Monday, November 18, 2019
In these times of political turmoil, we yearn for examples of bi-partisanship among our elected officials. I was heartened, therefore, to learn about events in Indianapolis recently where three elected judges, one Democrat and two Republicans, worked together to try to break into a strip club at 3 o'clock in the morning. While their cooperative efforts failed and they only managed to get into a brawl with registered independents, resulting in gunshot wounds for two of the public servants, we have to applaud this crossing of party lines in pursuit of a common goal. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/
Here is a headline from the Washington Post last month: "Argentina’s economy is collapsing. Here come the Peronistas, again." 67 years after the death of Eva Perón, the Peronista movement today "encompasses schools of thought across the ideological spectrum, uniting politicians who share only a religious devotion to the nation and to Juan and Eva Perón," according to the WaPo article.
. . .
I came across a website illustrating reputedly the 15 most beautiful places in America.
Many are breathtaking indeed, but I noticed one critical element common to all. There are no people to be seen. It is unlikely that Jean Paul Sartre had any role in organizing this display, but it does correspond nicely with the worldview in his famous play No Exit, "Hell is other people."
. . .
You may snicker, but I admit to a weakness for the stage version of Evita, the bombastic work by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, that was revived for a special run this weekend. Two factors underlie this attraction: 1) I adore Patti LuPone, who played Evita on Broadway originally; 2) I have an interest (now mercifully ebbing) in Argentine affairs. Evita offers a still contemporary lesson for all in idolatrous populism run amok. But Argentina seems unwilling or unable to learn that lesson.
Here is a headline from the Washington Post last month: "Argentina’s economy is collapsing. Here come the Peronistas, again." 67 years after the death of Eva Perón, the Peronista movement today "encompasses schools of thought across the ideological spectrum, uniting politicians who share only a religious devotion to the nation and to Juan and Eva Perón," according to the WaPo article.
Other societies venerate hometown villains in their absence; Mao looms large in China (https://www.theguardian.com/
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Tomorrow night, I have a date with Rob Teicher to go again to a Ranger game at Madison Square Garden. In the past, we have often met at a nearby kosher delicatessen for dinner. So, I sent Rob a message: "To Ben's or not to Ben's?"
. . .
Lunch today was with the Boyz Club at Green Garden Village, 216 Grand Street. It stands in place of Grand Bo Ky and appears to be substantially redecorated. Seven of us attacked a lot of food: parsley beef rice roll ($3.50), honey roast pork rice roll ($3.50), pan fried shrimp rice roll with supreme soy sauce ($3.50), sweet & sour ribs ($15), sauteed beef with scallion ($16), garlic aromatic crispy chicken ($16), stir fried string bean ($16), braised beef brisket lo mein ($8), duck chow fun ($13) and rice at $1 a bowl. It was all very good except the sweet & sour ribs, which were little more than 1" pieces of breaded bone.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
In puddling around the Internet I came across "The 5 Coolest Countries You Haven’t Heard Of" https://www.thediscoverer.com/
In puddling around the Internet I came across "The 5 Coolest Countries You Haven’t Heard Of" https://www.thediscoverer.com/
Of course, I took that as a challenge and I scored well. The 5 places are San Marino, Vanuatu, Eswatini, Moldova and Tajikistan. Admittedly, I've never visited any of them, but I knew that I heard of 4 of 5, Eswatini rang no bells. Then, the text informed me that King Mswati III of Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarch, changed his country's name to Eswatini in 2018. Ring-a-ling.
I have a couple of other observations. The capital of Moldova is Chișinău, formerly called Kishinev, location of the infamous series of pogroms starting in 1903. Tajikistan, according to Wikipedia, "has been criticised by a number of non-governmental
organizations for authoritarian leadership, lack of religious freedom,
corruption and widespread violations of human rights." Pretty cool, huh?
. . .
. . .
Ben's
. . .
Rangers 4-1
. . .
Struggling with those security questions meant to protect your on-line activities? How about "In what year did you abandon your dreams?" Paul Hecht, my nearest and dearest Canadian thespian, sent me this helpful website. https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/nihilistic-password-security-questions
Thursday, November 21, 2019
At lunch on Tuesday, I mentioned that I was considering going to the Diamond District to sell an old piece of jewelry and, lo and behold, my electronic mailbox this morning contained the following article sent by Tom Terrific, giving a fair introduction to this unique stretch of real estate. https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/diamond-district-midtown-flavor?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=shared_email
It mentions Taam Tov, 41 West 47th Street, a strictly Kosher restaurant above street level, which I visited in the past. The Uzbeki jeweler at Larry's Fine Jewelry, Inc., 60 West 47th Street, who gave me the best price on my retired ring after half a dozen less competitive quotes up and down the street, said that Taam Tov had tripled its prices, but looking at the menu, that seems to be an exaggeration. https://www.beyondmenu.com/33893/new-york/taam-tov-new-york-10036.aspx?r=33893&utm_source=satellite&utm_medium=menu_group&pk_vid=8b00a304db8757e91574439919170e35#group_2510914
. . .
"A smaller share
of Americans are moving each year than at any time since the Census
Bureau started keeping track in the 1940s, according to new data."
Demographers don't have a ready explanation. While us ossified seniors may be unready, unwilling or unable to relocate, this trend "applies to all demographic groups — younger and older workers, renters and homeowners, more-educated and less-educated workers." It is a striking departure from our traditional view of the American way, the somewhat restless search for greater opportunity. I'm going to have to sit back and think about this.
Friday, November 12, 2019
I did not sit home last night contemplating, however. Jay Stanley, son of the late John Langley Stanley, my first roommate not a blood relative, is here from Washington. For this festive occasion, we headed to Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street, Chinatown's leading house of worship.
We nibbled on broad fried noodles dipped into hot mustard and sweet duck sauce and then dug into large portions of shrimp with lobster sauce over shrimp fried rice and Singapore chow fon, both Grandpa Alan specials not listed on the menu (about $26 together). It was so good that I woke up this morning fighting the urge to return immediately for more. Of course, Self-Control remains my middle name.
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