Saturday, March 2, 2024
Conservatism was shaped as a coherent political philosophy in the US by William F. Buckley, founder of the National Review. Buckley was a Yale man whose erudition was always on display. Contrast that with some of today’s leading right wingers, J.D. Vance (Ohio State B.A., Yale J.D.), Ted Cruz (Princeton B.A., Harvard J.D.), Josh Hawley (Stanford B.A., Yale J.D.), who strive to be seen as oafs although guaranteed places at the elite trough. Then, there is Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, graduate of Southern Arkansas University, career college football coach before entering politics. He explained his restrictive view on immigration as based on “a million people every couple of months coming to this country that know nothing about God.”
This warranted the senator being labeled “a world-class idiot.”
Sunday, March 3, 2024
A survey looked at 2,378 locations as prospective destinations for young home buyers, aged 25 to 34, you know 1/3 of me.
It examined availability, affordability, job opportunities, commute time, culture and “liveliness” measures, among other factors, and found a very diverse group of attractive sites. At the top were Irondequoit, NY, Benton, AR, Winterset, IA and Newington, CT, all within larger metropolitan areas, both blue and red. This was somewhat positive real estate news, for a change.
. . .
We went to see the matinee performance of “Jelly’s Last Jam,” a high energy musical that helped us overcome jet lag. I enjoyed the show, but had some trouble with the playbill. Along with performers, production folks and back office people, it listed a Sensitivity Specialist. Of course, I looked her up and found she had credits with several shows as an “Intimacy/Cultural Sensitivity consultant.” I forwarded her résumé to Senator Tuberville.
. . .
After the theater, we went to Bengal Tiger Indian Food, 58 West 56th Street, for dinner. This was an accomplishment, because this narrow second floor joint doesn’t accept reservations and usually has a long wait for a table. Before five o’clock, we were able to sit right down, which wasn’t the case for those entering a few minutes later.
I had chicken saag, slightly overcooked chunks of white meat in spinach sauce ($18), naan ($4) and mango chutney ($5). Not bad as long as we didn’t have to wait.
What I did for love or what love did for me. The New York Rangers were playing the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden tonight and I had purchased tickets long in advance. As it happens, these two teams are at the very top of the National Hockey League, making this an important game. So, a 44-year old nephew of America’s Favorite Epidemiologist decided to get married for the first time this evening. Guess where I headed for?
Which turned out OK, because the Rangers lost 4-2, sparing me the direct exposure to agony. But, what if I were at the game offering enthusiastic support? Different result?
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Stony Brook Steve and I went out to lunch on this cold, damp day, the kind of weather that makes you think of going on vacation. We ate the 74th Street Cafe at the Fairway Market, 2131 Broadway. I had the Breakfast Burger, Pat Lafrieda (locally prominent butcher) burger, over easy egg, maple bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado aioli, arugula and tomato on a brioche bun, the last two items on the side, with French fries ($17). The hefty burger is a good deal, nearly impossible to hold in your hand. Be wary of the Diet Coke, however, the smallest bottle you have ever seen for $2.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
If it’s midtown, it must be Urban Hawker, 135 West 50th Street, the block-long food court with 17 vendors rooted in Singapore. It’s always proved more than satisfactory and today it really excelled. I ordered from Prawnaholic, advertising that it was founded by Chef Alan, a beloved chap no doubt.
I had an enormous portion of Singapore Hokkien Mee, angel hair noodles in a delicious, soupy sauce, shrimp, eggs, chicken, calamari in a barrel shape that I have never seen before, and something crunchy ($18). Singaporean cuisine encompasses almost all of Asia. This dish is Fujian Chinese and lost nothing in the translation.
That spunky old Rupert Murdoch is at it again. The 92-year old guy just got engaged to be married for the fifth time.
The 25-year age difference between him and his beloved is apparently inconsequential. There is no truth to the rumor that they have to get married.
. . .
Oh, boy. I just realized that I have been going to B&H Dairy, 127 Second Avenue, for over 60 years.
That makes it a very old restaurant.
Friday, March 8, 2024
Last month was the warmest February on record.
Donald Trump claims that his candidacy is the reason for this.
. . .
I just can’t imagine a better bargain in the Northern Hemisphere than
the hot dog at Costco. I was at their atypical location at 517 East
117th, part of a multi-story, vertical shopping center, at lunchtime
today, because of what I forgot to do on my visit there yesterday. I had
the quarter-pound, all-beef hot dog with the infinitely refillable
fountain drink for $1.50. May I repeat, $1.50 for a hot dog and drink, a price that has held for
years. What has changed is the hot dog. It used to a Hebrew National
Kosher hot dog for $1.50 until 2008, when Costco brought production in
house to maintain the price. While no longer Kosher, the hot dog is
still all beef, as required by our fussy Jewish law. You’d never know
the difference.
. . .
As more schools return to using the Scholastic Aptitude Tests as part of their admission process, it will now be entirely digital, administered on computer.
My mastery of the #2 pencil would now be useless.
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