Reading Log: February 2025

 The books I read in the month of February 2025

February 2025 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Of Ice Packs and Men," Rick Bass

"Orange County," Gustavo Arellano

"How to Change Your Mind," Michael Pollan

The paucity of books this month can be chalked up to my trying to put a dent in the weeks old pile up of the "The New Yorker" magazine.

Reading Log: June 2023

 The books I finished reading in the month of July 2023

June 2023 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Soccer for Dummies," Tom Dunmore and Scott Murray


"Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish," Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren 


“Clean: The New Science of Skin," James Hamblin 


Lizard Tail

 Lizard Tail

Lizard  Tail: photo by Cliff Hutson

Lizard Tail (Anemopsis californica) is also known as Yerba Mansa. Yerba, is Spanish for herb. Some say that mansa is the feminine form of the Spanish word manso meaning tame, tranquil or calm. But, as the plant has none of these effects, the best translation is probably “soft herb”. The common name Lizard Tail derives from its family name  - Saururaceae. It is the only member of that family native to California.

What looks like a flower is actually a succession of bracts which sit below a petal-less flower with six stamens and an inconspicuous pistil. 

The plant flourishes in very wet soil or shallow water. Thus, today, it is much used as an excellent plant for water features in home landscaping. It can be planted in the water or along moist edges and will trail down along rock faces or fountain edges. 

However, it may be said that it better known for its medicinal uses.  Native peoples from the coastal Chumash to the desert Shoshone have used yerba mansa as an anesthetic and antiseptic for a very long time. Its dried roots, ground into a powder, are used to relieve sore throats Yerba mansa is used as an antimicrobial, an antibacterial, and to treat vaginal candidiasis. It has been used to treat colds, coughs, asthma, kidney problems, and venereal disease.

NOTE: This post is an examination of traditional medicinal use of a plant. It is intended for cultural and environmental education purposes only, and should not be taken as medical advice.

Reading Log: August 2021

 The books that I finished reading in the month of August 2021:

August 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth," Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford 

"Squeeze Me," Carl Hiaasen 

"The Age of Wood," Roland Ennos 

"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe," Charles Yu

"Clark and Division," Naomi Hirahara 

"The Botany of Gin," Chris Thorogood and Simon Hiscock 

"This Is Your Mind on Plants," Michael Pollan

Bicycle Day

The First Trip

A Bicycle: photo by Cliff Hutson

On April 19, 1943, Albert Hofmann, a chemist working in, Basel, Switzerland, ingested 250 micrograms--of a compound derived from the ergot fungus. He soon felt so disoriented that he rode his bicycle home, where he experienced effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). This first acid trip is now commemorated as “Bicycle Day”, on this date each year, after that bicycle ride home.

Change Your Mind

Trippy Saddle: photo by Cliff Hutson

LSD and other psychedelics have had a bad rap for many decades and their use has been seriously suppressed for decades. Some of us aging hippies feel that LSD was banned more because of its threat to the established social order than for reasons of physical or mental health. And, in "How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence", by Michael Pollan, the author argues that psychedelic-aided therapy, properly conducted by trained professionals may be personally transformative, helping with everything from overcoming addiction to easing the existential terror of the terminally ill. 

The book is an informative, yet entertaining, mix of science, medicine, and memoir and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the human mind and the exploration of consciousness.

Save the date

Giro della Valle del Conejo

Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” – Eddy Merckx

A day about actual bike riding itself, June 21, 2021, is World Bicycle Day has been designated by the United Nations to spread consciousness about the benefits of using the bicycle in order to promote health, better environment and sustainable development by bringing people together for a common cause.

If you are up to it, celebrate International World Bicycle Day with a ride.

 

Reading Log: September 2019 & Seafood

The books that I read in September 2019

September 2109 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Creative Spaces,” Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung

“The Life of Python,” George Perry

“How To,” Randall Munroe

“How to Change Your Mind,” Michael Pollan

“Land of Wolves,” Craig Johnson

“Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches,” Marvin Harris

It is National Seafood Month

October is National Seafood Month. While anytime is a good time for seafood, this is a propitious opportunity to celebrate the sustenance provided by the sea and also make an extra effort to enjoy seafood. Just keep these three tips in mind:

1. Purchase sustainable seafood.

2. Shop in season.

3. Try something new.

Lionfish: photo by Cliff Hutson

Here is another way that you can participate.

Breaded Fish with Salad: photo by Cliff Hutson