The Fourth of July, Bar sur Loup and Admiral de Grasse

Village of Bar sur Loup

Years ago when I lived across the valley from Bar-sur-Loup, the village celebrated July 4th with fireworks. My dog thought the end of the world had come and hid under the pillow until the noise subsided. But I enjoyed the view.

Statue of Admiral de Grasse on the village square


The village hero, François Joseph de Grasse (1722-1788), born nearby in the Château des Valettes, commanded the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown (September 1781). Hence, Bar-sur-Loup and Yorktown are sister cities.

Today I looked at the events calendar for the village—nothing has been marked for July 4th, but Bastille Day celebrations begin with a ball on the night of July 13. I found no mention on the web for any fireworks at any historical time on July 4th.


Well, my dog and I distinctly remember fireworks . . . . Happy Fourth of July!

For more information on Bar-sur-Loup,


For more information on the village, visit Provence Beyond

For information on the main hotel, see L’Hostellerie du Château


For a memorable dining experience, see La Jarrerie

Pack your carry-on bag carefully! There may be a tanguero nearby!

Little did I realize when my first Argentine tango instructors imparted their passion for the dance, I would become addicted. But there it is—We plan our lives, schedule trips, purchase clothing and shoes on the basis of this addiction for a connection. We practice our walks daily. . . . We watch Isabella Fusi’s footwork on Youtube. We become hopeful when new instructors come to the region. Here, Natalya and Ramiz hold a practica.

We tangueras wait patiently (well, somewhat) on the sidelines at a milonga, scanning the men for that cabeceo (glance and nod), or invitation, to dance. We may have walked down the street or driven many miles in hopes of getting one tanda with a great partner. That one connection, comparable to the euphoria of a runners’ high), keeps us returning.


When we are not dancing, the music continues to play in our heads. Wouldn’t it be nice if another tango addict worked at the same office? Can I find a milonga when visiting family and friends or on a business trip?

We have been stranded in airports. A delayed flight may lead to a missed milonga at destination. But now, there is a Facebook site, Stranded at an Airport, Tango Meetup, for tango aficionados. Yet another reason to pack dance shoes and music in your carry-on.

All (or almost all) my news comes from FB!

I was thinking about Facebook and mass communications. In grad school, media theory classes reviewed the Two-step flow of communication (Katz and Lazarsfeld, 1955) , which holds that information from the media is filtered and interpreted by “opinion leaders,” who then serve as sources of expertise for the rest of us.

This model describes how I use FB. Many of my friends filter information—in politics, human / animal rights, education or leisure (books, movies, sports or dance). I consult my opinion leaders in their areas of specialization. . . . .

News Updates
In periods of strife, FB friends continue to provide updates on Turkey, the Gezi Park protests. Most of these stories have been silenced by the government or been “overlooked” by US media.

Intellectual Stimulation
One thing I have missed in leaving academia is the intellectual stimulation—those brown bag lunches with a guest speaker or a book or research talk. Former professors , FB friends, provide links to good books or articles. I continue to be interested in my past research, which dealt with media disinformation as well as the exchange of scientific information in periods of censorship. But I also love good fiction.

New Light on Friendships
FB has enabled me to reconnect with friends (including those from elementary school, many of whom have gone on to successful careers) and former students, their careers and interests (Tani maintains a very good beer blog).

Perspectives
Some of the good reads and ideas come from my LIKE of the Huffington Post or Dwell, a design magazine that features a sustainable lifestyle. A recent article published in the Washington Post (and carried by Huffington) featured the response to a 1961 letter from Harvard admissions, which basically rejected the candidate because the school didn’t see how she could balance motherhood and studies.

The Personal
The day-to-day Facebook is invaluable. I see photos (people, pets and places). I get updates on events. Sure, there is a downside. Some friends post (and post) trite things or send invites for games. Others espouse views at the opposite end of the political spectrum. But overall, I like FB! But then, most of my friends are discerning posters.

It’s Much More than a Park – Mainstream and Social Media Coverage of Istanbul’s Gezi Park

When I first heard about Gezi Park in Istanbul (May 28, 2013), most media portrayed an environmental story—protesters against a government plan to replace one of the last urban green spaces with a shopping center. At the same time, on Facebook, one source kept posting, “It’s not about a park.” When the movement grew to become clearly anti-governmental, media began quoting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who described protesters as looters and extremists. Really?

Urban parks represent places for free assembly and the exchange of ideas as well as for recreation. This particular Turkish park has additional historic symbolism as a place of resistance. The movement has grown (it’s not about a park but about a repressive government) and involves a cross-section of ideologies and socioeconomic groups. By most all accounts, the protesters have not been involved in vandalism or destruction.

My concern--the fragmented views provided by much of our mainstream media. The Turkish Gezi Park story took place at a time when US media focused on “monster” tornadoes, which caused deaths, injuries and destruction in the Midwest. International news focused on Syria. In Turkey itself, its own media buried the Gezi stories under programming on animals or cooking, according to the Christian Science Monitor and social media posts.

How can we be ensured an accurate perspective of the news? Many of the mainstream media do not fulfill their role as Fourth Estate, or watchdog. Most of us have to dig for stories. Much of my understanding of issues is supplemented by social media—Facebook or blogs or Youtube—all of which provide a less-circulated perspective, the context or links to stories I might have missed that are not about parks per se.

Memorial Day - Did you remember?

The flag is flown at half-mast position until 12 p.m. to commemorate all Americans who have died in the service of the country. Then it is flown at full mast.



On Memorial Day, we remember the lives of those Americans lost in war. The numbers for combat and other victims are staggering. These figures do not include casualties in those other countries or the families and friends impacted by the loss. Total American deaths by war, according to Wikipedia, is as follows: Civil War (625,000), WWII (405,339), WWI (116,516), Vietnam (58,151), Korea (36,516). . . and the War on Terror (6,280).





I’ll leave you with quoted material from two media sources, which echo my feelings:

Herald News: Memorial Day has real meaning
Monday, May 27, 2013
Herald News
People may have different opinions on the wars America has participated in. And that's fine. . . . .
But the ultimate sacrifice some of these men and women make in pursuit of a stronger nation and safer world deserves our respect and attention. Those who have personally lost someone to battle may feel this weight throughout the year. But for many, today may be one of the only times when attention is truly given.

Washington Post
The Post’s View -
The debt we owe our servicemen and women
By the Editorial Board, May 26, 2013

It does seem to us that Memorial Day has meant more to much of the country in recent years, and there is a widespread respect for the men and women in uniform and an appreciation of what they have done for their country. There is, too, a greater awareness of the trauma and lasting damage inflicted on many of those who survived the worst shocks of war. But we have not yet come to a full understanding of the debt owed those who have died and suffered for this country.


MY NOTE - A parting thought . . . Rocky Mountain News reporter Jim Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler covered several families who lost sons in Iraq in “The Final Salute,” a 12-part series, published in the Rocky Mountain News, Nov. 9, 2005. The series was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in feature writing in 2006.

Cycling & Healthy Lifestyles in Melbourne, Fla.

Years ago, when my kids attended elementary school in Melbourne Beach, most of their friends rode bikes to school along a combination of side streets and bike paths. The kids liked their independence and more importantly, they incorporated a healthy lifestyle in their day.




Joggers and a cyclist make their way toward Melbourne.

Located on the Indian River Lagoon and just inland from the barrier islands, Melbourne provides numerous opportunities to cycle. However, challenges still need to be met—connector trails for the popular bike routes (e.g., over the causeway bridges or off-road trails), bike racks and public information. Furthermore, a cycling /pedestrian-friendly approach needs to be adopted by businesses and urban planners . Banks rarely provide bike racks and discourage cyclists from using the drive through. Cars pulling in and out of numerous strip malls and the lack of center medians put us all on a collision course.




From the Melbourne causeway bridge, cyclists and pedestrians have a view of the Indian River Lagoon with the ocean in the background.

With increasing interest in exercise and cycling, transportation planning groups are now completing an inventory of paths and trails. At the same time, a larger project is underway to link trails between St. Pete and Titusville, which will promote public interest in cycling and healthy lifestyles.



Nice, France, bike rental is located on the boardwalk overlooking the Mediterranean.

Let’s hope Melbourne gets on the map as a bike-friendly city with the added benefits of getting population into shape and appreciating the environment. Healthy lifestyles that start in elementary school could be incorporated as part of the adult commute.

Mother’s Day—a Special Time but the Perfect Gift Remains Elusive

I’ve scanned racks and racks of cards, looking for a message that feels just right for my mom.



I’ve read numerous articles on unique gifts like a Daum vase (too expensive) or hand-made crafts (not Mom’s style).



Given that Mother’s Day (second after Valentine’s) is the time to give cut flowers, I pondered that option too. But we are not in the South of France where cut flowers are not only beautiful but affordable, and my mom would rather have something more lasting she can plant.




I’m sure I’m not alone in looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

My mom would say the best gift is family, which includes pets. But this year, with our family so scattered (Turkey , the South of France and the East Coast), it’ll be just the two of us.

In the past years, Mom would want to fix the Mother’s Day meal herself (after all, it’s the time together, she would say). But this time, she has agreed. The two of us will head for a restaurant in the historic downtown.





And the perfect gift? The time spent together along with some photos (of the pets), rose petal jelly and a fire orchid she can plant.

What are you doing for Mother's Day?