Cahiers du Hoummous — Hummus in a time of crisis — MidLaw Semiotics

In crisis, recur to fundamental principles.

Fundamental principles arise from experience. Experience from consciousness. Language shapes consciousness. Language matters.

“Hummus’ is the abbreviation of  “hummus bi tahini.” Hummus is the original word for chickpeas and tahini is for ground sesame seeds.  Hummus begins here. Then salt, and lemon juice to dance. Oil, garlic, cumin, and pepper to dress.

Before the crisis, some were suggesting substituting white beans instead of chickpeas and eliminating tahini. They called that hummus.  Others, mashed beets. It was hummus, except without the chickpeas and without the tahini.

What? George Washington’s hatchet.

Is crisis any wonder?

Recur to fundamental principles. Chickpeas mashed, sesame seeds ground, lemon juiced. Things will come right.

Cahiers du Hoummous — Hummus in a time of crisis — Routines

Control counters crisis

Routines are control.

Centuries — millennia —  have chiseled the steps to hummus. There are routines.

The Cahiers du Hoummous sees the steps, the routines, records them.

Each step in its turn, unto itself. Then the next.

Non-essentials fall away.

Chickpeas, sesame seeds. Lemons.

Choices are made. Routines settle.

• Dried chickpeas or canned?
• Roast sesame seeds or tahini?
• Olive oil in it or on top?
• One lemon or two?
• Garlic in the hummus or on top? One clove or two, roasted or not?
• Add tahini to chickpeas or chickpeas to tahini?
• Skins?
• Spices.
• Hot hummus or cold?
• And more.

Routines. Handles. The handles strengthen. Hummus and beyond.

The gateway is MidLaw Mind. In a time of crisis.

 

Porter Wagoner and the Wagoneers

Porter Wagoner and the Wagoneers

Cahiers du Hoummous — Bedrock in times of crisis

In times of crisis, it is well to stand on bedrock. Recur to fundamental principles.

The verdict of the centuries is that hummus is chickpeas (mashed), sesame seeds (ground), garlic (peeled), and lemon (juiced).

Followers of MidLaw will learn hereafter that olive oil, salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper play important supporting roles.

But the essence of hummus is chickpeas, tahini (ground sesame seeds), garlic, and lemon. That is bedrock.

A trend of recent times is to introduce other elements into the mix. Worse, there are those who substitute and eliminate essentials. This is done in the name of creativity. They call the result “hummus.” Partly, this is an offense to the language. Often, it is an offense to the culture. It serves ill in a crisis.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with throwing anything you like into a food processor, then grinding and eating it. (Well, let’s limit this to vegetables for discussion’s sake.) But, there are issues of language, etymology, and culture here – which will be considered in later cahiers. Get your own word, though, for what you do, because without chickpeas and tahini, it is not hummus. The earth will shift beneath your feet.

And there is the issue of beets – grinding up beets, eating them, and associating that with hummus. Does this require discussion?

In a crisis, trust the learning of the centuries.

 

The doorknob

I have a bucket with water and bleach.
I dip my rag.
I wipe the handrail.
The virus writhes. It decomposes and dies.
I approach the doorknob.

Annual Herb Sale of NC Unit CANCELED

The Annual Herb Sale of the North Carolina Unit of the American Herb Society set to occur on April 16, 2020, at the Greensboro Farmers Market is canceled. It will be re-scheduled on the Other Side.

Consult the North Carolina Unit’s website for developments.

MidLaw cannot be responsible for updates. It just can’t.

Cahiers de Hoummous: Hummus in a time of plague

Hummus has weathered three thousand years. And so it is suited for a time of plague.

Three thousand years wear away what is not essential. They find what is irreducible.

MidLaw will speak of this, in future cantos. MIdLaw will seek bedrock.

DISCLAIMER

Cahiers de Hoummous is not legal advice, it is not medical advice, and it is not political commentary. It is hummus commentary, based on the best information available to MidLaw, and tempered by an attitude that cannot be said to be entirely serious or scientific. MidLaw believes, however, that when prepared and consumed as part of a conscientiously applied program of personal advancement, hummus can be effective in raising spirits and supporting well-being.

Send out a spearchul number

Due to my advanced age, the Governor of North Carolina and my children have declared me to be “at-risk.” I am confined by them to my home.

Yesterday, it hit me like a dodgeball. I am a “shut-in.” I am one of our shut-in friends.

Porter Wagoner, Arthur Smith, Crackerjacks: Send my sacred number out to me.

   

On public libraries

There’s an obituary in today’s Greensboro newspaper (nothing to do with Coronavirus) for a man named Tex Wood.

At the end of his obituary, it says “When once asked by the librarian in Stuart [Patrick County Public Library, Stuart, Virginia] to complete a comment card … as part of a funding request, his reply, which remains on the librarian’s desk today, was pure Tex. ‘A community without a library is a cesspool.’”

I did not know this man, but I will miss him.

Important planning for the other side – Herbs – 2020 Herb Sale – NC Unit of the Herb Society of America – Greensboro

ANNUAL HERB SALE OF NC UNIT OF HERB SOCIETY OF  AMERICA IN GREENSBORO HAS BEEN CANCELLED

 

Consult Herb Society Website for More Information

and Announcement of New Date

 

On the other side of this current epidemiological mess, you are going to want herbs. Fresh herbs. From your yard.

Plan for April 16, from 7 AM to 3 PM at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.

This is the Annual Herb Sale of the North Carolina Unit of the Herb Society of America.

“All your favorite herbs will be there.” Thousands of plants for culinary and landscape uses.

Not just your garden variety herbs, but also heritage plants, gardening tips, specialty vendors, and educational materials. Proceeds from the sale will support community gardens, student scholarships, public schools gardens, and more.

But mostly, it’s herbs. Thousands of them. All your favorites. What a unit!

• This event may be held either indoors or outdoors as conditions warrant.
• Check with the Unit to learn its plans for an intriguing upcoming presentation. “Unusual, Interesting, and Uncommon Herbs.” [EVENT CANCELLED. TO BE RESCHEDULED.]
• The Herb Society’s recently announced Notable Native Herb of 2020 is Claytonia virginia, which appears to have edged out Claytonia caroliniana by a leaf.

The Unit is a unique and prolific source of learning about herbs. Its material about basil, in particular, is quite steamy and perhaps a touch fevered (go read it for yourself), but certain to draw the adventurous to the Sale at the Farmers Market on April 16. [Like everything else, I assume that a fresh assessment about canceling the event will be made closer to the date.]

Fresh herbs in your backyard, on your deck, in your patio, or in a window box, have been proven to be superior to dried ones in applied programs of herbification.