The Past Is Present

Monday, August 24, 2020
This story was confined to the sports pages, but I believe that it has broader implications.  A baseball game announcer, unaware that his microphone was live, referred to another city as one of "the fag capitals of the world.”  This resulted in his suspension from broadcasting and his inevitable apology.
https://slate.com/culture/2020/08/reds-announcer-thom-brennaman-found-a-new-surreal-way-to-ruin-a-public-apology.html

The key phrase in his apology was "I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith," and that may be the source of so many problems, his and ours.

I found these two definitions of faith presented in tandem:
• "complete trust or confidence in someone or something"
• "strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof"

I am confident that our announcer was relying upon the second.  No proof required; it comes from my heart, it comes from my soul, it comes from my kishkes, it comes from the clouds, it comes from the Book.  How can I be faulted under those circumstances?

That's the problem.  If the brain were the source of his comments, we might find a way to evaluate them logically.  Instead, we are expected to have faith in someone else's faith.  The equivalent of the used car salesman's plea "Trust me."  I contend that we should keep faith in the pews; like fish out of its element it can reek.
. . .

Tom Terrific responded to last week's riff on cultural appropriation with this recollection:
Speaking of mystery tales & “cultural appropriation,” there was that time in the mid-90s when Yrs Tly was conscripted by Ellery Queen magazine as part of the entertainment for a group of its faithful readers aboard a Caribbean cruise ship:

Mingling with the group of about 200 on the first evening at sea, I was approached by an angry couple, by which I mean spitting fire angry. The husband & wife were middle-aged and African American. 

“YOU’RE Thomas Adcock,” the husband spat. I confirmed his suspicion. Next up, the wife.

“The only damn reason we signed up for this is because we thought you were black,” the lady spat. I assumed the context for her assumption were some stories I’d published with prominent black characters—urban and American, New Yorkers just like me.

For once, I had the presence of mind to resist this absurdity. “How dare you object to me being me?” 

So, that first night out was frosty. But after a few days of cruising—an awful activity I shall never repeat—my critics came to their senses. We were friendly, and even exchanged a few post-cruise letters (remember those?).
. . .

As a Zionist, I might not be the right person to weigh the relative criminality of the Israelis against the Palestinians versus the Palestinians against the Israelis.  I am likely to be more inflamed by attacks that threaten my friends and relatives in Israel.  However, there is one area where the disproportionate response of the two sides may be measured -- rhetoric.

In spite of his brutish actions, even Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will occasionally wave an olive branch at the other side.  Anti-Arab sentiments are deeply felt by many Israelis, no doubt, but they are usually kept in check.  The Palestinians are not as successful in hiding their feelings.  When an 11-year old boy in Gaza, being acclaimed for a rap video, said, "I would like to spread love between us and Israel," he was treated as an enemy of the Palestinian cause.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/22/world/middleeast/gaza-rapper-israel-normalization.html

Palestinians seem to wage words more effectively than any other means of advancement.  It's all symbolic, of course, but symbols can create their own reality.  Is 11-years old too soon to banish rainbows and unicorns?
. . .

I have lauded B&H Dairy Restaurant, 127 Second Avenue, in the past.  Now, like so many other small businesses, it is struggling with the effects of the White House Flu.  https://www.facebook.com/BHDairyKosherRestaurant/posts/3107772816007488/

It's not the same as cancer research or sheltering the homeless or the campaign by Amy McGrath, Mitch McConnell's opponent, but an enterprise that has brightened our lives in the past deserves a bit of a boost today.
. . .

If asked to describe myself, I would not say anything like "approachable without being whimsical."  I am a bit of a tease, though, and leave it to you to reveal the subject at hand.

Tuesday, August 24, 2020
I called my brother yesterday and left voicemail.  It came out this way from his text translator:
Good morning it's 10:50 and I'm call as soon o'clock in front of the Marriott building(?) if you're Medical Center my life. I was going to have some dental work done nothing(?) with the-message(?) but this this is for Jose Celestine this is genuine table. Anyway she's gonna be probably an hour or more so I'm going to find a productive uses of my time including calling you to find out how you were ... and get orton-i(?) expect. That's bye bye.
. . .

I was going to write something snarky about Jerry Falwell, Jr., but it's sufficient to just mention his name.

. . .

A couple of months ago, I listened to a virtual discussion by Famous Author during which he threw out a comment that intrigued me.  He said that St. Francis of Assisi went up a mountain alone to ponder the world, in contrast with the typical Jewish philosopher whose work, though individual, emerged from a group or urban setting.  What an interesting observation, I thought, so when I saw Famous Author this morning I asked him about it.  He responded approximately, "I said that, huh?  I don't know about that."

In fact, before writing this, I did a little research and found that Francis devoted himself to good works, particularly the plight of the poor, after a sybaritic upbringing in a prosperous household.  While he fasted for 40 days on a mountain shortly before his death, he actually led a fairly peripatetic existence, traveling throughout Italy and Sicily, to Spain and the Holy Land, coping with the vicissitudes of the early 13th Century.

What I learned briefly is that Francis's philosophy grew out of living and working with the poor, not from contemplation or rumination.  This does not defeat the Jewish part of the imaginary insight.  Jews are social animals; they need other Jews to be Jewish.  Services/rituals inside or outside the synagogue require 10 adult Jews.  Kosher food, until recently a requirement of Jewish life, needed a community to support it.  Yeshivas, the traditional Jewish learning institution, put small groups of students (usually 2-5) together to analyze, discuss, and debate a shared text (chavrusa).  Students are usually matched with partners of similar knowledge and ability; adult Jews in informal settings use chavrusa as well to continue their studies.  

Moses may have been the last Jew alone on a mountaintop and he rushed down to show everybody, "Look what I got."

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Herr Professor Doktor David Goldfarb gave me the excuse to leave the former Fun City before it is overrun by the Visigoths.  It was only for a day, mind you, but we ventured up to Ulster County to buy tomatoes and apples at the source.  

Here is what the outdoors looks like, in case you have forgotten. 

Thursday, August 27, 2020

46 Down = 50 or more letters?

. . .

"The impulsiveness and grandiosity, the bullying and vulgarity, were obvious from the beginning; if anything, they accounted for Adolf Hitler’s anti-establishment appeal."  Need we say more?

https://nyti.ms/2EwlK4X

Friday, August 28, 2020

I admit to some sympathy for my Gentile brethren when they have to endure Jewish hyper-sensitivity -- our sometimes exaggerated reaction to missteps, misunderstandings or oversights misread as targeted bigotry.  On the other hand, the circle on our back has barely shrunk over the centuries. 

 

For instance, today's paper informs us:

"Several documents that have emerged from the newly opened Vatican Archives on the papacy of Pius XII bolster accusations of indifference to Jewish suffering."  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/world/europe/pope-pius-xii-jews-vatican-archives.html

 

"German Automotive Giant Admits It Was a Nazi Accomplice."  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/business/german-auto-parts-continental-nazi.html  

The lesson here applies for African Americans as well: It's going to take a long time before you can trust Them.

. . .

  

Joan E., the devoted administrator of West End Synagogue, solidified her standing as someone that I can definitely trust today when she brought me two (the last two actually) pieces of deep-fried gefilte fish from Dovid's Fish Market, 736 Chestnut Avenue, Teaneck, NJ.  I used to attribute this marvelous creation to Aunt Judi, because she served it each year at her bountiful Passover seders, until she confessed to purchasing it from Dovid's.  My esteem for her cuisine and hospitality remains constant, however, and Joan now joins her in the ranks of women of valor. 

. . . 

 

Answer = AARP

Funny Flavors

Monday, August 17, 2020
The owners of Char Kol, a "Korean Barbecue" in Philadelphia, are being accused of cultural appropriation for their new restaurant, white entrepreneurs disrespecting Korean cuisine by using the culture for personal gain.  https://www.inquirer.com/food/char-kol-korean-michael-schulson-protest-barbecue-20200813.html

Since respecting the manners and mores of other populations seems to be the right thing to do, there is a need for a new role: Ethnicity Authenticator.  Let's get rid of those Dominicans behind the counter at bagel joints, Greeks at pizza ovens, Chinese run taquerias, and while we're at it, what's with those Koreans owning French dry cleaners?

We need to keep people, culture and cuisines in their place; we need to build MikePenceWorld.
. . .

Speaking of good eats, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, let us regard what might be on a Buddhist menu.
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3097180/buddhist-food-how-healthy-vegetarian-dishes-full-seasonal

This article visits several restaurants that adhere to strict Buddhist dietary rules, "no killing of living things, and no use of animal products."  Accordingly, they "use plants, funguses and other ingredients to imitate meat-based food."  This approach is also found among Jews who want to keep Kosher, separating dairy and meat cuisines, as well as barring some foods all together, such as shellfish and pork. 

While this still gives the Kosher cook a myriad of meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, pasta, eggs, pasta and grains to deal with within the rule book, the lure of the forbidden fruit has remained.  After all, it ain't easy resisting the smell of bacon frying.  

"As a general rule, even if the Torah forbids a certain food, one is still permitted to eat kosher food that has been artificially flavored to taste like that food."   https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3907949/jewish/Are-Imitation-Crab-Pork-and-Cheeseburgers-Kosher.htm

The result is mock meat, mock pork, mock shellfish imitating the real thing.  See "facon" for instance.  https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Facon

While these products are Kosher at the technical level, from allowable sources, free of forbidden ingredients, are they really Kosher?  Should thousands of years of tradition, admittedly irrational in places, be outwitted in a laboratory?  Should the Gentiles rise in opposition to our appropriation of their culinary cultural heritage?
. . .

In case your mouth is watering at the thought of bacon or facon, you can  try and feed your hunger virtually at this list of Chinatown restaurants.  While there is room to quibble, including Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street, and Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth Street among the top choices immunizes the overall selections to a great degree.
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/chinatown/best-chinatown-restaurants-nyc?utm_campaign=20200817
. . .

If you miss the murderous internecine ideological battles of the Spanish Civil War, take heart.  Some of our young "progressives" are apparently busy erecting barricades on the left side of the political spectrum.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/us/adolph-reed-controversy.html

My response to the article is this unpublished letter to the editor:

Until the Democratic Socialists of America demonstrate a broader view of inclusiveness to a fellow leftist, I urge them to read George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, recounting how the left engaged in active warfare during the Spanish Civil War, thereby aiding the success of Fascism.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Stony Brook Steve and I felt the need for a little exercise today, so we walked up Amsterdam Avenue until we felt the need for a little lunch.  We chose Spice, 435 Amsterdam Avenue, one of a local chain of Thai restaurants.  It had tables and chairs outside, a requirement for any New York City restaurant at present.  It was also on the shady side of the street, a personal requirement for us. 

Spice has a very appealing lunch menu, offering a complimentary appetizer with any main dish.  I started with shrimp fritters, 4 deep-fried dumplings filled with chopped shrimp accompanied by sweet chili sauce.  My main course was drunken noodles, a very generous portion of broad noodles, sliced beef, yellow onions, green peppers, red peppers, eggs, cilantro, basil and a touch of anise.  A fine lunch at $10.50.
. . .

My reaction to this list of the supposed "30 Best Mystery Books of All Time" is similar to the list of best Chinatown restaurants above. 
https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-mystery-books 

I am familiar with most of them, but there's room for improvement.  More so than the list of restaurants, however, this group has some enormous gaps.  Maybe 30 is too small a number, but I insist that these authors (and their primary sleuth) get on your mystery/detective/crime novel reading list:

Ross Macdonald -- Lew Archer

Rex Stout -- Nero Wolfe

Michael Connelly -- Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch

Ruth Rendell -- Reginald Wexford

Reginald Hill -- Andy Dalziel

. . .

I never knew that so many flavors of M&M's are available until I read this taste test.    https://www.insider.com/i-ate-all-of-the-m-and-m-flavors-review-ranking

I didn't realize that the candy that melts in your mouth not in your hand was being formulated in so many varieties, some without rhyme or reason.  Here's another look at the possibilities.  https://www.listchallenges.com/mandms-flavors

Unlike mystery novels and Chinatown restaurants, I believe that less would definitely be more in the M&M world.  I fear that some MBAs, who were denied the opportunity to overburden sound businesses with debt, were instead turned loose in the M&M marketing department, with the mandate of ruining a good thing.

White Strawberry Shortcake M&M's, really?

Wednesday, August 19, 2020
"New York City is dead forever" proclaims a Murdoch media headline, with no intimation of regret.  I'm not a nice guy, so I will wish the same for all Murdoch media
. . .

My devotion to lists is evident, along with my appreciation of effective graphic illustration of information.  The New York Times has done a very good job with "Virus Alters Where People Open Their Wallets, Hinting at a Halting Recovery."    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/18/business/economy/coronavirus-economic-recovery-states.html 

"[A]nalysis of foot traffic data from the smartphones of more than 15 million people" shows that "[s]hopping behavior has varied widely by the type of business in question, how prevalent the outbreak is nearby and even voting patterns in the region."  I'm not surprised that "people were less likely to visit businesses if they lived in a state with a significant Covid-19 outbreak, major urban population centers or a higher percentage of Democratic voters. New York and Massachusetts, which match those descriptions, have seen some of the lowest foot traffic throughout the pandemic."  There is so much good detail here, that you can get lost in it.  Better pack some M&M's before you get started in case you get hungry. 

Thursday, August 20, 2020

M&M's are not the only place where there has been an explosion of flavors.  While Howard Johnson's featured 28 flavors of ice cream  and Baskin-Robbins offered 31 flavors by the mid-20th Century, the wild assortment of flavors on sale today really traces back to Steve, who opened an ice cream parlor in Somerville, MA in 1973.  It wasn't the premium ice cream that made his fortune and changed the industry, but his "mix-ins," the candies, cookies, nuts, fruit that you chose originally at 10¢ each to be mixed in on a marble slab behind the counter.  There was no longer a list of flavors, but a list of mix-ins that produced a different flavor each time.  

 

Steve's Ice Cream was a sensation, with long lines out the door, breeding competitors, such as Cold Stone Creamery, but, like a good revolution, it eventually ate its children and disappeared.  However, Ben and Jerry picked up the concept and, without waiting for you to pick your mix-ins, starting throwing a myriad of presumably digestible items into their pint containers.  Consider Berry Sweet Mascarpone -- "Blackberry & Mascarpone Ice Creams with Shortbread Cookies & Fudge-Covered Almonds" -- or Chubby Hubby -- "Vanilla Malt Ice Cream with Peanutty Fudge-Covered Pretzels with Fudge & Peanut Buttery Swirls."  I count 58 flavors on the Ben & Jerry's home page.   https://www.benjerry.com/flavors/ice-cream-pints

All of which brings me to my disappointment of the week, maybe even the month.  Häagen-Dazs has a set of pint packages (14 oz. really) called Crispy Trio Layers.  I chose Ruby Cacao Crackle, an intriguing name, with little hint as to what was inside.  The container says it is "pistachio and sweet cream ice cream complement[ing] sheets of crispy ruby cacao layers."  Even with that information, I'll tell you to skip it.  It doesn't taste good.  Mind you, I'm not rejecting Häagen-Dazs outright as long as they still churn out chocolate peanut butter ice cream and a non-dairy version for your fleishigs meals. 
. . .

My friend Arthur has had his request to teach his class at Hofstra University remotely, because of a heart condition, refused.  While the class finished the Spring semester virtually, the administration insists that freshpeople (the level of Arthur's course) sit in a classroom.  I predict that on-campus classes will last no longer than this cockamamie baseball season.

The "M" Word

Monday, August 10, 2020
I Imagine that every  language has words or terms that demean or insult outsiders, the "others" whether inside or outside the tent.  At one time, ordinary (if not polite) speech incorporated N . . .  for Blacks, K . . .  for Jews, S . . .  for Hispanics, W . . .  for Italians and a variety of other words based on local prejudice and usage.  Pushback against such language was once regarded positively as "political correctness," a term now used derisively by many.  https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/12/14/505324427/politically-correct-the-phrase-has-gone-from-wisdom-to-weapon

The overdue need to clean up our vocabulary has occasionally gone a bridge too far, giving Fox News an opportunity to ignore real injustices while chortling over examples of hypersensitivity.  Witness: "The Biggest Bedroom Is No Longer a ‘Master’"   https://nyti.ms/3a5upGP

Is Mastercard next?
. . .

Speaking of sensitivity in this time of Covid-19, "Some brides and grooms are having guests sign liability forms upon arrival."
https://nyti.ms/3gvrr0H

That's not a bad idea as long as there is some reciprocity.  For instance, if I don't have a good time, can I get my present back?
. . .

Now, here's a chance for Jews to test our tolerance for weak excuses.  Are we willing to accept examples of  bigotry, because they supposedly were characteristic of their times, which some of us urge on other beleaguered minorities?  "Should Montreal Subway Honor Polarizing Priest or Jazz Genius?"   https://nyti.ms/3ac9cv5

This article contains a notably mealy-mouthed attempt to not rock the boat.  "Experts agree that Mr. Groulx [a Roman Catholic priest] was a divisive figure who had expressed anti-Semitic views.  But those views, they say, weren’t his central preoccupation and needed to be examined within the context of the prevailing social mores of his times."

Since New Yorkers are still trying to figure out who Major Deegan was, we cannot be expected to know much about the Montreal-based Lionel Groulx, author of the following: "To resolve the Jewish problem, it would suffice if French Canadians regained their common sense.  There is no need of extraordinary legislation; no need for violence of any sort.  We will only give our people the order, 'Do not buy from the Jews'. . . . And if by some miracle our order were understood and complied with, then in six months the Jewish problem would be solved, not merely in Montréal but from one end of the province to the other."

This was written in 1933, the year that Hitler came to power in Germany, so you might say that, within the context of the prevailing social mores of his times, Father Groulx was the lesser of evils.  Or, I suggest, he was just evil.

Incidentally, The Canadian Encyclopedia offers un lavage blanc of Groulx.  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lionel-adolphe-groulx

Tuesday, August 11, 2020
I consider the Israel/Palestine problem intractable, with only the dimmest prospect of a viable solution.  However, I must admit that I was encouraged by the conversation between Dennis Ross, who has worked on foreign policy for every administration from Carter to Obama, and Martin Indyk, U.S. ambassador to Israel under Clinton and Bush, and Obama's special Middle East envoy, presented by the Streicker Center last night.  Here is the recording of their discussion.
https://venue.streamspot.com/video/4b42450f63

They agreed that the retreat by the U.S. from active leadership in Middle Eastern affairs has provided the opportunity for the Gulf Arab states to cooperate with Israel on the sly as Jordan and Egypt do more openly.  The divide between Shia and Sunni Muslims is effectively equal to that between Arabs and Israelis, so that the looming presence of Iran encourages cooperation.  While neither man offered a plan or formula to proceed with, they agreed that Israel cannot expect normalization of relations with any Arab state while pursuing annexation of the West Bank.  
  
Both spoke intelligently and dispassionately about the possibles and the probables in this volatile region.  If only we could hear Israeli and Palestinian leaders address the issues in such a reasonable fashion. 

. . .

I am so excited.  I haven't yet reminded my brother and my cousins Barbara and Michael that Esther Malka, our beloved grandmother, was born Harris, possibly connecting us to the vivacious Kamala Harris.  It's possible that among the constant flow of visitors to 997 Belmont Avenue, Brooklyn, seemingly as necessary a stop for Jewish immigrants as a Station of the Cross for Christian pilgrims, there may have been some folks who did not share our ashen pallor.  With that likelihood in mind, I offer a hearty Mazal Tov to Cousin Kamala.

Wednesday, August 13, 2020
With the announcement of Cousin Kamala as Joe Biden's running mate, I recall when I met Geraldine Ferraro in 1992, 8 years after her historic and woefully unsuccessful run for the vice presidency.  We were at a Democratic Party fundraiser at a Manhattan law firm, where the partners were expected to chip in for truth, beauty and justice.  She was star power and I was there to hold someone's coat.

A buffet was set up after the remarks were delivered and we stood next to each other as I shoveled food onto my plate.  Reaching for the chopped liver (it was a Jewish firm), I said, "Just like mother used to make."  "Not like my mother," she immediately responded.

Thursday, August 14, 2020

As a validation of the discussion Monday by Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross about the Middle East, it was announced today that "Israel and the U.A.E. [United Arab Emirates] will sign a string of bilateral agreements on investment, tourism, security, technology, energy and other areas while moving to allow direct flights between their countries and set up reciprocal embassies in each other’s nation." 

While this may deservedly be viewed as a diplomatic triumph for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, it may imperil his political and personal future.  His razor-thin parliamentary advantage relies upon clusters of zealous nationalist support intent on annexation of the West Bank, abandoned in this agreement, at least for the time being.  And, should he lose his governmental leadership position with collapse of his coalition, his hope to avoid liability on criminal charges now under adjudication will be ruined.

Indyk and Ross appear to have no connection to the current administration, yet their words on Monday proved remarkably prescient today.  Again, here's the recording, now more remarkable, because of how much they got right. 
https://venue.streamspot.com/video/4b42450f63

. . .
 

If you are seeking to get closer to the action, be aware that "[t]he number of empty apartments for rent in Manhattan soared to their highest level in recent history, topping 13,000 . . . more than doubled over last year." 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/13/empty-apartments-in-manhattan-reach-record-high-topping-13000.html

Friday, August 15, 2020

It's still summer and it's still hot.  If you would like to serve your cohabitor or just a friend who dares to cross your threshold something refreshingly different, I recommend watermelon gazpacho -- a blend of watermelon, cucumber, celery, onion, roast peppers, cilantro, mint, lime juice, garlic and salt.  Yum.  If you are inclined to cheat, simply shop at Zabar's, 2245 Broadway, for a 24 oz. container @ $7.99.  And, here's a tip for any gazpacho: Throw in a shot of vodka. 

. . .

 

Peter Kim, Founding Director of the Museum of Food and Drink, spoke on "The History of Chinese American Restaurants" this afternoon, sponsored by Dorot, that great organization supporting elderly New Yorkers.  He traced the development of what he believes is a unique cuisine, not an Americanization of Chinese food.  I was thrilled and delighted when he cited Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street, as the perfect embodiment of Chinatown Chinese-American food.  I felt as if my mission in life had been fulfilled.

Ironically, it was Kim's comments on Italian food that were a revelation to me.  He said that tomatoes and peppers were unknown in Italy until the "Columbian Exchange," a term unknown to me.  According to Wikipedia: "The Columbian exchange, also known as the Columbian interchange, named after Christopher Columbus, was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. 
 

Maybe this is what Uncle Hymie, my mother's oldest brother, meant when he periodically called out "a klug tsu Columbus."  However, I sensed that it had nothing to do with tomatoes.  https://yiddishwordsoftheweek.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/a-klug-tsu-columbus-a-broch-tsu-columbus/

 

You're Not In Good Hands

Monday, August 3, 2020 

Remember me?   

America's Favorite Epidemiologist found the camel immediately, while several other folks, including your humble servant, were flummoxed.  And you?

. . .

Marianne Motherby is the most charming woman in Berlin and one of the most widely-traveled persons that I know.  So, I was delighted, but not surprised, that she responded to my wonder about the restaurant scene in Luxembourg, expressed last week.  "Luxembourg is not known for inexpensive food.  If [however] you get steak au poivre as plat du jour at the right place it will certainly be less expensive than poor Chinese food."  Of course, this raises the question, what do Luxembourgers eat? 

According to Wikipedia "the most traditional of all Luxembourg meat dishes is Judd mat Gaardebounen, smoked collar of pork with broad beans."  Approximately 1,200 Jews live in Luxembourg today, about 0.2% of the population.  Maybe they are vegetarians.
. . .

Bismarck, North Dakota, Lewiston, Maine and Lincoln, Nebraska?  Name three American cities that are least likely to top the list of best cities for renters. 

https://nyti.ms/2Xev4AG

I find it hard to distinguish them from the supposed worst cities for renters, Hialeah, Florida, Huntington, West Virginia and Memphis, Tennessee.  In fact, you are in far less danger of getting frostbite in the worst cities than the best.  Go figure.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Israel's population is just under 9 million, almost exactly the same as New Jersey and slightly more than New York City.  We can learn a lot from their experience reopening public schools.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/world/middleeast/coronavirus-israel-schools-reopen.html

Facing the same pressures that we do, torn between conflicting concerns for public health and the economy, the Israeli government sent kids back to school when the coronavirus rate of infection flattened.  Now, they have a lot of sick kids and sick adults.

On the other hand, we should consider that "[s]ingle parents, parents with young children and parents who can't work from home are the groups most at risk to stop working entirely because they have no child care."    https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/04/economy/schools-reopening-economy-jobs/index.html

And that's the conundrum in trying to navigate this sticky issue.  "Can N.Y.C. Reopen Schools?  The Whole Country Is Watching."  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/nyregion/nyc-schools-reopening.html

One country isn't watching anyone else.  Kenya has shut down its schools entirely, wiping out the whole school year.  In January, the normal start of its school year, Kenya will start this year all over again.  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/world/africa/Kenya-cancels-school-year-coronavirus.html

This is quite a dramatic approach, an attempt to deal with the imbalance of resources available to students outside of school. 

. . .

I am in regular communication with Paul Hecht, Thespian Emeritus, benefitting from his wisdom and artistic sensibility.  Here is a notable contribution of his.

https://youtu.be/wX9WgM5Kr4c

. . .

Just as idle speculation surrounds some of the discussion about school reopening, the facts of police violence are sometimes obscured by ideology.  Here are some key facts drawn from public records.

• Black people were 38% of people killed by the police departments of the 100 largest U.S. cities despite being only 21% of the population in their jurisdictions.
  
• Only 1 of the 100 largest city police departments did not kill anyone from Jan 2013 - Dec 2019 (Irvine, CA).
  
• 47% of unarmed people killed by the 100 largest city police departments were black.  These police departments killed unarmed black people at a rate 4 times higher than unarmed white people.
  
• Rates of violent crime in cities did not make it any more or less likely for police departments to kill people.  For example, Buffalo and Newark police departments had relatively low rates of police violence despite high crime rates while Spokane and Orlando had relatively low crime rates and high rates of police violence.
  

https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/cities

Wednesday, August 5, 2020
The headline is modestly encouraging: "Chinatown Is Coming Back, One Noodle at a Time."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/dining/chinatown-outdoor-dining-coronavirus.html

Traditionally, outdoor dining in Chinatown meant food balanced on your lap (landing on your shirt, on your pants) when you sat in Columbus Park behind the New York State courthouses.  The tight streets and narrow sidewalks kept dining indoors.  Temporarily, in response to the White House Flu, an alternative has been provided, described as "a socially distanced food court."  Because it encompasses beloved Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street, I am feeling a very strong urge to merge with the general public, that is.
. . .

What do major league baseball players Danny Valencia and Ty Kelly have in common?   They're Jewish, of course, playing on the Israeli national team, already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, if it ever occurs.

. . .

"Obesity should be defined by a person's health - not just their weight, says a new Canadian clinical guideline."  Agreed, said a healthy Grandpa Alan.    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53656651

Thursday, August 6, 2020
This article vividly illustrates the economic toll of the White House Flu.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/05/upshot/us-unemployment-maps-coronavirus.html

Also clear is the uneven effect of the severe economic retrenchment we face.  All neighborhoods suffered, but far from equally.
. . .

We've reported some relatively positive news about the New York real estate market, holding its value even as other locations declined.  Well, that may have changed. 
"Manhattan apartment deals plunge 57%."   https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/06/manhattan-apartment-deals-plunge-57percent-suburban-real-estate-surges.html

Reportedly, the "number of unsold apartments is now at the highest level in almost a decade."  Come on, live the dream.

Friday, August 7, 2020

Another incentive to buying real estate now is the absence of good alternatives in spending your money.  Why buy a new car when you can barely leave the house?  And, if you set your sights on more distant horizons, forget it.  As of July 28th, according to CNN.com, these are the places to which American citizens have unconditional access:

• Albania
• Dominican Republic
• Kosovo
• Maldives
• Mexico
• North Macedonia
• Serbia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

[Note -- Kayak.com asserts today that "41 countries have no travel restrictions."  However, that does not account for quarantine or testing requirements upon physical arrival.]

. . .

A prudent business operator will likely seek insurance coverage against a variety of risks, including business interruption.  However, as is too often the case in our society, the Golden Rule applies, that is, "He who has the gold writes the rules."

"Most business interruption policies include highly specific language stating that for a claim to be paid out, there has to be 'direct physical damage.'"  Does that include a pandemic?  

Sorry, Charlie, you didn't expect insurance to actually insure, did you?  https://nyti.ms/2DAdGiQ

Here's the best part: "Insurers say they aren’t being stingy; they simply don’t have enough capital to cover all coronavirus-related claims and would suffer enormous losses if they had to pay out."  How about if the insurance companies took out insurance?

School Daze

Monday, July 27, 2020 "18 of the 50 largest U.S. [real estate] markets have reached or even surpassed January [2020] levels of market activity." https://nyti.ms/3eSW6U9

That seems remarkable considering how difficult it must be to visit available properties and make a decision in these weird days.  Almost as remarkable are those cities that have proved most resilient, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, while Chicago and Atlanta join a group of smaller cities whose real estate market has weakened through the year.  I am encouraged by this report because it refutes, at least for now, the prattle that the coronavirus is emptying our big cities.
. . .

If you are considering bailing out of one of America's big cities, somewhere in Scandinavia and the array of social services broadly available might be your destination.  Before you go, however, regard the proliferation of nasty crime stories that have emerged over the years from northern Europe.   https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/books/review/nordic-noir-guide.html

While they may be fiction, they may reflect deep-seated passions only partially contained under thick turtleneck sweaters.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020
I just finished reading The Expats, a spy novel by Chris Pavone.  It is set in Western Europe and contains this intriguing sentence: "Luxembourg is a place where a great steak au poivre is half the price of awful Chinese food."  Is that true?  Can anyone tell me?  This may well influence my future travel plans, that is if I have a future and if it contains travel plans. 
. . .

Here's a headline that I find very scary, "Study: Blood test for Alzheimer's detects signs 20 years before memory, thinking falter."  You get to sit around for the next 20 years anticipating a vegetative state. While you are waiting, you might consider this puzzle. 

Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I completed my good deed this morning by addressing 30 postcards to Florida voters who may have lost their registration.  The message simply asked them to confirm their status at an indicated site.  The effort was sponsored by Reclaim Our Vote, which could use your help, too.  https://actionnetwork.org/forms/reclaim-our-vote-signup

Besides the feeling that I may have single-handedly saved American democracy, I saw that my handwriting really stinks.  Because I grew up a lefty in a right-handed household, I never mastered cursive writing or almost any task requiring manual dexterity.  So, I resorted to crude printing at an early age, without displaying any improvement over time.
. . .

Getting out the vote is not the only area where our country needs improvement.  Thanks to Humanitarian-on-Wheels Jeffrey Heller, I learned some information that reflects very badly on our way of life, a way of life undeservedly adorned with superlatives.  Our rate of infant mortality trails over 50 other countries, including Latvia, Greece, Cuba, Poland and Italy.  https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/infant-mortality-rate-by-country

We are 34th in the world in life expectancy, behind, among others, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands even with their predilection to murder.  https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/

Thursday, July 30, 2020
"Because he can," is the answer to a scatalogical question.  It traditionally addressed the behavior of a dog, but now we should realize that it is appropriately applied to our sitting president.  While the dog might be interrupted by human intervention, it appears that no force, human or otherwise, can deter the narcissistic authoritarianism of the incumbent.  

The extent of his attack on American democracy in order to satisfy his need for self-pleasure may be gauged by this headline: "Trump Floats Whether to ‘Delay the Election,’ Something He Cannot Legally Do."  So far, the usual chorus of sycophants has been unwilling to pipe up in support of this proposed exercise in monomania.  "Republican leaders in Congress, who often claim not to have seen Mr. Trump’s outlandish statements and tweets and who infrequently challenge him in public, promptly and vocally condemned any notion that the election would be moved." 

Might the coronavirus weaken the body's immune system, but stiffen the spine?
. . .

I think that the challenge of reopening our schools is enormous.  Kids staying home will force parents to stay home more often than not.  The tools for remote learning, as with so many goods in our society, are far from evenly distributed.  Remote learning at its best does not approach the best classroom.  Gathering children and adults together in one space invites contagion.  School is more than the classroom; for many children, it provides food and healthcare; for most, it provides unstated lessons in socialization and acculturation.

Children are a very large part of the equation here, 50.8 million students in public schools (https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372), but not the only part.  Public schools employ 3.2 million teachers  (https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/education-statistics/index.html), who, given their age range, are likely to encompass a significant collection of medical issues.  "On Tuesday, the nation’s second-largest teachers’ union raised the stakes dramatically by authorizing its state and local chapters to strike if their districts do not take sufficient precautions — such as requiring masks and updating ventilation systems — before reopening classrooms."  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/us/teacher-union-school-reopening-coronavirus.html

Here's a description of the hodge-podge that New York City is passing off as its plan to reopen public schools, a plan guaranteed to satisfy no one.  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/nyregion/nyc-schools-reopening-plan.html?campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20200731&instance_id=20891&nl=coronavirus-briefing&regi_id=599756&segment_id=34954&te=1&user_id=1353d3a345e55ff509b5cbb17ed36984 

Colleges present another set of problems and, since they did not close as quickly and consistently as elementary and secondary schools, have already encountered many of them.  "More Than 6,600 Coronavirus Cases Have Been Linked to U.S. Colleges."  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/28/us/covid-19-colleges-universities.html 

One extremely scrupulous friend had his college course reassigned when he asked for an accommodation based on his heart condition.  "I am fighting for the principle of the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act].  My request for a medical accommodation is reasonable in light of the doctor's letter and that many courses are already being taught on Zoom.  The university says that freshmen heavy classes (which mine is) must be in-person."  He had a hearing this morning and a decision is pending.
. . .

Corporate executives do not seem to be indecisive in dealing with the pandemic.  "When the pandemic prompted companies to furlough or lay off thousands of employees, some chief executives decided to show solidarity by forgoing some of their pay.  But it turns out that their sacrifice was minimal."  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/business/economy/ceo-pay-pandemic-layoffs.html

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be anything but CEOs.

Friday, July 31, 2020
As we learn that staff members of the Philadelphia Phillies, players on the St. Louis Cardinals and more than half of the baseball players on the Miami Marlins have tested positive for Covid-19, the cry is heard throughout the land -- Don't Play Ball.
. . .


Here's a brief, but evocative essay about Chinatown today.  https://www.newyorker.com/culture/video-dept/how-the-coronavirus-has-changed-chinatowns-restaurant-business?utm_source=onsite-share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker

It's like hearing that a dear friend is ill, but you are unable to get to her bedside.