Saturday, April 1, 2023
Yesterday, I wished David a Happy Birthday. But, David who? I have what I consider cordial relations with:
David Baskin
David Brodie
David Friedman
David Goldfarb
David Goldfarb (Jr.)
David Grotell
David McMullen
David Mervin
David Must
David Poloner
David Prager
David Webber
It was, in fact, David Webber, Professor of Law at Boston University, who celebrated his 50th birthday on March 31, although his mother demands a recount.
This reminds me of “Multitudes of Amys,” a Stephen Sondheim song that was cut from Company, his innovative Broadway show.
. . .
We met Jill and Steve, our intrepid fellow travelers, for dinner at JaydSiri Thai Bistro, 23 South Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, although the sign over the door says Krung Tep Thai Bistro. Whatever, the food was very good.
I had three appetizers, duck spring rolls, four slim tubes ($10); grilled chicken satay, four skewers ($12); fried chive pancakes, delicious, but not what you would expect, green, wedge-shaped, spongy ($10). I also enjoyed some of Steve’s sautéed broad, flat rice noodles. In all, it was worth leaving the city.
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Ezra Klein writes a valuable essay about “Everything-Bagel Liberalism,” the crafting of public projects to include a variety of not-necessarily-intrinsic virtuous elements.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/
Doing the right thing ain’t easy, cheap or fast. Pick your folk wisdom. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Perfect is the enemy of good. A camel is a horse designed by committee.
. . .
The United States Chamber of Commerce released a report that claims that “[i]n 2020, tort costs — the cost of civil cases where one party incurs liability for harming another party — in America were around $3,621 per household.”
As a group that promotes business interests, the Chamber concluded that “[t]hese figures, and others found throughout the report, should send a clear signal to policymakers that America’s runaway lawsuit problem urgently needs fixing.” Of course, one might alternatively conclude that America’s runaway negligence problem needs fixing. How about manufacturers and property owners increasing their attention to safety?
Monday, April 3, 2023
Everything is beginning to blur as I write this, because I am in my eye doctor’s office getting a full work up. They put drops in my eyes designed to have me walk into walls for the next hour. I’ve already had the hated field vision test, sticking your head into a scooped out gourd to spot tiny pinpoints of light coming from all directions. I hate it, because I am admittedly very competitive and I don’t want to miss anything.
Sometime later, the doctor said that whatever it is that they are looking at is pretty much the same as before and he sent me out into the street looking like I had escaped from a Walter Keane painting. My eyesight returned to myopic normalcy when I caught up with Ken Klein for a cup of coffee at Shakespeare & Co., 2020 Broadway, the café
with a bookstore attached.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Gentleman Jerry and I had a choice, go downtown to the Trump indictment or have lunch at a Chinese restaurant. No problem. We went right to Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, 24 West 33rd Street. It moved into Manhattan last year after 16 successful years in Flushing and consistent recognition by the Michelin Guide.
The new space is large and tastefully decorated, although in a non-ethnic manner appropriate to any just-below-deluxe hotel lobby. On the other hand, the menu is pure Chinese. Xiao Long Bao are soup dumplings and the restaurant offers 10 different soup dumplings instead of the usual two. The rest of the menu is a combination of dim sum, soups, noodles and cold dishes, a broad variety.
We shared pan fried pork buns ($10.50 for 6); chicken siu mai ($7.50 for 4); scallion pancake with sliced beef ($11.50); seafood fried udon ($16); too much food, but so good that nothing remained. All the portions were generously sized. Note also that the prices are reasonable for a midtown location, at least for now. The scallion pancake was brilliant, crispy outside, soft inside. The udon noodles were loaded with shrimp, scallops and fish.
I usually speak only for myself, reluctant to embarrass or compromise my companions, but Gentleman Jerry firmly agrees with my endorsement of this place.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Columbia University has been extending its territorial reach abroad just as it has been colonizing swathes of Manhattan Island. Close to 100 faculty members are publicly objecting to its latest destination. From a spokesperson: “There are problems in other places where Columbia has global centers,” he said, citing China, Turkey and Jordan. “Those considerations may not have been thought about before the other centers were established, but if we establish a new one, then we have a chance now to think about those things.”
What woke these faculty members up? Israel, of course. Their human rights radar failed to notice other malefactors until now, because, while their oppression and brutality were discernible, they lacked a vital element — Jews.
. . .
The Upper West Side’s Power Couple began their journey from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to the Promised Land, from building pyramids to joining country clubs with a drive up to Eastern Massachusetts, where 50-year old David Webber will be leading Passover services for the next two nights.
On our way, we picked up a fellow sojourner, Dani Poloner, our grandnephew, a junior at Brown University. He is not only a bright young man, but, unlike so many other people in so many other circumstances, he actually enjoys what he is doing. It was a pleasure to hear his enthusiasm for his studies.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
I am intrigued by this advertisement that popped up on my smartyphone.
Just how much tender loving care did this cow experience?
Thank you and Gentleman Jerry for another great Midtown Chinese restaurant rec!
ReplyDeleteAnd Whole Foods' definition of "Animal Welfare Certified" is that they were fed using SNAP/EBT benefits, since they are unemployed...