Do the Right Thing

Monday, October 9, 2017

It's hard to be (racially) colorblind in American society, maybe impossible.  At times, I admit to being impatient with or exhausted by the racial prism that either distorts or clarifies our view of reality.  Since I am on one side of our racial divide, that occasionally puts me at odds with the other, no matter how I might strive to be fair, open and tolerant.  Anecdotal evidence of racial discrimination sometimes evokes mixed feelings -- there they go again (black squawkers) vs. there they go again (white bigots).  

A new study restores my perspective, at least for a time.  Based on 20,000 e-mails, the rate of response to routine inquiries to government offices by typically white-named people is consistently higher than for black-named people.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/business/economy/racial-discrimination-government-officials.html?_r=0

Taking the trouble to discriminate in responding to an e-mail inquiry is gratuitously cruel especially under the most benign conditions.  "Justice, justice, you shall pursue."  Deuteronomy 16:18

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This week's football report

Columbia University          4-0 

New York Jets                    3-2

New York Giants                0-5

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In a 1839 United States Senate debate, Henry Clay famously said “I had rather be right than president.”  Currently, we have the complete opposite.  

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

In a strange way, I think that it is kind of romantic that a divorcing couple would go to court over possession of ice hockey season tickets.  There is love there, although maybe misdirected.      http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/divorced-edmonton-couple-faces-off-custody-oilers-tickets/

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Scott Pruitt, the Administrator of the Environmental Destruction Agency, announced that "the war on coal is over."  Okay, now I can concentrate on the war on Christmas.

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It probably took a formidable public relations effort to get this laudatory article about Acme Smoked Fish's whitefish salad.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/acme-smoked-fish-whitefish-salad.html

While the production process is interesting, I cannot endorse Acme's result.  It supposedly contains only whitefish and mayonnaise, but it is mushed to such a degree that it emerges as a salty paste.  Fairway Market, 2131 Broadway, is at the pinnacle of the whitefish salad world and should be your destination for this delicacy.  

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

A play daringly entitled Junk is in previews at Lincoln Center.  We went to see it last night with the Goldfarbs; the Weinsteins were unable to join us.

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The MacArthur Foundation announced its "genius" grants today, $625,000 fellowships.  I understand that the president removed his name from consideration because he did not need the money.

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It was undoubtedly a spiritual quest that brought many of you to my modest exertions.  Holy Writ is an essential component in the perpetual search for truth, beauty and justice and I am pleased to refer you to a new bible -- The Macaroon Bible by Dan Cohen a/k/a Danny Macaroons, who, unlike many others, left Great Neck when he left Great Neck.   https://www.amazon.com/Macaroon-Bible-Dan-Cohen/dp/1118472160?utm_source=danny+macaroons+email+of+awesome&utm_campaign=cf7baa16bc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_030488f6d3-cf7baa16bc-296904953&mc_cid=cf7baa16bc&mc_eid=bb19b3f5f5#immersive-view_1507731909660

Thursday, October 12, 2017

America's Favorite Epidemiologist abandoned me today, leaving me to my own devices and the Ciao Bella blood orange sorbetto in the freezer.  I hope that America's Loveliest Nephrologist and the Oakland Heartthrob appreciate what they are getting, if only for a few days. 

Friday, October 13, 2017

This link shows an amazing sample of the devastation caused by the California wildfires.   https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/us/santa-rosa-california-fires-damage.html

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I was fortunate that Gil Glotzer, retired attorney to the stars, was able to meet me for lunch on his quick visit to the Holy Land.  We ate at La-Salle Dumpling Room, 25 West End Avenue, a joint that is continuing to satisfy.  We shared cold sesame noodles ($7.95), pan fried pork dumplings ($8.50 for 6), beef wrapped scallion pancake ($8.95, 5 slices 1" to 2" wide), spicy chicken dumplings ($8.50 for 6).  All this was so good, Gil was almost in tears thinking about what he left behind in exchange for Florida sunshine.   

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No, Israel -- the moron's action today on the Iran nuclear deal does not make you safer.  It only raises the security threat to other nations to match yours.