I mean "Expecting to Fly" a "sixties recogning" by Martha Tod Dudman. It is another one of those tell-all, coming of age book by a bright young woman, who talks about her adolescent experience with drugs and sex.
I had two reasons to read this one. First, because Dudman grew up in Washington DC (in fact in Cleveland Park), and I was interested in what life was like for teenagers here in the 1960s. Secondly, because her father was the Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, whose articles I read growing up, and about whom I was interested to read (from his daughter's vantage point).
Well, it was not much about Richard Dudman (although it brought back memories about his being captured in Cambodia during the war), and not at all about St. Louis, which did not seem to be in Martha's consciousness. And, I guess there is some redeeming social value to the book, as she left her wasted adolescence behind and apparently became a normal wife/mother in Maine (although the book ends the summer after her first year at college). What you did see was that she began to realize that things had to change during her college years, and you could see how these new feelings began to overtake the old, giving her promise of escaping from what was most likely the deadest of dead end lives.
But was the book necessary? Probably not. And what will her children and grandchildren think when they read it?
Oh, well.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
An idea for the Bush administration (3 cents)
I went to a soprano/piano concert yesterday at Epiphany Church. The performers were both Levine School faculty members with impressive resumes. When I looked at the program, I was intrigued because I had no familiarity whatsoever with the music. It was all by an American composer, now 55 years old, named Libby Larsen, and the program consisted of 17 songs (from various cycles) about the American west, a substantial number of which were based on the writing of Edith Wharton.
The soprano had a very unusual voice. It was a husky soprano voice. The pianist was terrific.
The music was very twentieth century. Which means that, on first hearing, for me it was totally meaningless. Perhaps if I heard it several times, I would feel differently, but I was quite uncomfortable throughout the concert (with only occasional moments of relief) .
How to explain it: try rap music, sung by an operatic soprano with a husky voice, with only piano accompaniment, and no rhythm at all. Does that make sense?
Then it occurred to me, and this is my idea for the Bush administration. Maybe let the prisoners sleep four or five hours in silence but otherwise play a recording of this concert (at a volume a little too loud) into each cell. Can this be criticized?
The soprano had a very unusual voice. It was a husky soprano voice. The pianist was terrific.
The music was very twentieth century. Which means that, on first hearing, for me it was totally meaningless. Perhaps if I heard it several times, I would feel differently, but I was quite uncomfortable throughout the concert (with only occasional moments of relief) .
How to explain it: try rap music, sung by an operatic soprano with a husky voice, with only piano accompaniment, and no rhythm at all. Does that make sense?
Then it occurred to me, and this is my idea for the Bush administration. Maybe let the prisoners sleep four or five hours in silence but otherwise play a recording of this concert (at a volume a little too loud) into each cell. Can this be criticized?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Primary Day in DC
Years ago, a candidate for mayor was tacking up his own posters in our neighborhood, wearing an "I Love Boston" shirt (we live in DC). I couldn't believe it, and told him so.
Today, driving down Connecticut Avenue, I see a man holding a very large Linda Cropp sign, wearing a New York Yankees cap.
I don't get it.
Today, driving down Connecticut Avenue, I see a man holding a very large Linda Cropp sign, wearing a New York Yankees cap.
I don't get it.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Today or, rather, Yesterday (2 cents)
1. Rock Creek Park. Traffic was very bad this morning through Rock Creek Park, although it began to move fairly well near the zoo. But then there was a major back up south of Calvert Street that did not seem to have an explanation. But, as usual, the Rock Creek commuters were all very polite to each other, allowing incoming traffic to cut in on an alternate car basis.
One disturbing item, however. Some young father had put his young son in a child's bicycle street (with helmets) and decided to take a ride down, first Broad Branch, and then Beach Avenue, through the park during rush hour. Why on earth would anyone do this on these narrow, winding, two lane roads, with no shoulders, with a young child?
Finally, the slow traffic gave me one more opportunity to ask myself whether the District (or more properly, perhaps, the U.S. Park Service)should change the sign that points to Peirce Mill, but calls it Pierce Mill, so that the spelling is correct? Which then leads to the questions (a) what is all that construction around the waterfall at Peirce Mill about, anyway?, and (b) what is going on with the mill building itself? I remember when they actually used to grind and sell corn; that was quite a treat, to see the waterwheel going, and so forth. I also remember when the art gallery was used for special exhibits, but I don't think that happens either.
2. Gas Prices. Why could it be that gas prices yesterday on Route 40 between Baltimore City and Ellicott City were about 40 cents a gallon less than gas prices in northwest DC? It can't just be the difference in applicable taxes; DC and Maryland are historically much more aligned.
3. 9/11. This is 9/11, and the 5 year anniversary of the attack. I understand remembering the attack and memorializing the victims, but can't that be done with a minute or two of silence, rather than through the monopolizing of every radio station and newscast, and a bevy of programs all around the country? The newspaper this morning listed what must have been twenty different programs here alone; and I am sure there are more.
4. Garlic. Last night I had supper with a friend at the Shanghai Garden, where the food is always good. He ordered garlic eggplant. I had some and, true to all of my recent experience, it took me hours to fall asleep. This is what garlic does to me. In reading websites about garlic and sleep, I find that while there appears to be evidence of a connection, the experts differ as to whether garlic keeps you up, or puts you to sleep. Huh?
One disturbing item, however. Some young father had put his young son in a child's bicycle street (with helmets) and decided to take a ride down, first Broad Branch, and then Beach Avenue, through the park during rush hour. Why on earth would anyone do this on these narrow, winding, two lane roads, with no shoulders, with a young child?
Finally, the slow traffic gave me one more opportunity to ask myself whether the District (or more properly, perhaps, the U.S. Park Service)should change the sign that points to Peirce Mill, but calls it Pierce Mill, so that the spelling is correct? Which then leads to the questions (a) what is all that construction around the waterfall at Peirce Mill about, anyway?, and (b) what is going on with the mill building itself? I remember when they actually used to grind and sell corn; that was quite a treat, to see the waterwheel going, and so forth. I also remember when the art gallery was used for special exhibits, but I don't think that happens either.
2. Gas Prices. Why could it be that gas prices yesterday on Route 40 between Baltimore City and Ellicott City were about 40 cents a gallon less than gas prices in northwest DC? It can't just be the difference in applicable taxes; DC and Maryland are historically much more aligned.
3. 9/11. This is 9/11, and the 5 year anniversary of the attack. I understand remembering the attack and memorializing the victims, but can't that be done with a minute or two of silence, rather than through the monopolizing of every radio station and newscast, and a bevy of programs all around the country? The newspaper this morning listed what must have been twenty different programs here alone; and I am sure there are more.
4. Garlic. Last night I had supper with a friend at the Shanghai Garden, where the food is always good. He ordered garlic eggplant. I had some and, true to all of my recent experience, it took me hours to fall asleep. This is what garlic does to me. In reading websites about garlic and sleep, I find that while there appears to be evidence of a connection, the experts differ as to whether garlic keeps you up, or puts you to sleep. Huh?
Sunday, September 10, 2006
What Took Me So Long? (12 cents)
It is now Sunday night, and I have not had an entry since last Wednesday. Not sure why. At any rate....
1. Baseball. We went to see the Nationals beat the Cardinals at a Wednesday day game. The Nats won two of the three game series, continuing to do well at home. Then, they flew to Denver and lost four straight to the Rockies, although scoring 28 runs. They gotta get their act together.
2. Art. On Thursday, I went to the National Gallery and went on the docent tour of the exhibition of Venetian Art, 1500-1530. I had been at the exhibit twice before, but for the first time realized that 1500-1530 meant just what it says: all this art was completed within a 30 year period. The tour was good because it gave a little more historical context (the build up of Venice, its wealth and art patronage, the development of large wealthy controlling families, the loss of its eastern market when Constantinople fell in 1452, the jealosy of the remainder of Italy and the formation of the Cambrai league to keep Venice from expanding inland), and described the major artists (Bellini, Georgioni, Titian). Bellini was old in 1500 (about 70), his pupil Georgioni died at a young age of the plague, etc. We learned about certain techniques (how in Venice, the artists drew outlines on the canvas, or wood, while in Florence, they drew the designs first on separate paper). We learned about the placement of characters, the direction in which they looked, curtains of honor behind the central characters, and so forth. We learned about the donors who commissioned the paintings and how they were painted in with the saints and holy family. We learned that Joseph was always painted old, so it would be clear that he could not have been the father. Unfortunately, the hour exhibit was an hour old, when the leader was only about 1/3 through the paintings and announced that he appeared to be running overtime. I left at that point, and headed back to work.
3. Books. I finally finished "Grace and Power" by Sally Bedell Smith. If you read Seymour Hersh's "The Dark Side of Camelot", this book is a good companion piece, going over much the same ground, but concentrating on Jackie as well as Jack. What a different time it was then: it would be hard to conceive of a president with as many girls and affairs as Jack had (Bill Clinton looks like a monk in comparison) today with the press remaining silent; it is impossible to imagine how much time the Kennedys spent away from the White House (together or apart): Virginia, Camp David, Europe, Hyannisport, Florida; it is impossible to imagine how much socializing they did with their friends, going to restaurants, house parties, weekend getaways, and so forth, staying out until 2 or 3 in the morning. None of this could happen today.
4. Restaurants. Another nice meal at Arucola on Wednesday, and tonight, we ate at the Double T Diner in Ellicott city, with relatives. Six people, under $100 with tip, and good food. Go figure. Not elegant, however.
1. Baseball. We went to see the Nationals beat the Cardinals at a Wednesday day game. The Nats won two of the three game series, continuing to do well at home. Then, they flew to Denver and lost four straight to the Rockies, although scoring 28 runs. They gotta get their act together.
2. Art. On Thursday, I went to the National Gallery and went on the docent tour of the exhibition of Venetian Art, 1500-1530. I had been at the exhibit twice before, but for the first time realized that 1500-1530 meant just what it says: all this art was completed within a 30 year period. The tour was good because it gave a little more historical context (the build up of Venice, its wealth and art patronage, the development of large wealthy controlling families, the loss of its eastern market when Constantinople fell in 1452, the jealosy of the remainder of Italy and the formation of the Cambrai league to keep Venice from expanding inland), and described the major artists (Bellini, Georgioni, Titian). Bellini was old in 1500 (about 70), his pupil Georgioni died at a young age of the plague, etc. We learned about certain techniques (how in Venice, the artists drew outlines on the canvas, or wood, while in Florence, they drew the designs first on separate paper). We learned about the placement of characters, the direction in which they looked, curtains of honor behind the central characters, and so forth. We learned about the donors who commissioned the paintings and how they were painted in with the saints and holy family. We learned that Joseph was always painted old, so it would be clear that he could not have been the father. Unfortunately, the hour exhibit was an hour old, when the leader was only about 1/3 through the paintings and announced that he appeared to be running overtime. I left at that point, and headed back to work.
3. Books. I finally finished "Grace and Power" by Sally Bedell Smith. If you read Seymour Hersh's "The Dark Side of Camelot", this book is a good companion piece, going over much the same ground, but concentrating on Jackie as well as Jack. What a different time it was then: it would be hard to conceive of a president with as many girls and affairs as Jack had (Bill Clinton looks like a monk in comparison) today with the press remaining silent; it is impossible to imagine how much time the Kennedys spent away from the White House (together or apart): Virginia, Camp David, Europe, Hyannisport, Florida; it is impossible to imagine how much socializing they did with their friends, going to restaurants, house parties, weekend getaways, and so forth, staying out until 2 or 3 in the morning. None of this could happen today.
4. Restaurants. Another nice meal at Arucola on Wednesday, and tonight, we ate at the Double T Diner in Ellicott city, with relatives. Six people, under $100 with tip, and good food. Go figure. Not elegant, however.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Kennedy and Bernstein (2 cents)
I am reading Sally Bedell Smith's book "Grace and Power", about Jack and Jackie Kennedy, and I am sitting here looking at the PBS special on Leonard Bernstein. Needless to say, Jack Kennedy and Leonard Bernstein were both extraordinary people in a number of ways (Bernstein being the one with talent and charisma; Kennedy with power and charisma).
But what I am thinking about today is their circles of friends and acquaintences. They knew everyone who was anyone. Without exception. How different it must be to be in that position.
They interviewed Bernstein's three children (or perhaps it was three of Bernstein's children, I don't know), and they talk about growing up in the Bernstein house, where there were always talented people coming and going, and where they all were having a good (no, great) time. The Kennedy White House (and other Kennedy venues) was the same.
But what I am thinking about today is their circles of friends and acquaintences. They knew everyone who was anyone. Without exception. How different it must be to be in that position.
They interviewed Bernstein's three children (or perhaps it was three of Bernstein's children, I don't know), and they talk about growing up in the Bernstein house, where there were always talented people coming and going, and where they all were having a good (no, great) time. The Kennedy White House (and other Kennedy venues) was the same.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Thoughts of a Labor Day Weekend (12 cents)
Friday evening: delicious halibut dinner at home.
Saturday: the Paul Klee exhibit at the Phillips. The exhibit is quite extensive, and is titled "Klee in America". That's because it concentrates on the 100 or more Klee paintings in the United States. The signage unfortunately concentrated more on provenance (how that particular painting got from there to here: Klee was never in America), rather than what it was supposed to signify. How to describe the intricate, mainly line drawings? One of his American angels described it best: caricature, mysticism, and a wonderful sense of color. My wife read that, as a young man, he was a househusband. Perhaps this explains much of the childlike nature of much of his work. A few of the works are in the Phillips collection: One called "Arab Song" and one "Young Moe"; they may be the two best known works in the show. The show is about to end; the gift shop has sold out of soft cover catalogs.
Next to the Klee exhibit, there is an exhibit of children's art (American and Japanese) and a couple of works done by Klee and by Picasso when they were children. Some of this work, by very young children, is exceptional. My own artistic ability, I am happy to say, is about on a par with the five year old Klee.
We then wandered the remainder of the museum, which is extremely nice, and comfortable, as they do not overload the walls with works of art, but give each one a little breathing room. Mainly impressionist and later, we should go back more often. (But, of course, it costs)
Saturday evening: Baseball. We saw the Nats beat the Diamondbacks 5-3 in the second game of a day-night double header. The afternoon game had been postponed from a rained out Friday. The crowd was fairly spare. We liked our new center fielder, Nook Logan, who snagged a fly ball from nowhere (he did the same thing, but even more spectacularly on Sunday)
Sunday: We drove to Baltimore to see the Baltimore Antiques Show. Over 500 exhibitors. It only lasts three days. Everything for sale is of the highest quality, and priced more than accordingly. Can it be worth it to all these vendors to pack up, come, unpack, and leave for just three days? We are talking about some people with furniture; others with large amounts of crystal, glassware, china, and so forth? We bought nothing. What could we possibly need? But it was very interesting to walk around.
Sunday evening: Dinner in Little Italyin Baltimore. La Tavola. We each had opa, a Hawaiian fish, and a salad. It was not cheap, but quite good. The restaurant is very nice: dressy casual. The restaurant is dressy; the customers are casual.
We then drove a bit around Fells Point and beyond, and then Federal Hill, remarking on the differences between Baltimore and Washington, and thinking we need more driving time.
Monday: it is page to stage time at the Kennedy Center, the free readings of plays to be performed over the course of the year by theaters all over town. The Theater J play is Either/Or by Thomas Keneally of Schindler's List fame. It deals with a theological student who opposes the Nazis but joins the SS to be a "witness" after he learns that his sister in law has been murdered as being a defective. He becomes not only a witness, but a reticent participant. And then the war is open. Is he guilty of anything, or was he trying to do whatever he could? It is not being performed until the spring, but I think will be good.
Monday evening: dinner at Logan Tavern. A salad salmon for me. The salad better than the salmon, but I don't think that they got fresh salmon on Labor Day.
Saturday: the Paul Klee exhibit at the Phillips. The exhibit is quite extensive, and is titled "Klee in America". That's because it concentrates on the 100 or more Klee paintings in the United States. The signage unfortunately concentrated more on provenance (how that particular painting got from there to here: Klee was never in America), rather than what it was supposed to signify. How to describe the intricate, mainly line drawings? One of his American angels described it best: caricature, mysticism, and a wonderful sense of color. My wife read that, as a young man, he was a househusband. Perhaps this explains much of the childlike nature of much of his work. A few of the works are in the Phillips collection: One called "Arab Song" and one "Young Moe"; they may be the two best known works in the show. The show is about to end; the gift shop has sold out of soft cover catalogs.
Next to the Klee exhibit, there is an exhibit of children's art (American and Japanese) and a couple of works done by Klee and by Picasso when they were children. Some of this work, by very young children, is exceptional. My own artistic ability, I am happy to say, is about on a par with the five year old Klee.
We then wandered the remainder of the museum, which is extremely nice, and comfortable, as they do not overload the walls with works of art, but give each one a little breathing room. Mainly impressionist and later, we should go back more often. (But, of course, it costs)
Saturday evening: Baseball. We saw the Nats beat the Diamondbacks 5-3 in the second game of a day-night double header. The afternoon game had been postponed from a rained out Friday. The crowd was fairly spare. We liked our new center fielder, Nook Logan, who snagged a fly ball from nowhere (he did the same thing, but even more spectacularly on Sunday)
Sunday: We drove to Baltimore to see the Baltimore Antiques Show. Over 500 exhibitors. It only lasts three days. Everything for sale is of the highest quality, and priced more than accordingly. Can it be worth it to all these vendors to pack up, come, unpack, and leave for just three days? We are talking about some people with furniture; others with large amounts of crystal, glassware, china, and so forth? We bought nothing. What could we possibly need? But it was very interesting to walk around.
Sunday evening: Dinner in Little Italyin Baltimore. La Tavola. We each had opa, a Hawaiian fish, and a salad. It was not cheap, but quite good. The restaurant is very nice: dressy casual. The restaurant is dressy; the customers are casual.
We then drove a bit around Fells Point and beyond, and then Federal Hill, remarking on the differences between Baltimore and Washington, and thinking we need more driving time.
Monday: it is page to stage time at the Kennedy Center, the free readings of plays to be performed over the course of the year by theaters all over town. The Theater J play is Either/Or by Thomas Keneally of Schindler's List fame. It deals with a theological student who opposes the Nazis but joins the SS to be a "witness" after he learns that his sister in law has been murdered as being a defective. He becomes not only a witness, but a reticent participant. And then the war is open. Is he guilty of anything, or was he trying to do whatever he could? It is not being performed until the spring, but I think will be good.
Monday evening: dinner at Logan Tavern. A salad salmon for me. The salad better than the salmon, but I don't think that they got fresh salmon on Labor Day.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Mark Stein
I am not sure who Mark Stein is. He seems to be a Canadian journalist with a British accent. He seems to be very conservative in his politics. He seems to believe he knows everything. He apparently took Rush Limbaugh's place for two weeks last month. He may have something to do with the "National Review". He was on C-Span this morning.
Here is what I think. This man has (1) the best speaking voice imaginable, and (2) probably the best command of the English language, syntax and vocabulary, of anyone I have heard in a long time.
Here is what I think. This man has (1) the best speaking voice imaginable, and (2) probably the best command of the English language, syntax and vocabulary, of anyone I have heard in a long time.
Some of us are just born record-keepers (4 cents)
I am in my local liquor store, buying our Friday night wine. An obviously homeless man, not particularly well spoken, points to a small bottle of gin behind the counter and say something like: "That 'n". He pulls out some single family bills and a few quarters and pennies and counts out the few dollars needed to acquire his half pint bottle. The clerk puts the money into the register and closes the door. The man stares at the clerk. The clerk look's back with a half quizzical, and half worried look. The man breaks the stare first, and says: "Don't I get a receipt?".
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The Amalfi Coat is a Beautiful Place
Its hills are as high as ever, I am sure. But the Amalfi Restaurant in Rockville has gone downhill, it would seem. Years ago, we had consistently good food there, but Sunday night, the most descriptively accurate word would be 'mediocre'. Is this typical? Was the kitchen staff having a bad day, or celebrating an August vacation? Have our expectations changed, or our taste buds?
We may never find out.
We may never find out.
Graham Hancock (45 cents)
The only thing that is not top rate about www.grahamhancock.com is that sometimes you want to print out an article and you get a blank page. Or maybe it's just me. Maybe everyone else can print everything out.
I decided to make this website my homepage on Explorer (I use www.drudgereport.com on Firefox). Every day, they pull together interesting articles about archeology or ancient history. Just today, for example, they have articles (full articles, or at least links to full articles) on studies showing that prehistoric birds might have attacked early humans for food (a study done at Ohio State University); a study posted in Neuroscience Letters that concludes that there is no single part of the brain designed for communication with God (I had never even considered that possibility)(a University of Montreal study); a 2700 year old Saxon belt buckle, very rare, found by a treasure hunter with a metal detector outside of London and given to the Museum of London; a story of 10,000 year old sandals found in Oregon and to be shown in an upcoming National Geographic story on footwear; an article from Australia talking about the discovery of a fossil of a fish with lung capacity which appears to be about 400 million years old, suggesting that fish started to come onto land a long time ago; findings by a Spanish university that suggests that Mayan civilization began to decline when they discovered that there kings were not gods; 3000 year old tombs have been found in Jilin Province in China; the Vatican is not satisfied that the new form of developing stem cells, without killing embryos, is ethical; an article on the continuing debate about whether small skeletons found in Indonesia denote a different form of homenoid, a kind of hobbit; Japanese research that shows bacteria and microbes can be used to power very small machines; Neanderthals had aspects of creativity; and the ruins of Lebanon did not seem to be harmed by the recent war. And it is like that every day!
I decided to make this website my homepage on Explorer (I use www.drudgereport.com on Firefox). Every day, they pull together interesting articles about archeology or ancient history. Just today, for example, they have articles (full articles, or at least links to full articles) on studies showing that prehistoric birds might have attacked early humans for food (a study done at Ohio State University); a study posted in Neuroscience Letters that concludes that there is no single part of the brain designed for communication with God (I had never even considered that possibility)(a University of Montreal study); a 2700 year old Saxon belt buckle, very rare, found by a treasure hunter with a metal detector outside of London and given to the Museum of London; a story of 10,000 year old sandals found in Oregon and to be shown in an upcoming National Geographic story on footwear; an article from Australia talking about the discovery of a fossil of a fish with lung capacity which appears to be about 400 million years old, suggesting that fish started to come onto land a long time ago; findings by a Spanish university that suggests that Mayan civilization began to decline when they discovered that there kings were not gods; 3000 year old tombs have been found in Jilin Province in China; the Vatican is not satisfied that the new form of developing stem cells, without killing embryos, is ethical; an article on the continuing debate about whether small skeletons found in Indonesia denote a different form of homenoid, a kind of hobbit; Japanese research that shows bacteria and microbes can be used to power very small machines; Neanderthals had aspects of creativity; and the ruins of Lebanon did not seem to be harmed by the recent war. And it is like that every day!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Cosi's (ten cents)
Heard yesterday at Cosi's Dupont Circle. A young man walks up to the sandwich counter, and says, with no trace of emotion or irony, "A tuna cheddar please. But with no cheese."
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Forward! Wait a Moment! (14 cents)
It has been a while, since I reported either on the weekly "Forward" or the bimonthly "Moment", so I thought I would set this down so you can see what you have been missing.
The Forward edition (August 25) was a very interesting one. Look at this.
1. Senator George Allen of VA is Jewish? (His mother, French-Tunisian, was undoubtedly Jewish by birth? She came from a long Portuguese Sephardic family. She could not be married in the Catholic Church (Allen's parents were married by a Justice of the Peace at a Jewish friend's house).
2. Should Israel (and the U.S.) start conversations with Syria? Pro: the Syrians are the gateway for Hezbollah arms into Lebanon. Pro: Hamas' home office is in Damascus. Con: there go the Golan Heights.
3. Are Israeli and American policies too much in lockstep, to the detriment of both?
4. What about Gunter Grass and his revelation that he was an SS member as a very young boy? Has he atoned through his writing (and in fact without this experience, would he have become the novelist he is, and concentrating on morals and ethics, as he has)? Or should the Nobel, or other prizes, be taken from him? Is he the prime example, and one of the last, of Germany coming to terms with its Nazi past?
5. Why is Chabad the first Jewish movement to open synagogues in fast growing, newer suburbs?
6. How about all the scandals hitting Israeli political and religious leaders? Mostly, they are personal (claims of sexual harrassment, etc, and include the president and the two chief rabbis)? Only one involves governmental activity, a claim of improper activity by Knesset member when he was in charge of the environmental policy of the country.
7. Dedication of Al Jolson Way on W 51st St in NYC.
8. Shaun Green, Jewish ball player, now a Met.
9. Is the push for inquiry of failures of the recent war in Lebanon too political to be counted on for reliable answers?
10. The Rabbinic Assembly (modern Orthodox rabbis in USA) put out a statement saying that Israel should not be so protective of civilians during war; clearly Hezbollah was not, and war is war, and Jewish law and tradition does not demand this care or concern. Yuck.
11. The Republican Jewish contender for senator in Connecticut, running now against both Lieberman and Lamont, has only 5% of the vote. Why?
12. The market recently bombed in Moscow is owned by Azerbaijani Jews. Was it an underworld bombing?
13. The two AIPAC officials accused of giving Israel confidential information. A recent court ruling has said that it must be shown that release of the information was against US interests (may not be able to be shown). The information was of the dangerous situation developing in Iran. Michael Berenbaum, in an op-ed piece, asks if their problem wasn't really that they were right, but too early, as the US government was still then in the mode of showing that Iraq, not Iran, was the bigger concern?
14. Reviews of two new books on the former Jewish community of Salonika, Greece, a major center of Jewish life for 400 years.
15. A fascinating new book on the history of various Hasidic leaders who broke away from the movement, committed suicide, converted, etc. The book is in Hebrew, written by the head of the Jewish history department at Tel Aviv University, and attempts to bring to light repressed information that has been distorted by both Hasidic historians and their non-Hasidic opponents. The book is being sold here only under the counter, and has created a firestorm of comment.
16. A list of 28 fiction books, set in Israel. Recommended reading. The books have been published over the past 30 years or so.
17. An article about Lorenzo da Ponte, librettisist for Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte, and Don Giovanni. A fascinating story. Da Ponte is now the subject of an exhibit at Vienna's Jewish Museum.
And now Moment:
1. The War in Iraq. Good or bad for the Jews. (not very enlightening)
2. Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager. His story.
3. Conversos in Mexico. Fascinating.
4. Interesting article by Menachem Rosensaft, who learned of his mother's exploits during the Holocaust, after her death.
and more.
The Forward edition (August 25) was a very interesting one. Look at this.
1. Senator George Allen of VA is Jewish? (His mother, French-Tunisian, was undoubtedly Jewish by birth? She came from a long Portuguese Sephardic family. She could not be married in the Catholic Church (Allen's parents were married by a Justice of the Peace at a Jewish friend's house).
2. Should Israel (and the U.S.) start conversations with Syria? Pro: the Syrians are the gateway for Hezbollah arms into Lebanon. Pro: Hamas' home office is in Damascus. Con: there go the Golan Heights.
3. Are Israeli and American policies too much in lockstep, to the detriment of both?
4. What about Gunter Grass and his revelation that he was an SS member as a very young boy? Has he atoned through his writing (and in fact without this experience, would he have become the novelist he is, and concentrating on morals and ethics, as he has)? Or should the Nobel, or other prizes, be taken from him? Is he the prime example, and one of the last, of Germany coming to terms with its Nazi past?
5. Why is Chabad the first Jewish movement to open synagogues in fast growing, newer suburbs?
6. How about all the scandals hitting Israeli political and religious leaders? Mostly, they are personal (claims of sexual harrassment, etc, and include the president and the two chief rabbis)? Only one involves governmental activity, a claim of improper activity by Knesset member when he was in charge of the environmental policy of the country.
7. Dedication of Al Jolson Way on W 51st St in NYC.
8. Shaun Green, Jewish ball player, now a Met.
9. Is the push for inquiry of failures of the recent war in Lebanon too political to be counted on for reliable answers?
10. The Rabbinic Assembly (modern Orthodox rabbis in USA) put out a statement saying that Israel should not be so protective of civilians during war; clearly Hezbollah was not, and war is war, and Jewish law and tradition does not demand this care or concern. Yuck.
11. The Republican Jewish contender for senator in Connecticut, running now against both Lieberman and Lamont, has only 5% of the vote. Why?
12. The market recently bombed in Moscow is owned by Azerbaijani Jews. Was it an underworld bombing?
13. The two AIPAC officials accused of giving Israel confidential information. A recent court ruling has said that it must be shown that release of the information was against US interests (may not be able to be shown). The information was of the dangerous situation developing in Iran. Michael Berenbaum, in an op-ed piece, asks if their problem wasn't really that they were right, but too early, as the US government was still then in the mode of showing that Iraq, not Iran, was the bigger concern?
14. Reviews of two new books on the former Jewish community of Salonika, Greece, a major center of Jewish life for 400 years.
15. A fascinating new book on the history of various Hasidic leaders who broke away from the movement, committed suicide, converted, etc. The book is in Hebrew, written by the head of the Jewish history department at Tel Aviv University, and attempts to bring to light repressed information that has been distorted by both Hasidic historians and their non-Hasidic opponents. The book is being sold here only under the counter, and has created a firestorm of comment.
16. A list of 28 fiction books, set in Israel. Recommended reading. The books have been published over the past 30 years or so.
17. An article about Lorenzo da Ponte, librettisist for Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte, and Don Giovanni. A fascinating story. Da Ponte is now the subject of an exhibit at Vienna's Jewish Museum.
And now Moment:
1. The War in Iraq. Good or bad for the Jews. (not very enlightening)
2. Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager. His story.
3. Conversos in Mexico. Fascinating.
4. Interesting article by Menachem Rosensaft, who learned of his mother's exploits during the Holocaust, after her death.
and more.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
A Rare Gift from CVS (7 cents)
I stopped at the Van Ness CVS store on the way to the office to pick up a small notebook, which was marked 89 cents. I took it to the register, the clerk (the sales associate? the partner?) put in a number and out popped 99 cents.
Obviously not a big difference, but I mentioned it and we went back to the shelf to see if I had read it correctly. 89 cents.
The store manager happened to be in the same aisle; she asked how she should handle this, since she had already rung up the sale (and I had already paid the 99 cents, along with 6 cents for the District), and he said: "Just give him back a quarter."
I said that the difference is only 10 cents, but the clerk said, "that's ok, take the quarter".
A rare gift from CVS.
Obviously not a big difference, but I mentioned it and we went back to the shelf to see if I had read it correctly. 89 cents.
The store manager happened to be in the same aisle; she asked how she should handle this, since she had already rung up the sale (and I had already paid the 99 cents, along with 6 cents for the District), and he said: "Just give him back a quarter."
I said that the difference is only 10 cents, but the clerk said, "that's ok, take the quarter".
A rare gift from CVS.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Don't lose your focus
Several years ago, during another D.C. mayoral primary campaign,, one of the second string candidates, who lived not far from us, was himself putting up posters on telephone poles. He came to the pole at our corner and I happened to be in the yard, and he came up to me and introduced himself and told me he was running for mayor. Of what city?, I asked. D.C., he said, looking at me as if I were a little dense. Then, pardon me, I said, why are you wearing that T-shirt that says "I Love Boston"?
Well tonight, at the forum for D.C. mayoral candidates at the DC JCC, we lingered a bit talking to friends. When we left, there was someone at the front door handing out brochures for Michael Brown. But in his other hand, he held a bag of two oranges, the gift (and campaign symbol) of candidate Vincent Orange.
We went to see the five primary candidates, because we did not know who to vote for. We still don't.
Adrian Fenty arrived an hour late and left an hour early. Council chair Linda Cropp left early, and arrived almost on time. Orange, Brown and Marie Johns stuck it out the hwole time, with Johns coming early enough to shmooze at the reception, Brown sticking around long enough to shake the hands of the lingerers, and Orange sticking around outside even longer, giving out oranges. "Please take them so they don't go to waste."
Who won the forum? Hard to say. Who lost it? Fenty. I think I am going to vote for Orange. Sure, sometimes he says a little too much, but I think he is bright, and appears dedicated, and I believe he understands the city's finances. My wife thinks I am nuts. But Oranges and nuts don't make a bad combination.
Of course, one of the winners will undoubtedly be Fenty or Cropp. Sorry, cannot vote for either one. Cropp has had too many high level positions (council chair, school board president) not to be part of the problem. Fenty is the Al D'Amato (Senator Pothole from New York) of Washington; he is apparently great on constituent service. But that does not translate, for a 35 year old, to being able to administer a city.
Or perhaps it is just that I cannot vote for a candidate who might win.
Mah Nishtanah ha-election hazeh mi-kol ha-elections?
Well tonight, at the forum for D.C. mayoral candidates at the DC JCC, we lingered a bit talking to friends. When we left, there was someone at the front door handing out brochures for Michael Brown. But in his other hand, he held a bag of two oranges, the gift (and campaign symbol) of candidate Vincent Orange.
We went to see the five primary candidates, because we did not know who to vote for. We still don't.
Adrian Fenty arrived an hour late and left an hour early. Council chair Linda Cropp left early, and arrived almost on time. Orange, Brown and Marie Johns stuck it out the hwole time, with Johns coming early enough to shmooze at the reception, Brown sticking around long enough to shake the hands of the lingerers, and Orange sticking around outside even longer, giving out oranges. "Please take them so they don't go to waste."
Who won the forum? Hard to say. Who lost it? Fenty. I think I am going to vote for Orange. Sure, sometimes he says a little too much, but I think he is bright, and appears dedicated, and I believe he understands the city's finances. My wife thinks I am nuts. But Oranges and nuts don't make a bad combination.
Of course, one of the winners will undoubtedly be Fenty or Cropp. Sorry, cannot vote for either one. Cropp has had too many high level positions (council chair, school board president) not to be part of the problem. Fenty is the Al D'Amato (Senator Pothole from New York) of Washington; he is apparently great on constituent service. But that does not translate, for a 35 year old, to being able to administer a city.
Or perhaps it is just that I cannot vote for a candidate who might win.
Mah Nishtanah ha-election hazeh mi-kol ha-elections?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
fhgurytogjhwhtughks[-htf ee=a (90 cents)
You probably have already figured this out, but we spent yesterday at the National Cryptography Museum.
You find it off Maryland Rte 32, just before you get to Ft. Meade. It is on the grounds of NSA, the National Security Agency, which has quite a large set up, with glass office buildings (people who work in glass office buildings shouldn't throw stones) and parking lots and everything. With all that is there, you would think that they could accomplish a lot more than they seem to.
You know that you are in dangerous territory when you see three unmarked cars splayed across the road with uniformed be-rifled men staring at your and waving you to stop. He looked at me, and I at him. I blinked first and said: "We are going to the museum". He asked if we knew how to get there, and when we didn't he told us. Then he said, "let me see your driver's license". I got it out, held it to him, but not closely enough so he could possibly see it, he didn't write anything down, he just said OK, go on.
Now, I ask you, what was that about?
The museum has several rooms, and enough stuff in it for many more. It is crammed, walls floor to ceiling, cubicles, everywhere. It has some very interesting stuff, like an entire collection of German Enigma machines, and stuff about satellite spying, and encryptions done by Pitney Bowes on its postage machines, and how Japanese spies worked, and how they found out Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White and David Greenglass (and his sister, Ethel R.). Pictures of cryptographers (all very smart), Cray computers that took up rooms, Kremlin-White House hotline telephones. Everything. And a lot of words to explain it.
We had a docent tour. Our docent was formerly with SpecOps. He must have been about 80. (As we left, a friend of his came in the building and seemed very surprised to see him there. "I thought you only work Mondays", he said. Our guide was nonplussed, thinking that he was getting old and made a terrible mistake. It took them both some time to realize that it was Monday. I was not fooled; I knew all along.)
It's hard to explain our docent. It was like his speech was encrypted. The words were English, but I couldn't understand what he was saying half the time. Sentences seem to abruptly stop, many phrases to early. He would go from topic to topic, but appeared to think that he was staying right on point.
In fact, he was very much like a comic book character. "And the Japanese encryption was easy to break, and what then? WHAM!!" or "And you know what happened when they figured out where we were? WHOOSH! BAM! BLONG!" That sort of thing.
But how much of what we learned was true? These guys are taught to lie, right? For the sake of our country? Give out false information. That sort of thing.
Maybe nothing in the museum was accurate. Maybe those machines weren't Enigmas. Maybe "WHOOSH! BAM! BLONG!" really only means: read Arthurthinks.blogspot.com.
You find it off Maryland Rte 32, just before you get to Ft. Meade. It is on the grounds of NSA, the National Security Agency, which has quite a large set up, with glass office buildings (people who work in glass office buildings shouldn't throw stones) and parking lots and everything. With all that is there, you would think that they could accomplish a lot more than they seem to.
You know that you are in dangerous territory when you see three unmarked cars splayed across the road with uniformed be-rifled men staring at your and waving you to stop. He looked at me, and I at him. I blinked first and said: "We are going to the museum". He asked if we knew how to get there, and when we didn't he told us. Then he said, "let me see your driver's license". I got it out, held it to him, but not closely enough so he could possibly see it, he didn't write anything down, he just said OK, go on.
Now, I ask you, what was that about?
The museum has several rooms, and enough stuff in it for many more. It is crammed, walls floor to ceiling, cubicles, everywhere. It has some very interesting stuff, like an entire collection of German Enigma machines, and stuff about satellite spying, and encryptions done by Pitney Bowes on its postage machines, and how Japanese spies worked, and how they found out Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White and David Greenglass (and his sister, Ethel R.). Pictures of cryptographers (all very smart), Cray computers that took up rooms, Kremlin-White House hotline telephones. Everything. And a lot of words to explain it.
We had a docent tour. Our docent was formerly with SpecOps. He must have been about 80. (As we left, a friend of his came in the building and seemed very surprised to see him there. "I thought you only work Mondays", he said. Our guide was nonplussed, thinking that he was getting old and made a terrible mistake. It took them both some time to realize that it was Monday. I was not fooled; I knew all along.)
It's hard to explain our docent. It was like his speech was encrypted. The words were English, but I couldn't understand what he was saying half the time. Sentences seem to abruptly stop, many phrases to early. He would go from topic to topic, but appeared to think that he was staying right on point.
In fact, he was very much like a comic book character. "And the Japanese encryption was easy to break, and what then? WHAM!!" or "And you know what happened when they figured out where we were? WHOOSH! BAM! BLONG!" That sort of thing.
But how much of what we learned was true? These guys are taught to lie, right? For the sake of our country? Give out false information. That sort of thing.
Maybe nothing in the museum was accurate. Maybe those machines weren't Enigmas. Maybe "WHOOSH! BAM! BLONG!" really only means: read Arthurthinks.blogspot.com.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Indian Food
Recently, I wrote about the excellent meal we had at Jyota in Adams Morgan. This evening, we found ourselves in Laurel MD at supper time, and stopped at India Gate, a restaurant in a small shopping center on Route 1. We knew nothing about the restaurant, but had a good feeling looking at its salmon and aqua interior.
We ordered fairly simply. Onion pakora and a Kingfisher to start. An okra dish and a mushroom dish, along with Roti to finish. The food was absolutely, just right. we would go back and, if it is as good the second time, keep going back.
The chef is from Punjab. The sign says that all the meet is hallal, although the restaurant seems Hindu, not Moslem. But they must know their target market.
Our waiter was from Nepal. He told us that everything in Nepal is OK, although some people don't like living in an absolute kingdom. But he says that the riots and occasional Maoist uprisings don't really affect normal life. I asked him when he was in Nepal last; he told me it has been about five years. He may go back soon for a visit he said, but (perhaps forgetting his conversation three minutes earlier) said that he hestitated to go now, with all the political problems. Why should he put himself in harm's way?
Go figure.
We ordered fairly simply. Onion pakora and a Kingfisher to start. An okra dish and a mushroom dish, along with Roti to finish. The food was absolutely, just right. we would go back and, if it is as good the second time, keep going back.
The chef is from Punjab. The sign says that all the meet is hallal, although the restaurant seems Hindu, not Moslem. But they must know their target market.
Our waiter was from Nepal. He told us that everything in Nepal is OK, although some people don't like living in an absolute kingdom. But he says that the riots and occasional Maoist uprisings don't really affect normal life. I asked him when he was in Nepal last; he told me it has been about five years. He may go back soon for a visit he said, but (perhaps forgetting his conversation three minutes earlier) said that he hestitated to go now, with all the political problems. Why should he put himself in harm's way?
Go figure.
More on Figaro
The Washington Times also gave the voices (and especially Susanna and the Countess) a good review, and I thought the reviewer had it right, when he said that the whole was less than the sum of its parts, and that he thought that the conductor did not have good control of the musicians or the stage. He thought more rehearsal would have helped. Perhaps
This past weekend.....
1. We had hoped to go away, but the weather report was unsettled, so we stayed put. The weather was beautiful.
2. We were at home most of Saturday as we were having our yard and garden cleaned and totally deweeded, ivy pulled from over our fences, and all sorts of other stuff in preparation for an outdoor re-do. It actually took 2 full days for a crew to do this and mulch and clean up. They did a terrific job.
3. Saturday night we had a light meal sitting outside at the Tavern on the Lake on Reston's Lake Anne. Very pleasant. Nice food.
4. Then we went to see 'The Marriage of Figaro' at Wolf Trap with friends, and we saw several others at the opera. It was the Wolf Trap Company. The voices were very good, but I felt there lacked the oomph and excitement the opera needed. I thought that might be because of where we were sitting (balcony, center, 9 rows back), or because the orchestra was not quite up to par (tempo was good, but it lacked something), or because the stage was too big for the opera, or the sets too weak. Today's Post review was very positive, agreeing with me that the two female leads, playing Susanna (Maureen McKay) and the Countess (Ailyn Perez) were the best. I thought Perez had the better sound, but McKay's voice was augmented by her superior acting and charisma. But I would not have rated the performance as highly as Stephen Brookes did. Although he agreed with me about the set: "looked like it was banged together from old building scraps, given a fresh coat of dirt, and...littered with department store closeout furniture."
5. Sunday was also pretty quiet. At 4:30 we left for Baltimore, where we took our 80+ year old friends to supper. They keep kosher, but said that they would order fish or vegetarian anywhere. They are getting a little slow, and I wanted to find a place that looked to be elderly-friendly, and I chose (from a drive by only) the Olive Branch, the restaurant of the Ramada Inn on Reisterstown Road, near the Beltway. It is very big, and very crowded (not just overnighters by far), but the menu turned out, for us, to be very limited as most things are served with shrimp. Like the salmon special: "it comes with linguini and shrimp. we can't do it any other way. it's a special". That kind of thing. As to the quality of what we ate. Not too high. I'd give it a C-.
2. We were at home most of Saturday as we were having our yard and garden cleaned and totally deweeded, ivy pulled from over our fences, and all sorts of other stuff in preparation for an outdoor re-do. It actually took 2 full days for a crew to do this and mulch and clean up. They did a terrific job.
3. Saturday night we had a light meal sitting outside at the Tavern on the Lake on Reston's Lake Anne. Very pleasant. Nice food.
4. Then we went to see 'The Marriage of Figaro' at Wolf Trap with friends, and we saw several others at the opera. It was the Wolf Trap Company. The voices were very good, but I felt there lacked the oomph and excitement the opera needed. I thought that might be because of where we were sitting (balcony, center, 9 rows back), or because the orchestra was not quite up to par (tempo was good, but it lacked something), or because the stage was too big for the opera, or the sets too weak. Today's Post review was very positive, agreeing with me that the two female leads, playing Susanna (Maureen McKay) and the Countess (Ailyn Perez) were the best. I thought Perez had the better sound, but McKay's voice was augmented by her superior acting and charisma. But I would not have rated the performance as highly as Stephen Brookes did. Although he agreed with me about the set: "looked like it was banged together from old building scraps, given a fresh coat of dirt, and...littered with department store closeout furniture."
5. Sunday was also pretty quiet. At 4:30 we left for Baltimore, where we took our 80+ year old friends to supper. They keep kosher, but said that they would order fish or vegetarian anywhere. They are getting a little slow, and I wanted to find a place that looked to be elderly-friendly, and I chose (from a drive by only) the Olive Branch, the restaurant of the Ramada Inn on Reisterstown Road, near the Beltway. It is very big, and very crowded (not just overnighters by far), but the menu turned out, for us, to be very limited as most things are served with shrimp. Like the salmon special: "it comes with linguini and shrimp. we can't do it any other way. it's a special". That kind of thing. As to the quality of what we ate. Not too high. I'd give it a C-.
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