Monday, November 23, 2020
Justifying a visit to Israel last week, dispensing favors to Bibi Netanyahu without getting anything in return, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the decision was consistent with the administration’s “reality-based foreign policy approach." https://nyti.ms/32UuieH
Unfortunately, reality has not intruded on the administration's domestic policy approach.
. . .
While there is good news about the development of
Covid-19 vaccines, widespread use will not be likely until mid or late
2021. Therefore, you will have plenty of time to cuddle up with a good
book at home. The New York Times list of 2020's 100 notable books will
come in handy.
Once you finish with that group of books, dig into the New York Public Library's list of best books of the year.
. . .
The real estate market, at least in part, has had a very active year in spite of the inactivity imposed on many of us. Fairfield County, Connecticut had the
biggest increase in home prices, at 27.3%. Following were this random group of Crestview,
Florida; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Kingston, New York; Atlantic City,
New Jersey; and Boise, Idaho.
While a few of the purchasers may have been expatriates from the Holy Land, there is evidence that I will not be left to wander the local streets alone. In October, "5,641 new leases were signed in the borough [of Manhattan], 12 percent more than were
signed in September, and 33 percent more than last September."
https://nyti.ms/38VZvSP
A record vacancy rate spurred this surge and most of us who reside on the angelic side of the landlord/tenant divide could only cheer.
. . .
Gentleman Jerry joined me for lunch today, a bright, chilly day. Sitting outside, the only acceptable alternative for us, was tolerable while the wind kept down. We ate at Pho Vietnamese Sandwich Shop, 141 West 72nd Street, which had a few rickety tables set up. I had Bun Cha Gio Bo, a big bowl of rice vermicelli topped with scallion, fried shallots, grilled sesame beef, spring rolls, cilantro, lettuce, carrots and chopped peanuts ($15). Jerry's dish substituted grilled chicken for the beef. We were both pleased.
. . .
I thought that this headline should be accompanied by lessons in history and vocabulary. "If Biden Wants to Be Like F.D.R., He Needs the Left" https://nyti.ms/35Ns8zG
Roosevelt's New Deal legislation was passed by strong Democratic majorities in Congress. The House of Representatives elected in 1936 had 334 Democrats and 88 Republicans, the Senate had 72 Democrats, 2 left-leaning independents and 22 Republicans. However, at the heart of those majorities were Southern Democrats, who also controlled the committees that were central to the legislative process. While many of the Southern Democrats had progressive or populist instincts on economic matters, racism was a critical factor in their policy views. Therefore, Social Security coverage, which was legislated in 1935 and initiated in 1937, excluded domestic labor and farm labor, the primary venues for Black employment then. Can Left/Right be meaningful under those circumstances?
If the Left referred to in the article is the "progressivism" of AOC and the Squad, I must sadly note that the electoral success of this group is typically against entrenched Democrats in primaries. So far, Republicans have rebuffed these folks and their allies. While I would be mightily pleased by such results, I don't expect that the labels and slogans facilely deployed (Democratic Socialism, Defund the Police) will return blue collar/working class people to the Democratic fold.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
A semi-serious publication for lawyers took a survey of favorite legal movies with "My Cousin Vinny" easily leading with 23% of the unspecified number of votes. It was followed by "A Few Good Men," "A Time to Kill," "Legally Blonde," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "12 Angry Men," "A Civil Action" "and Philadelphia." I turned to other sources for a similar list. Here, a law professor picks his top five. https://cwslcommentary.com/
I don't want to be snobbish, but dentists don't fare that well on the screen. Picking the eight top dental movies requires an exercise of imagination; #2 "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" includes an "elf [who] makes the brave decision to become a dentist." https://www.
Accountants usually fall to the bottom of the pile when interesting professions are being considered. However, they don't do too badly in Hollywood. See https://www.acecloudhosting.
As for architects, we must turn to Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead," decidedly a turn for the worse.
. . .
Speaking of movies, here is a fascinating documentary that just appeared on public television -- "A Long Journey: The Hidden Jews of the Southwest." It deals with conversos, so-called crypto-Jews who survived the Spanish Inquisition by adopting Roman Catholicism. https://www.pbs.org/video/a-
Now, well more than 500 years later, some of their descendants are returning or trying to return to Judaism. They often face strong opposition both from their families, feeling betrayal, and conventional Jewish authorities, who seem to believe that you can be chosen, but never choose.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
I don't imagine that history will be any kinder to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio than is current public opinion. The largest item on his plate now, which will probably remain undigested for the far future, is the problem of public school attendance during the pandemic. New York City has over 1 million public school students, who are blacker, browner, poorer than the population at large, with many parents lacking easy access to childminding while at work. On the other hand, the unions representing the adults in and around the classroom have promised to stay away from work once the citywide coronavirus infection rate reaches 3%, a number hit this week. https://nyti.ms/3715bbu
While the situation resembles the fabled Rock and Hard Place, with only the body and (already shredded) reputation of Bill de Blasio between them, the facts add to the confusion. This headline, which appeared one month ago, tells the story. "Just Over A Quarter Of NYC Public School Students Have Attended In-Person Instruction This Year So Far." https://gothamist.com/news/
Apparently, the urgency to keep children in school, felt by some parents, has not actually led to many seats being filled in classrooms. And, Bill twists in the wind through it all. How bad is it? New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a notorious control freak, has ceded the issue to the mayor. Just across the river, we have a different point of view. "N.J. Governor Wants Schools Open. Local Officials Have Other Ideas." https://nyti.ms/2V67WTw
. . .
Schoolrooms are not the only places with empty seats. New York City had 23,650 restaurant establishments in 2019, an economic sector that had been growing for the last decade.
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/
”Various estimates project that during the next six months to a year, one-third to one-half of the City’s restaurants and bars that existed prior to the pandemic may close permanently.” Both Zagat and Michelin plan to skip 2021 editions of their New York restaurant guides. https://nyti.ms/360LOQL
For me, this will be as close to homelessness as I can imagine.
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Mother Ruth Gotthelf born 111 years ago today.
. . .
You may have seen this headline:
"What 635 Epidemiologists Are Doing for Thanksgiving." https://nyti.ms/3fhYh5B
The following article offers graphic representation of the holiday plans for epidemiologists and civilians generally. https://www.nytimes.com/
Fortunately, one preeminent figure in the field stayed home and roasted one-half of a turkey, the other half landing in the Schneider household. Except for the absence of half of the turkey and about 20 other people, we celebrated with the usual fine array of holiday favorites -- stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish. A good time was had by me.
Friday, November 27, 2020
If any New Yorker regrets missing the opportunity to get Covid-19 in or around a public school, he could head to a nearby church or synagogue and cuddle up with fellow congregants, thanks to the Coney Island Court.
"Splitting 5 to 4, Supreme Court Backs Religious Challenge to Cuomo’s Virus Shutdown Order." https://nyti.ms/39icuy8
"Splitting 5 to 4, Supreme Court Backs Religious Challenge to Cuomo’s Virus Shutdown Order." https://nyti.ms/39icuy8. . .
This website is a bit cluttered, but it reports "The Most Photographed Landmarks on the Planet," based on Instagram postings. https://www.triptrivia.com/
I am only slightly surprised that my Holy Land appears twice in the top 5 and what the two choices are. Where, for instance, is the Statue of Liberty? On my first trip to the other Holy Land for two weeks in 1986, real cameras with film were still in use. I found so much to photograph that I quickly used the 3 rolls I brought with me and eventually shot 7 more rolls purchased along the way. What I noticed afterwards was that on my two visits to Jerusalem, about one week apart, I took the same photographs of the Old City, without realizing it, the sights were so compelling. Jerusalem takes architectural integrity seriously, trying to keep its building facades as traditional as the clothing of its inhabitants. At least, the buildings are attractive.
