The Tipping Point Numbers for Social Change

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These are targets every person or group trying to instill social change needs to know to gauge the likelihood or their success.

Recent research has shown that for true social change to occur, you’d need 7-10% of a population to hold an unshakable belief to be able to change the belief of that population within a reasonable amount of time. This is as long as there isn’t another group with another unshakable belief opposing it, like a different religion (Discovery News, August 6 2011). Combine that with the 1% you need to start a movement (Microtrends, by Mark Penn) and you’ve got two real targets for any organization seeking to create lasting social change. There’s none of those around these days, are there? 🙂

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Recipe for Pasta with Quinoa Instead of Ground Beef or Pork

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I am in the middle of revolutionizing by adding quinoa (KIN-wa) as a major staple or base, in addition to rice, pasta and some bread. Knowing this, my friend Rami Bardeesy recently suggested a meal to me that exemplifies my life philosophy #3 – AND not or – to combine the best of both words, while being very healthy. It was pasta with tomato sauce, veggies and quinoa. That was the quick and easy to make meal, but I didn’t call it that in the post title because it’s the substitution of the meat I normally would have with this dish that is key.

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A Few Simple and Potent Quinoa Salad Recipes

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About a month ago, I was introduced to quinoa (KIN-wa) by some organic farming friends at Whippletree farm. Since then, I have integrated quinoa into my diet and thought I’d share a few recipes here, with more to come.

Quinoa is a South American grain of which you primarily eat the seeds. If you’ve never heard of it, or not sure what to make of it, NASA has declared it virtually unrivaled in the plant or animal kingdom for its life-sustaining nutrients and with an exceptional balance of amino acids (NY Times, Mar 19 2011). That is by far the best endorsement I have ever heard about any food, and it also tastes far better than my other staples of pasta and rice! No hype here, folks! This is the real deal!

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Wish on My Star by Jake Shimabukuro and Jennifer Perri

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I heard a great new song today I wanted to share because I’m not sure it’s been heard that often outside some parts of the world like Japan, Hawaii and among ukulele lovers. The song is Wish on My Star, by ukulele god Jake Shimabukuro, featuring Jennifer Perri on vocals. It was on Jake’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps CD (video of his amazing rendition) and featured in the movie Hula Girls that was big in Japan and Hawaii. However, other indications like relative lack of YouTube videos and views on them seem to suggest it hasn’t been heard much. That’s why I’m writing a post to share.

I love the song that much already that I would replace a song in my Top 30 Love Songs, which I did as a Facebook meme in February, to make place for it! Enjoy!

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A Few Groceries Savings Tips

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There are lots of ways to save at the groceries stores. However, I have two ways that I stick by quite well which seems to surprise a lot of people for whatever reasons when I tell them. I don’t think they’re anything revolutionary, but maybe people just don’t think the way I do on the matter. It may not work well for some people for various reasons, like cash flow or demanding eaters, impromptu parties, or whatever. However, you don’t have to swear by it. Just apply it regularly, to save money. The more you do it, the more you save.

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