Not the best weekend for food as I made Buffalo wings on Friday at my wife’s request, had take out Indian on Saturday (my request) and grilled turkey wings on Sunday (a failed exercise). Does that mean no recipe this week? No, of course not. I did make one dish that is worthy of sharing, tomato basil soup. What is different about this soup is that we begin with a blender. All of the ingredients are put in the blender and when smooth into a sauce pan. There they are simmered for 15 to 20 minutes and voilà we have soup. I use this form of preparation for two other soups as well; potato leek soup and artichoke soup. Two weeks ago I received a comment from one of my Cleveland colleagues about my recipes being too complicated. Today’s recipe is not complicated and it taste really good. So, the simple recipe of the week is Tomato Basil Soup. Enjoy!

The Simple Mind

“The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” by Nicholas Carr is an attempt to demonstrate that the use of the Internet is changing the way our brains work. Increasing use of the Internet is affecting the way the brain is retaining information, depth of concentration and, of course, social development. I have not read the book, as yet. However, it is next on the list when my wife finishes our copy. I developed an interest in reading the book based upon questions or comments she has made while comprehending the arguments posed by the book. In short, it is a discussion of the positive and detrimental results of using a technology as pervasive as the Internet. In some ways it reminded me of when cell phones were first introduced into the general public. Society attempted to establish rules on when not to use them (restaurants, elevators and movie theaters).  I daresay, with regularity, I now see usage in all of those locations including movie theaters. During the last movie I attended there were plenty of people texting throughout the showing.

I am anxious to read the book because in 2008 Nicholas Carr first attempted to relate how our brains were changing through an article entitled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Between that article and the book, published last June, there has been worthy discussion in the blogosphere, television and conferences on the facts and assumptions of the impact of the Internet on our brains and, therefore, human kind. I suppose after reading it, I will become part of the intelligentsia contemplating the effects of being addicted to continuous access and multitasking. However, the group most affected by this change in behavior and definition of knowledge and wisdom, will likely remain unaware. The Internet Generation or Generation @ is too busy to notice.