GorillaOffTopic, Everything But Gorilla Trades

With the hefty prices of gasoline and less people traveling as a result, certain airlines are doing what they can to attract customers. Yes, when the price of a ticket to Shanghai, from the U.S., is anywhere from $10,000-$16,000 for first class, you should probably offer something more than just a mundane glass of wine, with some chicken and rice to your customers. Some airlines are getting quite crafty when it comes to offering more these days- in fact they are going “gourmet” on us. United Airlines has hired award-winning chef Charlie Trotter to whip up some interesting and appetizing new entrees for it’s first class customers and the Gorilla thinks, as ridiculous as it sounds to some, you may like what you hear!

The airline will offer to its first class customers things like an appetizer of sauteed prawns and crispy short rib wontons with organic Thai barbecue sauce and chilled sweet-and-sour cucumber relish. Or how about some delectable rosemary-scented shrimp, drizzled with garlic sauce and served with lemon rice and artichokes. And American Airlines has jumped “on board,” as well (pun intended) by hiring it’s own celebrity gourmet chef, Stephan Pyles, who is best known for his creative Southwestern style cuisine. He says: “Just as the customer in a restaurant has become more sophisticated, refined, and demanding in terms of their food, that demand has filtered to the airlines.”

Delta Airlines won’t be left out of the action and they have hired hot Miami chef, Michelle Bernstein, who came up with entrees such as roasted chicken breast with goat cheese and pepper pesto crust, served with polenta and ratatouille. Yummy! The airline even boasts its own sommelier, who picks out the wines for its passengers and includes a drink menu created by Randy Gerber, which includes fancy mixed drinks, including things like a fresh Mint Mojito. 

“Shaking the cocktails in the aisle, it’s a very exciting and cool part of the atmosphere of the aircraft,” says Jake Frank, Delta’s Director of Product Development and Delivery. If that doesn’t sound alluring enough to you, consider this; you get nothing in coach and it’s a long trip my friend! With the soaring prices of gas and the ever present threat of terrorist attacks since 911, complimentary meals in coach have become an endangered species on flights. (Continental Airlines is the only major airline that still serves a meal to its coach passengers.) 

So you may be feeling left out if you are a frequent coach traveler, since most of the gourmet meals are available to first class passengers only, but don’t feel badly just yet. Celebrity chef Todd English has been enlisted by Delta Airlines to create a fee-based coach meal for its passengers. The meal will include a chicken bistro salad with goat cheese crostini and organic spinach for $8 — available on certain flights longer than 2 ½ hours.

The Gorilla thinks, it’s actually a great idea to offer these kinds of meals especially given the fact that if you are going to fly anyway, you may as well enjoy the option of having a good meal while you are up in the air. But don’t have your expectations for quality set too high in the sky, because gourmet foods don’t exactly have the same great qualities at 30,000 feet as they do when served from the ground. They sometimes can taste bland or very dry from the altitude and air pressure. Still many customers who have already experienced the “gourmet touch” absolutely rave about the meals. Maybe one day the Gorilla will get to try one or two of them- who knows! In the meantime, happy flying!

Like many people, the Gorilla has been hearing about artificial blood for over a decade. It sounded in theory, like such an excellent advancement in medical therapy, but now it appears that all the hopes and expectations for the highly anticipated artificial blood products may end up being dashed in the end. At first, it seemed as if the new artificial blood products were an excellent alternative for patients needing blood- after all, it had everything going for it. The blood products were designed to have a long shelf-life, did not need refrigeration, and were shown not to cause infection. The problem is, the seemingly innovative products have been found to actually triple the risk of heart attack, and raise the risk of death by one-third according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health and a study published in the American Journal of Medicine.  They also say they knew about these risks as early as 1996, during the human trials, and yet when the Food and Drug Administration had knowledge of it at least eight years ago, they still allowed the trials to continue. Currently, the FDA allows patients who have suffered trauma to be given the substitutes, without the patient’s consent, though a special waiver that is only for emergencies and is monitored. The results of one study in particular are nothing short of alarming. The study consisted of 350 patients being treated. Of those, 47 patients died. Still, despite the risks, there are five trials being conducted in foreign countries at this time and at least one is being planned for the U.S. ”What seems most outrageous is the communities were not told about all the risks,” says Charles Natanson, a National Institutes of Health researcher and lead author of the study. “Openness and full disclosure is one of our best defenses for protecting patients.” It is a shame that such a potentially great product that could potentially save lives has had such a bad track record this far into the trial stages. The Gorilla wonders what will happen now. Can they, at this point, still hope to perfect the products at least enough to make them acceptable for human use? Time will tell, but hopefully, researchers will continue to try.

Okay folks…it’s Green Week and time to get on board if you aren’t already! Earth Day Networks estimates that 500 million people, from 4,500 organizations in 180 countries, will participate in Earth Day events during the month of April.  In case you haven’t heard, the whole world is going green and you certainly don’t want to be left “out of the loop” so to get you on track, the Gorilla has a few “green tips” for you!

Like you, the Gorilla thought he was doing “okay” with “greening” everything up, but when he did a survey of his ecological footprint, (carbon footprint) he was shocked to see that he wasn’t even keeping up with the national averages, where it concerns having a mostly ”green” household.  He found, in fact, that his household was doing a lot of energy wasting. Many of you are probably making the same mistakes the Gorilla is and you don’t even know it. There are so many ways to be “green” now that there is utterly no excuse for not going green! But if you are one of the “old school” people out there, who thinks the earth is going to last forever, it’s time to stop being ignorant (sorry, but true) and get with the program NOW! 

A great way to get started is obviously to use those recycling bins! It may seem like a pain, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a really easy and efficient way to make a HUGE difference. The next thing you can do is check all of the thermostats throughout your home and make sure they are set higher when you leave the house. Another great way to conserve energy is to use compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s). They use half the energy, and can save you on your electric bill as well. And don’t forget to turn off all the lights that aren’t in use.  How about water? Well, it seems we Americans like to bathe way too much, so cutting down on your bath/showering amounts and times will help tremendously. By changing the shower heads ,and running the bath water on a less powerful setting you can save up to 20% on your water usage. You can also STOP using that “hot” setting on your washer and only use warm or cold settings. This is such a minor tip, yet it saves a ton of energy!

Having less garbage is another great way to green up your home. Try using Tupperware instead of disposable containers, and recycle plastic storage bags by washing them and reusing them. Also, buy products with the “Green Seal Certified” label, or the “Energy Star” label for household appliances. The Gorilla could go on and on forever because there are so many different and easy ways to be “green,” but it starts right here with you in your household! Now that the Gorilla has been even more enlightened, he will make sure he is making “greener” choices when it comes to his home. If you would like to take a “Carbon Footprint” survey of your home, go to http://www.ge.com/ivillage/calculator/#  and find out how ”green” your home actually is!

What is a hero? To most of us, a hero is someone who epitomizes the idea of being a role model to others, by doing something extraordinary with their life. It is a person who we can all look up to and strive to be like. That’s exactly who this next woman is. Her name is Dr. Lorna Stuart, and after 22 years in private practice in Pennsylvania, she sold her home and practice, and opened up a clinic to treat the many people who don’t have health insurance. She was frustrated with the current system of care and all of the time consuming insurance paperwork that was involved with it. ”There are so many people that fall through the cracks”, she said. So she confided her frustrations with her good friend, the Rev. Marie Swayze.

Rev. Swayze’s parish was home to a dilapidated Victorian-style home, which was in need of repair so the two decided to restore and remodel the mansion and make it a place where anyone could go to receive proper medical care. Dr. Stuart then left her medical practice and sold her home and set out to raise $400,000 in donated funds, materials, and services. The effort resulted in the 2002 opening of, “The Clinic Medical Center for the Uninsured.” This wonderful, bright, caring clinic has received more than 40,000 patient visits since then.

Medical doctors donate their time to the clinic and visits cost around $60.00 for quality care. However, if a patient cannot afford to pay, they just give what they can- even if it’s just $1.50. No one is turned away for failure to pay and they get the same dignified attention as those who pay the full price. “Each day, I get to treat the patients whom our medical system has forgotten, without the hassle of insurance paperwork,” says Stuart. “Is it any wonder I once again feel the real joy of practicing the craft that I love?”  

It’s a great thing when people care about the growing problem of healthcare. Especially since, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 47 million Americans are currently without medical coverage! The Gorilla finds this fine lady to be an inspiration and a hero among heroes for her noble efforts.  More of us should be like her. Hat’s off to Dr. Stuart!

In the U.S., it is estimated that almost 5 million kids suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), making it likely that at least one to two kids in each class of 25-30 kids has the disorder. Kids with this condition have a hard time paying attention and sitting still, so how tough do you think it is for those teachers, who are forced to deal with them? ADHD is an epidemic in this country and many parents are at their wits end trying to figure out what to do about it. Many parents put their kids on prescription medications to try and control the behaviors, but for some parents, drugs are simply not an option. Although the causes of ADHD are complex, until now, treatments for the disorder have primarily been drugs like Ritalin. However, new studies indicate that there may be a link between diet and ADHD, and it may very well change the way both parents and medical professionals approach ADHD treatment.According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, a deficiency in Omega-3 fats may be associated with behavioral disorders. In another study, children who were given supplements of Omega-3 fats showed behavioral improvements comparable to those displayed by children taking Ritalin. Studies show that as much as 99% of the population does not get enough Omega-3 in their diets. So what does this mean? Well, it means eat more fish people! All those times when mom told you how badly you need to get your “brain food,” she really knew what she was talking about! Fish is essentially just that- brain food, and the Omega-3’s contained therein  are specifically what gets the brain activity (or juices) flowing.

If you are like the Gorilla, fish is not a popular item on the desirable foods menu in his life. But that is precisely the reason why he has always taken Omega-3 supplements. Roy Bingham, co-founder of Nourish Life, makers of Omega-3 supplements, says ”Science now knows that the Omega-3 found in fish really does enhance learning.” Nutritional supplements, especially those high in Omega-3, can provide major benefits for kids,” says Bingham.

When you drive down any neighborhood street in America right now, you will see that many of the homes that people were once clamoring to buy, now bear “for sale” signs. Many of these homes have been foreclosed upon, and sit vacant, waiting to be purchased. With all of these vacant homes just sitting there, it seems inevitable that they could become targets of theft and vandalism. We all know that empty homes can sometimes be an open invitation to thieves to steal appliances or leftover furnishings, but it is not just appliances the thieves are after; in fact, many thieves are overlooking the appliances altogether for something much more appealing these days; the wiring and the pipes! That’s right folks, you heard right.It seems that real estate brokers and local authorities say that these once majestic homes from coast to coast are being stripped by thieves for copper, aluminum, and brass. This comes at a time when copper and other metals are trading at an all-time high. Most of the copper and metals are shipped overseas to China and India, and it’s big business. ”We’re in an incredibly unfortunate time, where the nonferrous metal commodities market for scrap is at an all-time high. Houses are being stripped pretty quickly once they go through the foreclosure process,” Cleveland city councilor Tony Brancatelli said. What’s really unfortunate is that many buyers are going to closings only to find that their would-be homes have been stripped, making it necessary to renegotiate the selling prices, minus the stolen items. The problem is further depressing home prices because banks are now balking at lending to prospective buyers of foreclosed homes that have been stripped of copper pipes and other metals. The problem has become an epidemic.

“In my district, we’ve got a lot of foreclosed homes and we’ve got a ton of people who are breaking into these homes, stealing the copper wiring right out of the walls,” said Andy Meisner, a lawmaker in Michigan’s state Legislature, who plans an April 15 hearing on two bills intended to tackle the issue. “It is a problem that is really affecting us throughout the whole state,” he said. “When all the copper is taken out, the house basically becomes a knock-down. It then has a depressing impact on property values.” Interestingly, scrap copper sells for about $3.50 a pound — versus $0.70 just three years ago.

Are gas prices driving you crazy?(No pun intended of course!) Currently throughout the U.S., gas prices AVERAGE from about $3.37 in Wyoming, to a very nasty $3.71 in Alaska. Many people are feeling the extreme crunch caused by a combination of extremely high gasoline prices and ghastly food prices, and for some, it’s becoming simply unbearable. T

here are only so many corners that can be cut before some families lose their homes. Many families are struggling needlessly, and bad seems to be going to worse, as the prices rise. Many ask, “why won’t the government do something?” But as we know, it is doing what they can. The recent tax break given by President Bush should give a temporary lift to those in dire straits, but it will realistically only buy families a very limited amount of time in which to try to get ahead.

Many people the Gorilla spoke to about this issue told of their stories of struggle. Families spoke about not being able to afford to take their kids to all of the after-school activities, such as sports because of all of the driving requirements, forcing their kids to quit. They also talked about having to buy much unhealthier foods due to the fact that boxed foods are much cheaper than the more expensive healthier alternatives.

For some, it is much more dire than these things. One woman told the Gorilla that she could no longer afford to pay for all of her prescriptions, so she stopped taking many of her medications, even though a serious health condition requires that she do so. Families are cutting back by doing everything from letting go of the lawn guy or pool guy, to even canceling their cable television. Poorer families, which never even had those luxuries, are suffering the worst, having to cut corners where there are no corners to cut.

An elderly woman said that she finally had a car given to her after years of not having one, only to find that because of her very low income on social security, there was no way she could afford to even drive it now. The high gas and food prices, in combination with many other factors, are causing people to lose their jobs, and for some-even their homes! One man said he lost his job due to company layoffs, resulting from a waning economy. Since he now has no income, his wife, who is now in her late-40’s, must get a job. They claim that because of the high fuel costs, it is almost a worthless effort since most of her paycheck goes to putting gas into the tank for her daily 30-minute commute to work. And on and on the stories go.

Yes, the economy is in great need of repair, and we are all affected in some way or another. Don’t give up just yet though. The Gorilla found these personal stories to be compelling and wanted to share them with you to let you know that, you are certainly not alone! Hang in there and know that like everything else, this too will eventually pass.

Thinking about taking a family vacation this summer? Many families are probably thinking of venturing out to the usual kid hot spots: Disney, Great Adventure, Six Flags, and the like. Others may be considering heading out to one of the great national parks like Yosemite or Yellowstone. Perhaps you are thinking about renting an RV, and heading across the good ole’ U.S. of A. Yes, all of these places scream “family vacation”, but ever consider taking your family to Las Vegas?  Of Course, the Gorilla knows just what you’re thinking: why would I want to take my sweet innocent kids to “Sin City“; a nucleus for gambling, sex, and debauchery? But believe it or not, this ain’t your grandmother’s Vegas we’re talking about here, no sir! Las Vegas has changed, and what used to be a vaguely inappropriate place to take kids, has become more and more of a family destination.  Now, if the thought of walking down the Vegas strip only to be bombarded with cheaply made business cards bearing the names and faces of ten dollar hookers may not be the most appealing idea, don’t worry! There is another part of Las Vegas that has more than its share of family adventure, action, and fun, and Scout’s honor, it’s G-Rated!  Just ten minutes off the strip is the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa. Just two years old, the resort offers extra large rooms, 70 acres situated on the beautiful Red Rock Mountains, a four-acre pool area, a 16-screen movie theater, and a 72-lane bowling alley. There are a number of resorts just like this right outside of the city, such as Green Valley Ranch and Resort. This resort offers kid-oriented games, hiking, pool parties, hip shopping, and more. But don’t worry grown-ups, there’s plenty of adult-oriented fun for you as well.  Most of the resorts offer gambling (of course) and babysitting services, which come highly recommended by guests who have stayed. There is also golf, kayaking, and hiking. And who could forget the fabulous Ritz Carlton, which offers “Nights Without Neon,” with everything from moonlight spa treatments, dive-in movies, bike rides, and “Stars and S’mores”; a tour of the stars with telescopes, followed by s’mores.  All of these are for adults and children alike.  

Still, even if you do opt to stay on the Strip, (recommended mostly for older kids), there is plenty of exciting fun for them there as well. Let’s not forget the amazing strip itself, and all of the many shows. Lance Burton, Blue Man Group, and Cirque Du Soleil, are all great choices for families with kids, not to mention the numerous other entertaining shows all over the Strip. And if you run out of things to do within the different hotels (unlikely), you can always tour the Grand Canyon by helicopter. The Gorilla and his family did this just last year, and it was truly amazing! Whatever you decide to do in Vegas, it is sure to be a great adventure and experience for every one of your family members. And if you spend your vacation listening to your kids’ endless bickering and whining- no worries! Remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Quite often, the Gorilla and his lady primate are invited to dine at the homes of others. On many occasions, he himself, has been the host and as any good host or guest will tell you, there is always good wine served to celebrate the occasion. The Gorilla happens to be quite fond of wine, and although he certainly doesn’t believe in over-indulgence, a nice glass of wine always tops off the evening in such an eloquent way. Being of European descent, we knew as children that a nice glass of Vino, was a ritual really, and it was a rite of passage to indulge by the time you were a teenager (although, no one actually admits to this) in a taste or two. Many of the Gorilla’s best memories have been shared over a robust glass of Bordeaux, or a dry and mellow glass of Chardonnay. (The Gorilla prefers, a nice Bordeaux from St. Emilion or Riesling form Alsace). But whatever your taste, know this: There’s a new kind of wine in town, and it’s not from a bottle. 

Wines in a box are all the rage! The Gorilla has been hearing about these wines in a box, and no, he is not talking about Franzia here! These wines are actually tastier, more expensive versions of the boxed wines of the past, and have become the new “it” wines on the market of late. They are aromatic reds and sweet whites, and although they don’t have quite the consistency of bottled wines, they are, as the Gorilla found, quite tasty. In the Gorilla’s own taste test of one Black Box Cabernet, here’s what he found:   
At first sip upon opening, it seemed bland and lacking. Then after remembering that wine must air a bit after you open it, he went back for another sip about 10 minutes later. Not bad at all! It had a nice consistency, that although was not as “thick” as bottled wines, it still appeared to have some depth. Would the Gorilla call it fabulous? Well, no not quite, but for a nice change, cheap and simple, why not?

It has been nearly a decade since wine makers have tried any new innovations in their products, so it’s a refreshing new idea.  “Those from 25 to 40 don’t want to drink what their grandparents are drinking, or even what their parents are drinking; they want something that’s for them,” says Gurvinder Bhatia, contributing editor at Tidings magazine. “I think that’s why the French have gone this route, trying to make wine more accessible and fun and cooler than it used to be.” The good thing about it is that it comes in recyclable cardboard boxes, which last for up to 4 weeks. (Bottled wines only last for one week.)  If you are a person who only likes a glass or two a week with a meal, this could be a good wine for you!  Okay, so the Gorilla admits, he’s certainly no vino aficionado, and although it’s not exactly Chateau Margaux with a straw, it seems that for a simple, fun, and fresh diversion, it’s worth a try!

When you hear the phrase “Love Thy Neighbor,” what comes to mind for you? For the Gorilla, the phrase instantly calls to mind the idea of being kind to one another, and being friendly and courteous to those with whom you share the community around you. But unfortunately, it also invokes feelings of extreme sarcasm when thinking about how difficult it is in reality to even like the neighbor, let alone love them.

We have all heard stories about horrible neighbors, but when you experience them personally, it can turn your everyday dream of serenity into the “Nightmare On Elm street.” The Gorilla has personally experienced a lot of un-neighborly love in his lifetime, but the lengths people sometimes go to assert their “power” over their neighbor is just shameful. The Gorilla recently heard a story about an older couple who was being harassed by a new neighbor over the size of the couple’s hedge. Apparently the new neighbors didn’t like the height or look of the hedge so they took it upon themselves to cut the entire hedge when the couple wasn’t home- even though the hedge wasn’t on their property or part of it, and wasn’t in violation of any codes.

Now, what would possess people to act in such a way? The older couple did nothing to provoke the new residents, so what gives? Eventually the couple had to call the police and the neighbors were reprimanded and warned to cease and desist in their behavior. You would think that would be the end of it, but think again!  Unbelievably, the rotten neighbors cut the hedge again and again until the harassment escalated and became verbal, and even physical! At this point, an attorney was called in and the case will now go to civil court. This is a picnic compared to what some neighbors have to contend with.

When researching this story, the Gorilla found pages upon pages of stories from the mundane and silly (such as this one) to the sick and cruel undertakings of certain neighbors. Some were harassed because of simply parking on one’s grass, while others were accused of doing the harassing by killing their neighbors animals for defecating on their lawns. (Shockingly, this is actually very common.) There were stories about too much noise, disorderly conduct (one man kept getting drunk and urinating on the neighbors house), and messy yards. There were endless tales about people moving fences and throwing rocks at windows out of revenge. The scope of the harassment from neighbor to neighbor was endless, and although most documented cases happen in low income neighborhoods, middle and wealthy income neighborhoods are certainly not immune- and in some cases the conduct was just as raunchy. 

So what does one do in this situation? Some people say that doing a lot of research on the neighborhood and neighbors themselves prior to buying a home, can be your greatest insurance. Most states, have a disclosure law, requiring a seller to reveal any nuisance that could affect a sale. This is great for people who are thinking about buying a home (and that’s hoping the seller is honest), but what if the nightmare neighbors move in after you are already there? Do you just ignore them, hoping it will resolve on it’s own? No way!

San Diego code representative Fred Zuckerman told NBC news, ”if you give up on a problem, I usually find the problem gets worse.” He started the web site, RottenNeighbor.com which is a forum where people post their own personal stories about bad neighbors. He says he started it in response to his own rotten-smelling neighbor. The site boasts over 1 million hits per day (are there a lot of ticked off people out there or what?). The site is a popular tool to help potential neighbors beware, but critics say the site allows anyone to post anything and seems more like a gossip site than a helpful tool. The fact of the matter is, people can be just awful and it is truly shocking what some nasty people will do to those who live right next door.

It calls to mind the Mongoose. He is infamous for being the most courteous of animals to those strangers who are passing through, but beware the mongoose neighbor; he will rip your house apart and urinate in your bed! But, rest assured folks! For all those nasty neighbors out there, there are also extremely kind and generous neighbors as well, who will help you with your kids, your animals, your yard, and your home as well. These people truly care about you- as they do themselves. Love Thy Neighbor?  Here’s the good news for those who find this teaching difficult: Nowhere does it say we have to like our neighbor!