Interspecies Communication
Damian Aspinall and Kwibi
To register for this upcoming seminar, click image above
I for one am very curious about this relatively new field of interspecies communication and am planning on attending this four day free virtual seminar on the relationship between humans, animals and nature that begins this coming Wednesday, April 12th, 2023.
Here are the details:
Dates: April 12 - 15, Starting 10am UK time
Free every day for 24 hrs. If you opt for the paying version, the talks are available at other times as well.
The online seminar will include 24 speakers and experts sharing their skills, passion and expertise on topics such as interspecies communication, animal wisdom, higher consciousness and much more.
Anna Breytenbach of Diablo/Spirit fame, who I have written about previously on this blog, will host a conversation called Interbeing: What the Wild Ones Teach Us.
The seminar will be "a sacred gathering for animal lovers, nature appreciators, healers, empaths, futurists, visionaries and people seeking to revitalize their relationship with Nature.
The speakers include people who care deeply for rhinos, elephants, bears, wolves, macaws, sperm whales and mountain lions.
This event will help you to rediscover your innate ability to communicate with animals, plants and all of Nature and open you up to the infinite possibilities of your compassionate heart.
Registration is completely free. Optional upgrade pass available for bonus content.
Joni Mitchell
Courtesy Joni Mitchell, via Library of Congress.
Joni Mitchell, Self Portrait
courtesy Jack Robinson/Getty Images
Joni Mitchell just won the Library of Congress 2023 Gershwin Prize. My friend Kathy brought this recent concert celebration to my attention and I am so glad she did. I missed it when it initially aired on PBS but here we can hear it all again in its full beauty. Sit back and enjoy as an all star cast celebrates this musical legend.
Vietnamese Beef and Green Papaya Salad
Recipe by Sylvia Fountaine
This is my favorite thing to order when I go to a Thai Restaurant. During the pandemic, I found myself craving ethnic food but since I wasn't going out, I had no choice but to learn how to make some of these dishes myself. Here is one of those recipes...hope you enjoy it as much as I do...
INGREDIENTS
1 lb beef ( tenderloin, tri tip or flank steak)
2–3 cups shredded Green Papaya ( or rice noodles)
1 cup combo of fresh mint, cilantro and basil
2 T roasted crushed peanuts ( optional)
1 T fried shallots ( optional- see below)
Dressing:
2 T fresh lime juice
1 T plus 1 tsp olive oil
1 T plus 1 tsp sugar
2 tsp fish sauce
2 tsp mild red chili- finely sliced
1 finely minced garlic clove
Beef Marinade:
1/4 C pounded or finely chopped lemongrass
1/4 C garlic-finely minced or pounded
1 tsp fish sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 T oyster sauce
2 T sugar 1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp chili flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Make marinade. Slice beef to 1/2 inch thick bite size pieces, toss with marinade and let sit at least 30 minutes. Or refrigerate up to 8 hours. Grill or pan fry until just cooked.
Peel and shred green papaya and place in a bowl of ice water for 15-20 minutes. (Alternatively, you could prepare rice noodles following manufacturer’s directions.)
Make dressing: Combine lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, oil, chili, garlic.
Drain Papaya and toss(or rice noodles) with dressing to coat. Place on a plate along with beef and a combination of the fresh herbs. Top with roasted peanuts and crispy shallots. Serve with chop sticks.
Fried Shallots: can either be made from scratch, although most Asian markets offer them as a condiment already packaged, which I have found are extremely handy and tasty. They offer good flavor and texture. Lemongrass can be found in most grocery stores, in the herb or produce section. If you find you cook with lemon grass a lot, a nice option is purchasing it in bulk, already chopped in the freezer section of most Asian markets.
Charity of the Week:
The Tennessee Three
Support the Tennessee Three by clicking on the image above.
Painting of the Week
Signs of Spring: Hummingbird, 8” x 10” mixed media giclee print $150 framed
Boycott Walgreens
Walgreens confirmed to Politico last week it would not sell or ship mifepristone, which is used to terminate a pregnancy, in at least 21 states after Republican attorneys general had sent requests for the pharmacy not to—including in some states where abortion remains legal, such as Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Montana.
Walgreens is coming under an increasing amount of scrutiny and a boycott of all their stores (including Duane Reade) has been called. Boycotts are a very effective tool and I hope you will consider staying away until they decide to reverse their policy.
New York, NY 2022
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.