Things That Matter To People Who Matter

Cesar Millan | Dinner pies | The War of the World | Esperanto

Cesar Millan

I can't get enough of Cesar Millan. Cesar's Way is my audiobook soundtrack. Even though my dog is 12 and likely beyond any further training, I can't help but wonder what more there could be to our mysterious bond. Millan promises two revelations. First, it's the human — not the dog — that is most in need of training. Second, in the end we will learn more about ourselves than our dogs. So far, the concept I keep returning to is that of the "calm, assertive" pack leader. I don't think I'm ready to rollerblade through the streets of L.A. leading a pack of Rottweilers tethered by nylon string, as Millan does — but I am learning. For now, I'll just stick to a stroll around West Philly.

Dinner pies

Pie season comes two times a year: summer and now. In the depths of winter, our bodies crave flaky, fatty pastry. My new discovery is savory chestnut mushroom pie. Saute mushrooms, onions, celery and herbs. Add some flour, then milk, creating a thick white sauce to bind it all together. Stir in cooked fresh chestnuts and spread into a prebaked crust. I make my own crusts, thank you. Otherwise, where's the fun? Bake about 40 minutes. Make a sweet pie while you're at it. Dinner pie, dessert pie, hot pie, all pie, all the time.

The War of the World

Opponents of immigration undervalue what an achievement our multiethnic nation really is, while champions of diversity understate the potential fragility of such melting pots. Both sides will be disturbed by Niall Ferguson's idiosyncratic history of World War II, The War of the World, which bypasses battles to examine how the collapse of comparatively benevolent multiethnic empires like Hapsburg Austria opened the way for thugs like Hitler to espouse a poisonous nationalism based on the extermination of religious and linguistic "minorities." The War of the World does what good history is supposed to: change the way you read your morning paper.

Esperanto

There's a whole community and subculture on the Internet based around Esperanto, the international language. The people and the language offer a really fascinating story whose major players include Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof ("Doktoro Esperanto"), China, the micronation of Rose Island and about 100,000 to 2 million fluent speakers (200 to 2,000 of whom are considered native speakers)! One of my favorite fun facts is that "Esperanto" is Esperanto for "one who hopes." And, of course, the flag of Esperanto is an astounding sight to be seen. Quite an ekspozicio de monstroj!