of foreign aid for Africa, causing more harm than good. Since when is the poor's responsibility to teach our spoiled suburbanites "good works?"

However, I do have a suggestion for my own community of Upper Arlington. Our city fathers years ago contracted to have the side walks built right at the street curbs, so when we get the occasional snow storm or blizzard, the plows not only cover the driveways, but they bury the sidewalks in about 4-5' of chunked snow, slush and salt. Northwest Blvd. is about a block from the high school, and many teens park their cars there. It is also a street lined with duplexes where many retirees live. It's a match made in "community service" goals heaven. Send about 10-12 students, short on service hours, over to Northwest Blvd. after the plows go by. Meet phys ed requirements and service requirements both. And the neighbors will be so happy they'll help you with the next bond issue.

HT Joanne Jacobs

I will try to resist

Today is my turn to volunteer at the lunch room at the UA Senior Center. They have great food, deliciously prepared, lovingly dispensed (by me and Harold), and quite tempting. I'm going to keep that picture of my turnip greens in my mind's eye, and try to resist the corn chips and desserts. My goal--my red jeans will fit again.
If not by Christmas, maybe Valentine's Day.

I worry about the losers in this contest

I realize that these days you have to have contests and rewards to encourage workers to do what's expected of them, but hand washing should not be negotiable!

"100 Percent Hand Hygiene Club Congratulations to staff on 8 Rhodes (Progressive Care and ICU) for 100 percent hand hygiene compliance in October. They were selected from inpatient units in UH, Ross, Dodd, UH East and outpatient areas that had 100-percent compliance. To properly wash your hands, wet them with water, apply soap and rub your hands together for 15 seconds. Rinse and dry with a disposable towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contaminating your hands. You can also use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating your hands." News story from OSU MEDICAL CENTER Today.

Here's what St. Raphael says about hand hygiene

Why do we need to improve hand hygiene practices?”
• Serious nosocomial infections
• 90,000 patient deaths per year
• Costs of treatment: $4.5 Billion per year in the U.S.
• Hand washing compliance rates are unacceptable (average 40 percent)

St Raphael is battling this problem at its web site on hand hygiene and bring awareness to the general public and other hospitals.

Dear Abby has gone soft

The "real" Abby would never have said, "Do not try to tell her how to live her life." She would have said, "Kick that roomie out immediately, and tell her to wise up."

Not that kind of girl writes Dear Abby to complain that

"About a year ago, a childhood friend, "Lindsay," came to visit. She loved the town so much she decided to move here and be my roommate.

At first I was excited at the prospect, but my enthusiasm has waned since finding out that Lindsay is very promiscuous. Since January she has had sex with seven men, sometimes dating more than one at a time."

She feared for her reputation, safety and privacy.

So what does Abby suggest? A huge wimp-out. Are women supposed to be assertive and strong in the workplace but not in their own apartments?

"Your letter brings to mind several old sayings. One: People are known by the company they keep. Two: Birds of a feather flock together. Three: People who lie down with dogs usually get up with fleas.

Do not try to tell Lindsay how to live her life. DO remind her that she is now living in a small town where tongues wag. Then explain that although you like her very much, your lifestyles are not compatible and you would like her to move. Your concerns about waking up to find strangers are valid."

Now, that's sure going to get the roommate to wake-up and change her ways. Explaining the obvious is sure to change her sleeping around behavior. And since when does Abby not know that reminding people with little proverbs and cutsy sayings comes across as "telling them how to live."

Run for cover

When an AP story doesn't mention the political party of misbehavior or ethical lapse, we can usually assume the people are Democrats, because if it involves Republicans, it will be plainly and repeatedly noted.

But what if it is about sex, and the gender of the perp isn't mentioned?

Supposedly there was a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" in the office of a Denver Minerals Management Service from 2002-2006 according to a story I read last week. During that period the Interior Department found some employees were getting drunk and having sex with oil-company personnel. The report also noted instances of cociane use in the office.

There were apparently 55 people employed in the office, so we have no idea how many were part of this "culture." But it would seem they were all women given there are only two choices, and most oil company personnel are men. Although it could be gay sex, I suppose. And what an interesting take NYT has--moving an unrelated story to the clause to introduce the story:

As Congress prepares to debate expansion of drilling in taxpayer-owned coastal waters, the Interior Department agency that collects oil and gas royalties has been caught up in a wide-ranging ethics scandal — including allegations of financial self-dealing, accepting gifts from energy companies, cocaine use and sexual misconduct.

After reading the NYT account, I was totally confused about who was zooming whom, and what was Royalty In Kind--an oil company exec, a government official or a quasi-government entity. "The Royalty in Kind (RIK) Program is responsible for managing Minerals Revenue Management’s (MRM) [Department of the Interior] commercial oil and gas commodity sales activity. Currently, the RIK Program is competitively selling over 800,000 MMBtu of natural gas per day and over 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Revenues from sales and other dispositions of RIK oil and gas in FY 2007 were over $4 billion." Link

My take-away is that when female officials or staff, whether working for the government, industry or some sort of hybrid contractor, are involved it is "promiscuity" and "unacceptable behavior." But when males did it, there will be hell to pay, careers ruined, and probably prison.

Watching TV to get a PhD

Someone came to my blog looking for something about "Mindy orange juice suit shrank," so I couldn't resist and back tracked--never finding the episode, but did discover an interesting PhD Thesis on TV comedy theme songs. I find that amazing. That someone spent all that time and our money watching TV and listening to the theme songs, and then gets to wear a cap and gown, and call herself Dr. Butcher.

"The purpose of this study is to examine the function of the bard in situation comedy theme songs. This study calls upon Fiske and Hartley's concept of television as a cultural bard, a singer and teller of stories that create and conserve community. The bard reaffirms the culture's
identity while delivering social and political messages relevant to the culture at specific times throughout history. . . The results of the analysis reveal that the themes address relevant cultural issues such as race relations, the role of the domestic woman, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, class conflict, and the construction of reality."

Didn't we already know that?

A lot of heavy, deep ideas in this thesis

• Many of us in the United States live and grow up in front of our television sets, and television theme songs become ingrained in our minds.
  
• While the 1960s was a decade of social upheaval and change, the 1970s appears to have been a decade of self-absorption.
  
• The primary function of the theme song, however, is to "hook" the audience into watching the show.
  
• Gomer joins a long-standing tradition of fools, clowns and other tricksters who, aware of their powerless position and out of fear or threat of punishment, do not voice their opposition in a forthright manner.
  
• and so on.

Still, it is fun to read. Maybe her committee liked it too.

Back to turnip greens

Two years ago I developed a taste for turnip greens and collard greens when I was looking for something interesting to eat while dieting that wouldn't get my taste buds excited. (That's half the battle, you know.) I hadn't had any for awhile, but bought some canned today. Seasoned with tasty stuff. Usually I buy fresh, but really, if they've been sitting awhile, they probably lost more vitamins than the cooked variety. The seasoned variety has about double the calories of the plain--but still only 40 calories for 1/2 cup--and I added an onion, a little rice, and sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top. Yummy.


A wonderful source of Vit. A, and a good source of Vit. C, calcium and fiber. Still, I don't think I'll get into my red jeans by Christmas. It sure goes on easier than it comes off.

Happy Thoughts, Happy Molecules

Dorothy Rabinowitz has an excellent review of the Deepak Chopra/CNN/Larry King discussion of the tragedy in Mumbai/Bombay in today's WSJ, "Deepak Blames America." If the topic weren't so serious, it would be beyond belief. But I want to tag along on her Deepak description and qualifications

healer, New Age philosopher and digestion guru, advocate of aromatherapy and regular enemas . . .If you have happy thoughts, then you make happy molecules. . ."

to launch my snark at Ohio Health Dimensions Winter Classes and Programs. It looks like a curriculum developed by Ms. Rabinowitz' caricature of Dr. Chopra it is so overloaded with new ageism and alternative eastern therapies and religions.

• Ageless beauty from within: incorporate self-healing practices to support your entire being with ancient wisdom of the East
  
• Alexander Technique--learn to rejuvenate your mind and body, enhance your thinking
  
• Bring your soul to work--connect your natural gifts and values to the demands and sacrifices of your job
  
• Enhance your wellness with guided imagery--create positive changes--bring a floor mat
  
• Green living--discover how easy it is--create a sustainable future for the seventh generation (indigenous people's concept)
  
• Learn hypnosis for a change--what? No hope too?
  
• Natural therapies for women's health issues--alternative remedies from irritable bowel disease to mood disorders
  
• De-stress with active relaxation
  
• Planting seeds of wellness--body, mind and spirit, culminating in the joyful group experience of Mandala
  
• Seasonal detoxification--season-specific herbal remedies, purifying supplments (colonics?)
  
• A lot of Yoga classes--too many to mention--chair, Hatha, baby, fertility
  
• Magical moves of NIA--this is yoga with low impact aerobics and a sweat
  
• Releasing Problems--blend a mind/body relaxation session with a land/water experience
  
• Tai Chi--ancient Chinese exercise
  
• Tai Kwon Do--fitness for self-defense
  
• MBSR--based on ancient practice of mindfulness--homework!
  
• MBSR graduate program--meditation, wisdom teachings
  
• Self-healing through classical meditation--guided exploration of techniques, Loving Kindness Meditations
  
• Taste of Mindfulness Meditation--individual sessions for only $50 a pop

And there are useful programs too like How to buy a home, Understanding auto insurance, digital cameras and retirement planning.

OhioHealth is Riverside Methodist, Grant, Doctors, Grady, Dublin Methodist, Hardin, Marion General, etc. Since they can't get you from ER to a room in less than 11 hours (which creates massive stress), I don't understand why they are offering yoga and guided imagery to reduce stress!

China losing luster says Business Week

"A new survey finds rising worries about product quality and intellectual-property theft. More U.S. companies are looking to Mexico and their own backyard." Not fast enough. Especially food items. I picked up a box of holiday decorated Kellogg's Rice Krispie squares--an unfamiliar product. These days I'm looking for details. If it is not made or grown in the USA or Canada and is a food or health and beauty item, I put it back on the shelf. This one had only the decorated candies "made in China." No thanks. There is no reason for the USA to be importing food items, and I don't care what the trade agreements are, when we don't have the will to hire enough inspectors. Link. "Distributed by" tells you nothing. . . except that it probably wasn't grown or made in the USA.

Media hype wrong again

So much for all the gloom, doom and disaster the media were promoting. Who are their sources? The people went out on Black Friday and increased spending by 3% over last year. And for once I'm glad. The jobs they saved may be their neighbors or their own. Now we'll get all the qualifying stories from the journalists and consultants who got it wrong. The "yes, but," excuses.

Anyone in retirement years can see we're heading for a bad time, just open your latest statement. It's not like 2004 when the Kerry/Edwards campaign continually bad mouthed the economy for over a year, Bush, new jobs, etc. and the media chimed right in. It's not 2006 when the Democrats took over Congress by campaigning on the bad economy (that wasn't) and then rode it into the ditch by making no corrections the president wanted. The week after the 2004 election it was all good economic news again. Because we don't have time for it turn around like it did in the late 80s, and the late 90s and after 9/11, it's going to be a challenge for retirees--especially if they don't fix that 70.5 age for drawing down IRAs based on Dec. 31, 2007 balances. People my age didn't grow up expecting everything, so we are probably better off than the younger boomers who thought life would always be a bigger house, or a new leased car every other year, or a vacation in Aruba.

Advent

"By the 8th century, Advent, the origins of which are apparently to be found some three or four centuries earlier in Gaul, had become an integral part of the Christmas cycle and was understood to be the beginning of the church year. The season has two parts. From the first Sunday through December 16 there is an eschatological emphasis, and the days from December 17 to Christmas Even look toward Jesus' birth. The Nativity is thus properly understood as the guarantee of the second advent; as Christ came once in humility, so he will come again in glory." . . .

"in the single word "come" (Prayer of the Day, Lutheran Book of Worship) the prayer, which is addressed directly to Christ, voices the longing appeal of the church for the advent of its Lord." . . .

"The appointed color sequence is found for the first time at the beginning of the 12th century; usage varied. . . " from violet to purple, and now the preference listed in the LBW is blue. Commentary on the Lutheran Book of Worship, by Philip H. Pfatteicher, (Augsburg Fortress, 1990), chapter 5, "The Propers," p. 207

Library snacking reflects society

When I returned to work in the mid-1980s, the big discussion, at least at OSU and I assume other academic libraries, was food in the libraries. It was a huge maintenance problem and the trash was a problem both for staff and users. I don't recall much alarm then about health, obesity, and the greening of everything. So we pretty much went to a "no food and drink" policy as a preservation plan (of materials and staff) which soon was chipped away first in Health Sciences, as I recall. You just don't tell doctors, even those in training, where they can eat, drink or sleep. So then came rules about permanent holders, lids, sippy cups, etc. There was a snack machine in the room next door to the Veterinary Library, which the librarian before me raged about (he had other problems, including borrowing money from faculty and not paying it back, and not showing up for work--but oh, he watched that machine!). I've lost track of what the current plan is--the main library at OSU has been closed for renovation for several years. My library was torn down and replaced and I've only been in it once, although I planned it.

Libraries, like churches, give in to society's cultural norms and to common business practices, and are not the moral and ethical touchstones they aspire to be. So now in the 21st century library cafes are becoming popular. Even my local public library has tried to push that one, although you can walk across the street to a shopping center and get a nice cup of coffee served to you. The book, The Survey of Library Cafes, surveyed the current trend (40+ libraries, mostly public), and although I haven't read it, here are some of the highlights:

The study presents data from a survey of more than 40 academic and public libraries. The libraries provide data about their library cafes and other food service operations, such as vending machines. The report has more than 100 tables of data exploring a broad range of issues related to library cafes, such as their finances, impact on patron traffic, staffing and maintenance. Data is broken out for academic and public libraries, and by size of library, for easier benchmarking.

Some of the findings of the report are that:

- Snacks account for nearly 71% of the income of library cafes, though lunch adds a not at all negligible 20.83% of total revenue and breakfast chips in with another 8.33%, according to The Survey of Library Cafes.

- Salads in this era of health consciousness chipped in only a mean of 4.5% of sales, more in the public than college libraries. All salad sales came from the larger libraries, those with more than 600,000 annual patrons.

- The average price of a cup of coffee in the library cafes was $1.49, perhaps reflecting the Starbuck-ization of the library café. This figure also takes into account those libraries that gave their coffee away.

- More than 40% of the library cafes offered outdoor eating. Close to 65% of the libraries in the sample had vending machines, with an average of only about three vending machines per library.

So, libraries contribute to obesity on the one hand, then buy books on dieting and alarmist titles about an obese population on the other. I'd have to look at it to see if these cafes are subbed out to private contractors or they use library-hired staff, but either way, the building is paid for by you, the tax payer, and it competes with your business community which also has to pay taxes to support the library. Nice job if you can get it.

It looks terribly expensive for the compiled data--55 pages and 80 euros! I'm wondering if authors' intention is to provide library directors, like ours, data to convince their board and voters that they need the next bond issue to open a cafe, yada, yada:

"This report gives extensive data on library cafe sales volume, best selling products, impact on library maintenance costs, reasons for starting a cafe, affect on library traffic and many other issues regarding the decision to start and manage a library cafe."

The word terrorist returns to print

Did you notice? As early as October 2001 Reuters asked its reporters to not use terrorist when referring to 9/11 hijackers/attackers. But this week with the attacks in Mumbai (Bombay) it's in vogue again. Even Barack Obama used it. "The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and Nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks." Doesn't that sound familiar, even if he wants them to do the heavy lifting? Belligerent. Bellicose. I think both Clinton and Bush said something very similar years ago. Anyway, apparently there are journalists, experts and commentators who still don't get it, that this might take some time to analyze and figure out. Maybe caution? Here's one Indian who's just telling it like it is. Smoke Signals.

For your listening pleasure

"Alison Krauss and Union Station have recorded 10 of Ron Block’s songs since 1992, including the beautiful “In the Palm of Your Hand” from the Alison Krauss and the Cox Family album (I Know Who Holds Tomorrow) and “A Living Prayer” from Lonely Runs Both Ways, which received a 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove award for the Bluegrass Song of the Year."

Thank you Sue at Inner Dorothy, a pastor of a United Church of Canada.



A Living Prayer

In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's one who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands

The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
The Savior lives inside me there

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Also see this link.

Good Bye Mr. President

I don’t know how long this will be on his opening web page, but Steven Curtis Chapman has a song thanking the outgoing president. All Americans can be proud of the way the out going and in coming presidents are working together.

“Whether you voted for him & love him, or you’ve disagreed with all his policies and dislike him... Could we all agree on this? We owe President Bush a sincere thank you. As the historic Inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama approaches, StevenCurtisChapman.com pauses to thank our outgoing President for his service to our great country.”

It really is a beautiful song. It looks like we’re entering a new phase of terrorism--at least I see the newspapers have returned to using that word. Now the sleepless nights will belong to the Obamas.

More jobs promised--what does it mean?

The Lex Column weighs in:

"I have already directed my economic team to come up with an Economic Recovery Plan that will mean 2.5m more jobs by January of 2011." Barack Obama chooses his words very carefully. What the US president-elect has not promised is the "creation" of 2.5m new jobs. Nor will millions of jobs be "saved". So what does 2.5m "more" jobs actually mean?

For example, more jobs might mean trying to put the current and soon-to-be unemployed back to work - in effect raising, or at least stabilising, the size of the workforce. Alternatively, he may be saying that if 4m jobs are to be lost over the next two years (very possible at current run-rates), the number would be 6.5m without his recovery plan. Of course, under both scenarios the economy has benefited. But clearly the second outcome is horrendously more painful. . .

Finally, the Obama plan is on questionable theoretical turf. Obviously 2.5m additional paper-pushers, or 1,000-worker teams building 50 bridges-to-nowhere in each state, are not desirable. But even creating so-called productive jobs is problematic. . . A new job building a wind farm here could mean one less mechanic at a factory over there. [or a lost town in Ohio dependent on coal due to his promised destruction of our industry through cap and trade, nb] Mr. Obama is right to try to kick start demand--and right to be vague about promises he may not be able to keep. [when hasn’t he been vague?] The Lex Column, Financial Times, Nov. 28, 2008