Title: Here and Now for Friday, October 23, 2009

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" I'm -- young it's here and now and the political crisis over the disputed presidential election in Afghanistan is coming to ahead. Today the UN -- fraud investigation panel threw out hundreds of thousands of votes cast for President Hamid Karzai back in August. That drops -- I below 50%. The margin he needed to avoid a runoff against his main challenger the country's former foreign minister of Duma Duma. 'cause -- says he won Ference awareness threatened to block a second election. But today's news comes as the Obama administration signaled strongly over the weekend that it will send more troops to Afghanistan until the election is settled. And mine -- as the BBC's world affairs correspondent he joins us from London to sort through the song. And then to that question given Karzai's opposition to a runoff he said to be furious. About the idea is there a sense that it has to happen given this new report from the UN backed up front panel today."

" The Sonny's sense of that and and the message that President Karzai has been delivered. By many in the in the international community that he's got to follow electoral lol. And goes through to a second round vote which is a mandated under. The Afghan electoral rules so as you say the electoral complaints commission has been looking at the results of that selection taken back the end of August. And found them we -- told that term. President -- and dealt with fewer than the 50%. Facing needed to order a message to getting through. So runoff against the man who was placed in second place that's doctor Abdullah Abdullah former Afghan foreign minister. Is mandated NASA that's certainly what we're expecting but with that we get there or not I think remains potent because as you indicated there's a lot of opposition went from within the administration in Afghanistan."

" but it doesn't cars they have his own commission that's also looking into the election their their said to be the supreme authority."

" Europe's Iraq and there are two bodies that he basically the complaints commission their job is to look at the of the full T. Or suspected faulty voting records and I've got they -- front -- give an example of one of the polling stations when they found errors and this when they said they were a hundred. Percent to uniform markings Ali all the ballot papers a month in the same way. A 100% of the ballots were never folded. That rule marked with the same felt tip marker so and that's an indication of of the level of of fraud and corruption that took place. But Europe's Iraq there is an independent Electoral Commission. The appointees to that. Made by President Karzai and if she's -- to announce the election result. And we've been getting messages from the Afghan capital Kabul during the course of the past few days that they don't like the decision that's been made. By the complaints commission and that going to be very reluctant. To sign off its in this -- score in the election but as I say that is massive international pressure being applied. To the Afghan administration not least by the United States which as you said -- sitting on a decision. To send an additional 40000 troops to Afghanistan. But President Obama has said he went to that until the electoral position is now."

" What we read those comments from Obama officials but -- Obama administration officials but also from Senator John Kerry. In Kabul over the weekend saying things like Afghanistan. Doesn't have a credible government right now there is no allies so how can we be supporting an ally when there's no official ally. And indicating that that stands in the way of sending more troops. Instance the White House using the threat of withholding troops as leverage to get Karzai to act and have the runoff election or. Is just the White House using the Afghan presidential election as an excuse not to send troops because. Even if the new election is called it'll take months to carry out that would seem just pushed this controversial question of more troops down the road which politically. So let's say the Obama administration might embrace so how do you read this."

" Yeah I think their -- at least that is two ways you indicated reading this I think kept. Festival looking as genuine concern that if there isn't a coherent administration legally elected. In the international community headed of course by the United States which has most troops operating in the country. It's going to be very reluctant to commit more troops when things politically so uncertain but I think you'll undoubtedly right as well by indicating. That this is being used as a bit of a -- on the administration. Very straightforwardly if you -- into fall in line with this electoral result. Than win not gonna send troops and then it's a very stark message that's being sent them. And so I think as as a -- obviously going on behind the scenes and sending ambassadors hardee's ads. The United States represented he's been in and out of president Karzai's office and indeed the office of the the main second -- contender. Doctor Abdullah Abdullah. A pressing both men to try to find some sort of compromise and it has been suggested that may be a way out of this. It's to have some sort of interim administration. Calling on the expertise of of all the principles. A presidential candidates but that that term that would in the sense fly in the face of international of of Afghan electoral law which says they should be a runoff. And you talk about the timetable. In no question Robin and really according to the lol this runoff must take place. Within a full -- say time is pressing on told that the ballot papers who have already been. Printed but -- really the electoral authorities in Afghanistan and Iraq against the weather because the snow started to full high on the mountains cutting off. Some areas already and that position is -- gonna get worse. As the days go along so a large section of the electorate simply is gonna be ruled out from getting anywhere near polling station."

" Now because when we -- nose knows a current which will have -- in just a few weeks in the high mountain passes it's impossible to organizing conduct an election. And also people will again be sitting ducks for the Taliban and -- not the the BBC's world affairs correspondent tighten -- the sticky situation in Afghanistan is the UN report. -- fraud in the presidential election and thanks so much Bernanke. Well the US strategy in Afghanistan. Right now is based counter insurgency fighting insurgents. But also countering their power over people by building relationships with civilians helping them rebuild their country. Which -- what a group farmers from the midwest is trying to do in Afghanistan. There working with Afghan farmers and their livestock. And the sounds of an Afghan livestock market in Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan. Where army National Guard agribusiness development teams have been deployed. These are American farmers with degrees in agribusiness animal husbandry and engineering. But unlike ngos nongovernmental organizations. They are also soldiers with guns and they are targets."

" We just as we move forward. The whole front -- of the truck lifted debris was trying to find a window directly harassed me and when it hit him first thing in my mind was robbery all right."

" That was sergeant major Robert -- good -- of the Indiana national guard's 119. Agribusiness development team describing an IED attack -- his convoy. Everyone survived but some soldiers suffered from concussions that could cause brain trauma. Independent journalist I was -- spent a month in Afghanistan with the 119. And reported on it for Indiana public radio he joins us now with what he found Doug welcome nice to be here. Remind us why ladies agribusiness development teams as we're hearing it's very dangerous. He thinks that security would be number one. So why in agribusiness development team."

" Will that theory is we have to engage with the population. To begin to quell the insurgency. And these are areas where it's too Connecticut's too violent for standard ngos to go under development work now that's -- source of some conflict within the Ngo and a military communities."

" Will you go to market place and here have been here colonel Bryan Coates commander of the 119. Being the farmers so -- is both talking about farming but then being a soldier let's listen."

" How much for the shelled walnuts. -- 150 this. 500 will he simply have."

" Gotta go and Indiana farmers soldier negotiating a purchase of nuts and an Afghan marketplace that within minutes. His squad sounds a siren and he's got a got. Doug was saying is that pretty much the polls of the work."

" Yeah absolutely -- for instance to go to that market research trip was an incredibly tense mission. There were lots of IDs in that market assassination attempts. The security team had determined that we had literally seven minutes to dismount. From camera sees fast armored vehicles and everyone travels and now to protect themselves from IDs and there's gunners on top with. Machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. You're surrounded by a perimeter of security soldiers everyone's dressed in full body armor and helmets and he walk over and negotiate for tomatoes and nuts and you have seven minutes to get it done and because they figure the Taliban can't organize an attack in seven minutes."

" And by the way why even negotiate inferred tomatoes and not what was the importance to the team that firstly to determine what's the price what is the price for tomatoes -- the price for shelled walnuts for instance I think in this particular case walnuts were on a potential cash crop that they can help nurture and host province and so of them. Came from further north of post so they returned to determine what is it costs a lot of goods come from neighboring Pakistan so. What's the cost and what's the cost of production and SuSE a cash crop that they could help nurture. To help farmers increase their incomes incrementally within a siren goes off. -- time to get back in the truck and I I think. About the best summary I can come up with is a really difficult mission in a really complicated place and just took off what are some of the things the ADT teams are trying to do agricultural. There are involved with animal husbandry projects and in general there really focus on training helping the Afghan and extension agents go out into the field and teach people how to trim hoops for instance or to increase. -- and -- and vaccines. They're involved with small scale irrigation projects of in the villages in the mountains where. They slow the water down through the construction of small rock -- of villagers helped construct so they get some income. And they get something that they can maintain themselves as opposed to. Are really large capital project."

" Well as you say part of the job is to counter the power of the insurgency and again here's colonel Bryan Coates of the Indiana National Guard. I'm what he tells Afghans that he works with."

" What I see is knowledge is something that the Taliban cannot take away in won't last long after the coalition forces of going home and our money is running out. Knowledge is something the Taliban cannot blow for burned down."

" Doug coast province borders Pakistan it's under the control of Pashtun warlords it's known for the insurgents attacked and even saying just last month. A suicide bomber rammed a car into a military convoy. Staff sergeant Alex French the fourth and George who was killed clearly dangerous. Just and more about situation."

" There are some regions that are pretty much Taliban control its traditional place to resist. Infidels it was the first place host province where -- basically through the Soviets out during that war the pashtuns have a thousand year old warrior culture they've been doing this for a long time and were the latest infidels."

" Will -- and bouncing back and forth between the agricultural work that the troops do their and then soldiering that they do their because that's what the life is like and it just gonna go back to the -- for a second because. You traveled with them in these heavily armored vehicles the end -- which were built to try to resist these roadside bombs. And one. Bomb went off ahead of you in your convoy. Fortunately no one was killed but here's some radio chatter now everybody's on the alert looking for another trip wire insulin thinks they have -- let's listen."

" I got secondary purpose and they're good afternoon."

" In the radio call helped members of the EDT team avoid a second roadside bomb someone spotted the sun granting. On a trip wire. Farmers indeed their soldiers as well we're talking with -- listening an independent journalist embedded with the Indiana national guard's 119 agribusiness development team and host province Afghanistan. Well the south of Afghanistan is notorious for poppy fields that cash crop that fuels the drug trade and funds the Taliban. Farmers in host province mainly raised weeks and the American -- soldiers. The hearing about it trying to help them we're gonna hear more from Douglas England we come back. Later today -- medical homes and -- make they provide better medical care that's later but -- academic. With -- in here and now."

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" Welcome back to our conversation with independent journalists don't we think he's a month this summer and ended with the Indiana national guard's 119 that's the and of business development team working in host province along the border with Pakistan. In Afghanistan and -- Before the break we talked about the dangers these soldier farmers faces they try to build some goodwill with people by working with Afghan farmers. But these ADT's as they're called the agribusiness development teams. -- doing damage control human who is deputy commander colonel cinder chest -- to the village of Ali Diana. She met with farmers there extensively to talk about some problems they were having with bad seeds. But there's a huge back story here because -- idea was the site of one of the worst civilian casualties in the war tell us about that."

" Our mission to -- guy came after a really tragic situation where an Afghan army colonel's family which included a four day old baby -- was mistakenly killed by a special ops teams. We're chasing some Taliban. A mother was killed -- An Afghan teacher for girls in that village which is an incredible -- and we speak of building girls' schools all over Afghanistan. And a good number stand empty because there -- teachers for girls so this was multiple tragedy. The eighty -- was was attempting to determine -- testing kept using was we're going to -- show them some love and it was an effort by all of the military to try and make amends for this thing that it happened now I think that's really commendable. But we have to understand the issue of civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Is something that can lose us this war pretty easily even though the Taliban killed the majority of civilians. We're held a much higher standard and this is a major issue."

" Well and it can't help with the tension between the military and ngos the nongovernmental agencies. He spoke the Jamie Tur receipt of care."

" Coalition forces going make a mistake in a right. Kill one of -- teaches her daughter whose students and three of the family members including a four day old lady. Inside the house which was one of them classes at thunder really -- how -- understand how full day old baby he's -- Did you not look cool when you -- firing."

" It because it you know if it was. For any other reason people die all right Jamie Jersey of care Doug -- that's how she felt about a mistake on the part of special ops. How does she feel about these military hybrids we've been talking about the ADT's or agribusiness development teams they're both soldiers. And farmers doing the work of ngos."

" There is a real tension between the Ngo community and Afghanistan and the military over this issue. That is changing a little bit over time as the military is making an effort to to bond the ngos into some of their projects. The ngos contend that the military create problems for the ngos because then the Afghan insurgents can't make distinctions between the military and the ngos. And I think for some validity -- that the military responds. That they're doing work. Where is too violent for ngos to do much work and there's some validity in that where that balances. I'm not really certain."

" What did you think about the work of the in nineteen he worked alongside them sometimes it's hard to be critical when when bonds forged in the field but. Do you think that their work is bearing food or will bear fruit. I saw wonderful Rand study by Seth Jones were -- analyzed ninety post reward to counter insurgencies. And the average length of time it took to defeat in established this insurgency. Is fourteen years. The Indiana National Guard has made a five year commitment. To having. Agribusiness development teams in Khost Province which is really long commitment so first I liked the thought they -- long timeline secondly I like that they were trying to deal with. Afghan appropriate projects that were. Developed in partnership with the the farmers of host province. And they seemed to be sustainable projects they were low dollar project those kinds of things so. There's that and then the second thing is this team the first of this this is the first team. They understand they are gonna see the fruits of their labor they are literally making the connections are literally find out where is that village are literally. Saying this would be a good place for checked them. So if we think in a long. Time frame fifteen years. Three generations something like that yes I think there's -- potential if we. Talk about it in terms of the next American election cycle the next twelve to eighteen months no it's ridiculous. We won't see anything we will see small things we will see the beginning of trust let's let's not forget that the Afghans have seen us come and go quite a bit they're pretty jaded. We make a lot of promises that we don't keep. So you can clearly see trust building between. Afghan villagers and these soldiers you know you can deceive the interpersonal relations between them. But we have to maintain a longer commitment and the next cycle of strategy. I'm just thinking you said the Rand study showed counterinsurgency strategy take fourteen years were eight years into the war in Afghanistan would be. Well that would leave about six more. I don't think we can think about it that way unfortunately really talking about re ignition of the insurgency probably started -- 20052006. And we initially tried to deal with that with conventional warfare and really alienated population. We've always switch to a counterinsurgency strategy. Relatively recently when now that's moving down through the ranks you see. Commanders and soldiers and you know there's been a real acceptance it appears to me in among. The military -- counterinsurgency is the correct strategy can be as opposed to conventional warfare. So now I don't think we can say oh or eight years and we've only got sushi and slept that I wish I could say that."

" That stood with -- an independent journalist who spent a month the summer with the Indiana national guard's 119 agribusiness development team. And he's gonna return Afghanistan in November to. He didn't follow the money trail find out what happened to the estimated sixty billion dollars in US and international development money. In Afghanistan. Get we have to speak with you then thanks so much thank you. OK we have time for a couple of quick."

" Programming notes coming up later this week and here now we'll explore the secret lives of classical composers did you know that Wagner was that -- with women's underwear. And also this week former venture capitalist -- taking a page from the slow food movement calling for slow money he says invest in local businesses and farms. Watch your money grow a little slower why except the Wall Street status quo."

" Everything that we're dealing with right now in finance and agriculture and food it's all related has all happened in the last fifty to 75 years it just seems. Crazy that you could do something slower as a solution to all of us speed run amok."

" We cash on slow money later this week."

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" A Massachusetts high school is hoping to crackdown on student drinking by bringing in breath lighters. Other states use breath analyzer is an events Kansas as a state that uses specializes during the school day. But Foxboro high school will be the first to Massachusetts to try them if the school board signs off on their planned tonight. School officials said they made the decision after twelve incidents of under aged drinking last year. -- three at the doses the principal at Foxboro high school principal kid doesn't know you think that these -- elections will be used primarily -- school events but. What happens at the teacher thinks the students been drinking and it's during --"

" We're gonna use that normal policies will bring the student down. Have a conversation with -- to -- and then assess like we always do and have done in the past whether we think -- been use of alcohol again to. Keep as clean as possible and give the student the chance to be able state that they are innocent. We would administer the -- that's why don't anticipate using it very very often ignored going anticipate using it on a student. And multiple times."

" I you worry about liability are you worried about invasion of privacy issues because we invest allegedly used with adults they do. Have the right to refuse -- very state to state but. Wind adults are driving in -- they had the right to refuse and it might be a consequence. Or suspicion if there refuse but will kids have that same right."

" I guess that we'll retreating at the same ways that is the police would when they stop someone -- thinking that we're pretty confident when we accused of students of being involved and alcohol. And when that occurs we given the student opportunity to say that were."

" But what happens if they don't wanna take it."

" Out of the same punishment would apply Quebec gets my arguments like we do not wanna take it."

" So what would the punishment be if they don't take."

" It would be a suspension -- per of the hymn book policy well."

" And what with a punishment be if they have been drinking."

" Same thing for five days suspension. Ended it is inability to attend extracurricular activities for two we. And again we're trying to -- the school issue and not necessarily. The police issue."

" Rule and we do understand to that he you have a much lower threshold it's gonna be reading of zero point 02 would mean a student had been drinking with adults it's zero point 08."

" Right world don't forget debts debts under the influence the school committee policy is that he -- and any drinking all and so we're just trying to. Be proactive and I think the other pieces that you know can't get a call on -- changed the rules of the game. And we you know we spend countless hours developing policy for the eventuality of any kind of problems it could occur from an emergency situation in this school. And so this is just so again another step to be pro active not necessarily to infringe upon students to get delegates that's that's the last tool we would use in the in the U you know. Discovery process."

" The ACLU has said they think this is terrible idea because they think it's gonna drive students to use drugs instead of alcohol because. Alcohol is easier to detect or drink in the near where they can't be found by the school -- you read about that driving an underground."

" I mean. You know what you're always try to stay a step ahead of the students because they'll always find ways to to. We circumstances. And get around situations so you can only control of many reacted each and and -- we know that drinking and driving is problematic and we're just trying to. Speed again as proactive as we can with another tool belt so -- diagnosed with situations."

" You know I'm wondering principles the dose people across the country might be -- in Foxboro high school Foxborough is not the home of the New England Patriots. Who thrashed Tennessee yesterday at 590 around intricate game -- you are football town. And even receding concerns about. Adults leaving the game. Is that to rub off on the school that you might have a little more are issues about drinking just because -- the seat of the big football team."

" Yeah I I would say -- it is certainly. Things is still into the community not necessarily from people who were in a community which is people going to the events hosted by faux pearl. So I I think that our problem is is the universal problem I don't have a sense it's a tremendous problem and so again. We're just gonna put too little of more."

" My -- everything it does principle of Foxboro high school principal did us thanks so much again speaking -- Crisis some analysts think they should rationalize. Every -- the game but that's another story we -- dear your thoughts on this or anything on the program go to here's -- dot org. And you can click on contact us to sending email or hit a phone number at all we can just hold on the home -- and leave a comment right there. He -- to hear from you the second thirty seconds here and now."

" Several states including Pennsylvania Wisconsin in California. Our pioneering something called medical homes now are not real homes it's a concept. Of keeping medical records all in one place. And having one primary care physician manage a team of professionals. That may include a nurse practitioner or mental health worker. Working to execute a single care plan created by the primary care doctor. In part to prevent overlapping care like one specialist ordering a test it's already been done. North Carolina has adopted this model statewide Vermont is moving towards that congress is considering adopting it nationwide. The Obama administration just announced increased funding for medical homes to Medicare. I could partly be because. Groups like group health which runs medical homes and Ohio published report claiming greater patient and physician satisfaction. Less use of emergency rooms. And lower costs with medical homes Kenneth Thorpe that helped design the program in the money's also a health policy and management professor at the Rollins school of public health. At Emory university in Georgia. Kenneth -- tell us more of these medical homes work."

" We'll share it Europe patient could be a Medicare patient blue cross patient. Are you would have a our on going relationship with a primary care provider. That primary care provider would be responsible for leading a team of other providers to make sure that you get the -- that you need whether it's at home. A hospital in the physician's office. The key is to have somebody in charge for coordinating the care."

" Right now what happens is your doctor might we refer you. To someone else and then you go off to that other doctor and they're not necessarily connected."

" Now that's exactly right so -- Medicare patient for example may see seven different specialists and Ford from practices during a year and none of that care is generally coordinated so going to different specialists that's specialists may not know. What medications Iran what other problems you may have. -- so physically for patients driving health care spending the system which is chronically ill patients moving toward a medical home model I think is absolutely essential to improving quality and reducing costs."

" Well let's hear from doctor Joyce -- and she's a family physician in light bill Vermont one of the first doctors to be involved in a medical home pilot project in Vermont. She told us about a chronic care coordinator on one of her teens. Let's listen to how this nurse held an older woman who is having trouble keeping track of her medications."

" She was able to sit down with the warm and she developed a color coded medication. List where she could. X what their -- took them. It was me mind about what they rebuked for it and now the woman she's understanding much more I would these medications -- for how to take them."

" Well -- a Kenneth Thorpe if you bring in for instance a chronic care coordinator helping the position coordinate isn't costing not."

" We have to recognize that most health plans in the private sector in -- Medicaid are already pay for care management today and that Vermont examples -- illustration. Those are community health teams that nurses nurse practitioners. Social mental health workers. Hi everybody shares in the costs of this community help team so it turns out to actually be I had no more expensive -- plans are paying today in many cases less expensive."

" Point when you say everybody shares in the costly means that."

" The community and help team may have five or six different professionals. And the salaries of that team are paid for by blue cross and Cigna and the Medicaid program will lower --"

" is key to I'm just curious because that gets us into the date of feed versus salary. So you're saying that these people are salaried they're being paid any way. As opposed to getting a fee each time they work with the patient."

" Exactly right. They don't have to worry about billing what's covered what's not covered that team member gets to go to work with a patient and did drop that they're trained to do."

" Well and -- down within also told about a patient that she had been telling to lose weight for years. And it wasn't until the medical home team approach started that the person actually last week because they had a nutritionist. A community health educator this patient lost 24 pounds and attributed to. This extra push that she got from this team but I can just hear someone saying -- babysitting we shouldn't be spending money. Telling people to implement their care plan. How much money do we save because they do."

" In general the estimates are that we could save about five to 7% are the costs of health care if we did this nationally. In the best examples I can give does that if you are really -- that patient to make sure that they're filling and refilling their prescriptions. Keeping their blood sugar under control and we can reduce certain admission rates at a hospital. We can probably by 50% reduce readmission rates. And at a house -- well so it's just good primary care that just doesn't happen in today's health care system."

" I'm wondering if the medical homes are better or worse. For rural areas how -- rural physician gonna put together a medical home how are they going have access to that other members of the team more specialists."

" In the states have done this for -- North Carolina the state has put together a big teams. And that physicians can or cannot use them it's up to down. If they do used and they get a little bit of an additional per member per month payment the most physician practices -- find these teams are very helpful and are basically a free extension of their medical practice they do all the follow up care with the patients that -- positions generally don't have time to do and there -- big benefit for a smaller physician practices that operate. In rural areas."

" Well one -- for the physicians who are taking on the role of sort of the team leader. How much extra work is this."

" It is actual work putting together care plan and in Vermont for every patient and that physicians practice. Here she would receive about a dollar fifty per person per month in recognition that they're probably gonna see fewer patients. A good thing I think because again it's a physician now more time to make sure the patients in their practice. Are improving and not getting worse but we have enough primary care physicians -- it. Positive points and -- I think most of the primary care is delivered in this model is done by nurse practitioners."

" Why -- we just be cleared these nurses or nurse practitioners. And other members of the health care team may be a dietitian or nutritionist. Might be salary based as we said paid for by insurance companies -- states. But under the current system doctors -- personal care physicians are paid by fees so say each time a patient comes into the office -- repaid. But they're not paid an extra fees for after care so they have no financial incentive right now to do."

" That's exactly right and Medicare is sort of the worst example of this. 95% of what we spend in the Medicare program is linked to patients with multiple chronic conditions diabetes high blood pressure and so -- In that today if physician may put together a care plan that patient. The patient goes home and there's no follow up care a largely because of physician practices busy. And be Medicare doesn't pay for that follow up care so you know that's just a major shortcoming in the Medicare program. That is being discussed as part of health care reform that is to build these community health teams nationally and provide a mechanism that when that patient does go home. That they care plan is sexy cute it. We can keep the patient out of the hospital. -- that there -- admitted to the hospital today in the Medicare program 20% of patients. Who are admitted to hospital are readmitted. Within thirty days and we can probably cut that in half by using this care coordination medical home approach."

" But Kenneth Thorpe a professor of health policy and management at the -- school of public health and Emory university in Georgia. Also was health official in the Clinton administration and helped implement the new model of medical care called medical homes. In Vermont."

" Can't -- for telling us about it well thanks for having down. -- that in a minute with a balloon boy update here and."

" Support for here and now comes in part from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. Information gates foundation dot org."

" Welcome back restart with just a quick news -- note about the story that's now officially been reduced to balloon blowing. The lawyer for the parents of felt and he say. He's expecting charges -- he's expecting charges to be filed by Wednesday and that the parents will plead not guilty. Yesterday the Laramie county Colorado sheriff announced he'd seek charges after being convinced. That the story of the six year old floating away in helium balloon was a hoax slash marketing ploy from the parents. To add to their potential legal woes a web site gawker dot com is joining emails from a colleague of Richard -- The emails which -- paid for our headlined. I -- Richard he need planned a balloon hoax. That and the fact that his son said on CNN. We did all of this for a show."

" Oh."

" During the only fifteen to nearly sixteen centuries Portugal was a major global power of building an empire out of the spice trade. Much of Europe got rare items such as pepper from Portuguese ships but eventually the -- traders moved in Portuguese influenced faded from the world stage and from the kitchen. Outside of immigrant -- such as Fall River, Massachusetts. Portuguese cuisine is well known -- Spanish or Italian fare. But food author and Fall River native data delete wants to change that his cookbook from new -- he's table. Normally gives a taste of the classic cuisine of Portugal but also explores the new vibrant flavors that the country -- used to update old favorites. Here -- as a resident chef -- guns recently talked to David about the book they met for lunch. And a task not a Portuguese restaurant in Cambridge mass teaches a bit of a rarity for David. He told Kathy when he was growing up put it restaurants where elect comment on the reasons why he thinks that Portuguese cuisine is more well known."

" We have a culture of eating at home. A meeting grandmothers moms -- we never eat out. So the idea of actually sitting in a restaurant I didn't eat -- rest until I was eleven years old. It's a Chinese press but now things have changed I think people becoming more -- with Portugal as they travel there because all her. Before we begin to talk about the book introduces two elements that distinguished classic Portuguese cuisine short. Classic which is was he uses a lot of the ingredients that Spanish that's -- we use it in different ways -- that some of the major ingredients are salt cod. And tomatoes and garlic. A lot of onions so -- was -- as a matter of fact I believe Portugal is. That's one of the biggest distinction as -- between Portuguese cooking and Spanish cooking is we use more -- far -- salon. And pork also is very big and also of course that the use of -- We have. All these miles and miles of coast and of course the Portuguese were the great navigators of the world so seafood place a very very important role in our food. When I think report he's cooking I think of one food and it's green. And he's beloved hated and that would be came out absolutely scale is huge in Portugal it's called call collect which is -- And it is used in some -- but of course the most famous is called it. Which is the -- consume it's what people consider the national dish of Portugal which -- scale. And potatoes. And abroad and it's puree and the careless -- the whisker thin pieces -- With one and only one piece. She beast which of the sausage and my mother always said not one place to put -- minimal."

" You grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts which you call America's biggest little Portugal. -- it was a big part of your childhood and yet you weren't necessarily interested in the traditional Portuguese cooking until later in life."

" Exactly growing up I I always said that I just want to be blonde hair blue light have a last name of Abernethy or something like that. -- just did not want to be Portuguese. Because we lived in eighty. I guess for lack of a better -- reports these -- everyone I -- was Portuguese every store we went to was Portuguese. And I didn't wanna eat all the strange things all this -- and all these. These smelly fish I want to McDonald's and there was no mcdonalds and folder or when I was growing up. And it wasn't until my grandmother died I was 32 years old. That some of the dishes -- with her and I realized that they were gone completely my heritage was quickly leaving. And my mother had her versions of those dishes but they just weren't the same because my -- have to make an effort sixty something years seventy something years I guess. And I realized I had to start. Understanding the food and saliva can learn how to cook. My mom stitches on stitches. And I just became so enamored when I went to Portugal for the first time to some McKelvey my family's from. And began falling in love that it was a slow. Courtship have to admit -- to write it personally what all this major epiphany took a little while."

" So now you've written this book -- the new Portuguese cable where you really introduced us to some very modern vibrant food I spent some time in Portugal about 25 years ago. And it's I was leafing through the thought there was a lot I didn't recognize."

" What's happening is so many things have changed in Portugal there's been this infusion an influx of ingredients and -- smaller on the world. And local chefs went and studied in I know once and who studied in Pittsburgh one started in new war when it started in in this Sydney Australia. And they brought back a lot of things they learn of course Italy. And what's interesting is. The Portugal turned its back on Europe after the age of discovery when they suddenly lost their empires two the abduction and the English and other people. And I think this kind of the awakening I would say that. And the -- of discovery ports will discover the world and now the world -- favor because of -- come in Portugal. And so all these ingredients are being used in different ways of being combined in different ways. And the chefs who have learned and trained across the world to bring back some interest in techniques and and looking at the food differently but they're not losing. There they're bearing they're not losing their their sense of homeland."

" Just wanted to mention a few of these this is because when you read through these recipes some of them sound familiar but they're not recognizable as Portuguese for instance. Like a -- actually the crab salad. We have black -- recent down. Yum yum yum but -- tickets. Yes and what it is is each one of those are based on something else too -- to spots it was based on a dish which is called can engage in new -- Which is crap and carriage in what it is it's crap -- out with some chopped apples all mixed up and served in its body. And the east and spoon out well the same basic flavors are in the -- so that's in that spot some spots it was huge Portugal. This is -- with almonds and of course almonds are huge -- And then the black color Soto is really don't mind as to what goes on -- because we have a lot of breaks there olives are huge in Portugal. And I think it marries the Portuguese with the Italian survey shows I think -- the poster child. For modern Portuguese cookie because it's an infusion of of Italian and Portuguese and it's showing. The Portuguese -- being used in very usual way. Up here comes oh look. This is classic classic Portuguese now what you have Kathy is uncle held under the age. Which is -- fish do its nightly business sentiment among fish and potatoes a little bit of tomato -- parts -- this is a classic distances for -- from John which is from the Allen -- which is the big swap in the south. And it's chunks of -- with clams. And an -- department now it's like pepper sauce red peppers Serrano peppers us with salt and they bright chunks of potatoes and the total to get. And that's. Where I'm kind of my family would collect votes and culture this in the where he. Lets it that it. And."

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