Sunday, January 9, 2022
Here is a quick overview of the North American bagel business, from New York and Montreal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/
. . .
In case you are thinking of personally downsizing or, at least, throwing your brother-in-law out of your basement, take a look at “The Best (and Worst) Places for Singles to Rent Studios.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/
This compilation doesn't just look at rents, but factors in local income levels. Goodbye Miami, hello Wichita.
Monday, January 10, 2022
Paul Hecht, Thespian Emeritus, responded to objections to Helen Mirren playing Golda Meir: "Of course I am not in agreement with that Brit MP about the casting of Golda M. I have played Jews (Herzl) and non Jews (John Dickinson). Plus many others of dubious ethnic origins. I guess I'll never get to play Othello."
. . .
The anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot increased debate about prosecuting the ex-president for inciting the events. By the way, Harry Truman insisted that he was a former president, having left office on his own power, while Herbert Hoover was an ex-president, having been defeated for re-election.
I, for one, oppose bringing a criminal action, because it is bound to fail. The prevailing legal standard comes from Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 US 444 (1969): "the constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action." The words directed, imminent and likely offer a huge playing field for a defense attorney and would allow even Rudy Giuliani to win in court.
The result would be another "victory" for the ex-president, loudly and widely proclaimed, rather than the disgrace that he deserves by common morality and decency.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
News from the chocolate chip cookie frontier
Last week, I found packages of fresh David’s Cookies at ShopRite, 40 Nathaniel Place, Englewood, New Jersey, returning me to the finest years of my middle age. Today, at Fairway Market, 2131 Broadway, I came across another significant cookie development. Levain Bakery is packaging their cookies, pre-baked, frozen, eight 2 oz. cookies for $8.99; "heat them in the oven at 350°F for five to seven minutes." At one of their expanding network of stores (5 in the Holy Land plus Boston, Bethesda and Georgetown), Levain sells its 6 oz. cookie for $4.50. Size apart, these seem to be the same cookie.
Many sources consider Levain the best chocolate chip cookies anywhere. Not me. I admit that Levain makes excellent chocolate chip cookies (with or without walnuts, peanut butter and the like), but my heart and my gullet belong to Jacques Torres, with three locations in Manhattan. Both outfits feature superior contents and careful preparation; size, shape and texture distinguish them and that's where I prefer Jacques Torres. Don't worry. Conducting your own taste test will produce a happy mouth, in any case.
. . .
One
place where happiness cannot be found is the schoolhouse during
Covid-19. Today, students at several prominent local high schools
walked out of classes, seeking remote learning.
https://gothamist.com/news/
The Rhode Island teachers' union takes the same position.
"In a
statement released Tuesday, the St. Paul Federation of Educators Local 28 union
called for the district to take several actions, including making a temporary
shift to remote learning, providing masks, expanding testing and maintaining a
10-day isolation period for those who test positive for the coronavirus." https://www.msn.com/en-us/
In Chicago, "students are set to return to school after the teachers union and city landed a deal on Covid-19 measures."
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/
Consistent with the more relaxed Southern way of life, "Georgia School Teachers Who Have Covid Are Allowed To Go Back To School If Asymptomatic And Masked."
https://www.scarymommy.com/
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of Texas, school districts are asking parents to fill in as substitute teachers as COVID cases rise.
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
If you are worried about what might happen to your brother-in-law after you throw him out of your basement, relax. The number of available lucrative, high-status positions seems very high. Right now, symphony orchestra conductors are being sought in New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and Seattle, while National Football League head coaching jobs are open in New York, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville. In several cases, one fare will put him in position to apply for both jobs.
. . .
Paul Hecht, quoted above, was born in London during the Blitz, so he did
not hesitate facing a viral bombardment today. Michael A. and Ken K.
were born in Brooklyn and similarly ventured forth bravely to meet me at
Tipsy Shanghai, 189 East Broadway, for lunch. It's the third in this
new mini-chain. At the end of the block that used to be the Fleet
Street of the American Yiddish press, it is pleasantly decorated with
accents of red and steel gray.
It
is serious about its Shanghai roots. Noodles are generally limited to
soup; no lo mein or chow fun. This complicated ordering for four,
easily divided. We wound up with Shanghai wonton soup, Spring noodles
(really beef noodle soup), pan fried vegetable dumplings, tangerine
beef, eggplant in garlic sauce and chicken fried rice. It amounted to
$22 each.
Had I been better prepared, I would have explored the menu more deeply.
Thursday, January13, 2022
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