It has been determined that a recipe existing as a list of ingredients and basic instructions is an idea and by definition an idea is in the mind, thus a thought; and according to copyright law you cannot copyright an idea or a thought. You can, however, copyright the tangible expression of that idea. This not only makes sense but is also consistent with my very strong belief that a recipe should constantly evolve. In many instances, ingredients and ingredient amounts are suggestions only, subject to individual taste and whim. Today I might feel spicy - maybe tomorrow, not so much. Even in baking, there are some items that are negotiable. In addition, the tangible expression that accompanies the list of ingredients and basic instructions should reflect the idea's potential, not its unyielding, black-and-white set of demands framed on the page. In every recipe there are aspects that are only ideas; thoughts with potential.

We should take this lesson and apply it to Life. Be it a policy manual at work or a club charter or an edict from on high or childcare or education or healthcare or politics or religion or Justice or Capitalism or just the way we've always done things, we can do better. If we can (as we should) take a recipe and treat it as a thought in order to make it better tomorrow, perhaps we can apply that attitude to today as well - treat today as a thought, an idea, to inspire a better tomorrow. To truly live this though one must also willingly let go of yesterday's fluff carrying forward only those aspects of change that can make the recipe (or today) better. Fluff includes pretense, ego, and power. No matter how much I want it to be right, if the breading on the cauliflower is (even just a little bit) soggy, it's soggy.

Today, the breading on America is (more than just a little bit) soggy.