Saturday, January 27, 2024
Nikki Haley’s husband is named William M. Haley, known as Bill to friends and family through adulthood. However, once married, Nikki decided that he wasn’t a Bill, but a Michael, his previously unused middle name, which is how he is known today.
This reminds me of the distinguished Canadian political scientist B. Michael Frolic, an authority on contemporary China. As it happens, soon after beginning his graduate studies at Cornell University, he was approached by his advisor, a rather imperious chap, who asked his name. “Bernie.” “No, what’s on your birth certificate? Bernard?” “No, it’s just Bernie.” “Well, that’s too informal. Do you have a middle name?” “Michael.”
Thus, B. Michael Frolic was born to go onto a very successful academic career at York University, Toronto, publishing extensively under that name. However, he is still known personally as Bernie, 60 years later. Clearly, his wife isn’t as big a noodge as Nikki Haley.
Monday, January 29, 2024
I had the pleasure of Gentleman Jerry’s company at lunch today. We went to Caridad 72, 130 West 72nd Street, the successor to Caridad 78, one of the pioneering Cuban Chinese restaurants in the Holy Land. Jerry had never been there; I was returning for the fourth or fifth time. Previously, I had the fried chicken, which I found to be more fried than chicken. Instead, I ordered shrimp egg foo young, thoroughly inauthentic, but comforting ($18).
Jerry chose the fried chicken and was served a dish completely different than what I last had ($12.95 lunch special). The coating was a light tan rather than deep mahogany. It seemed to be modestly crisp, not having the stiff texture of peanut brittle. He enjoyed it and I’ll have to have it again next time.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
In spite of the murky day, I decided to work for my calories and I walked down to 43rd Street for lunch, just shy of 10,000 steps roundtrip. Most of the time, I was on Ninth Avenue, 57th Street to 42nd Street which has to have the greatest variety of places to eat in any neighborhood on Earth. Pizza, empanadas, hamburgers, sushi, bread, noodles, juice, tacos, coffee, seafood, bubble tea, meatballs, dim sum, cookies, ice cream, kebabs, poke, bagels, Chinese, Italian, Georgian, "fine American comfort food", Spanish, Turkish, Japanese, French, Thai, Mexican, Korean, Indian, pubs, diners and grocery stores. If this range of choices is nerve-wracking, there are several "smoke shops" offering tranquility in chewable, inhalable and digestible form.
For fried chicken joints, you have a choice among others of Thai fried chicken, Korean fried chicken, Japanese fried chicken, Taiwanese fried chicken or just "the finest gourmet chicken fingers." Not fried, "French-inspired rotisserie chicken. I chose Poppy Poppy, 617 Ninth Avenue, Taiwanese. It is a hole in the wall, as are many of the neighboring shops, six stools against a narrow counter.
I ordered the Poppy Mixed Box, fried chicken, fried oyster mushrooms and fries ($15.95), a lot of fried food. The chicken was really popcorn chicken; the mushrooms tender and chewy; the fries like potato sticks. All were dusted lightly with a vaguely sweet plum powder, my choice instead of pepper or chili powder or none. Grade B+.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Ouch!
I had some serious oral surgery today, three explants -- the opposite of implants. It was partially redeemed only by having to eat ice cream for the next few days, doctor's orders. Let the healing begin.
Friday, February 2, 2024
Ponder this. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/01/people-england-jewish-ancestry-test-detect-cancer-risk-nhs
The British National Health Service is offering free BRCA gene testing to those of Jewish ancestry, much more susceptible to cancer than the general population. At present, all the tests can do is alert you to the danger. Would you get tested under those circumstances?
I cant rival 9th Avenue but proud to say that on one block [ Broadway 103-104th ] near my house on 104 Street and West End Avenue, we have an Indian restaurant, next to a Chinese which was next to a Japanese that recently closed , which was next to a pizza place , which is next to a Mexican all purpose place, which is next to a small Arab restaurant, which is next to a Korean store that closed. I always marvel at our ethnic diversity in NY.
ReplyDelete