Saturday, August 30, 2025
In case you are wondering, the Houthi ideology is expressed in the slogan on the group’s flag: “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory to Islam.” Now you know.
. . .
Although it originated much before him, the cult of the personality is oft associated with Joseph Stalin.
"Historically,
it has been developed through techniques such as the manipulation of
the mass media, the dissemination of propaganda, the staging of
spectacles, the manipulation of the arts, the instilling of patriotism,
and government-organized demonstrations and rallies." Today, we have two
prominent examples in Kim Jung-un and Donald Trump, with Modi, Orbán,
Netanyahu and Bolsonaro nipping at their heels. So far, while Americans
have been subjected to frequent offenses to common decency and justice,
we have been spared the renaming of major cities to honor the Dear
Leader, such as Stalingrad and Ciudad Evita. Maybe the updating of Mt.
Rushmore will suffice.
The
Supper Club was at Palazzo di Gotthelf for dinner tonight. It was a
very successful evening. Eva made a wonderful avocado Caesar salad and
Susan baked a delicious mixed berry galette. The Hostess With the
Mostest prepared baked cod Mediterranean style with tomatoes, garlic,
olives and onions, couscous on the side. I set the table.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Last night at dinner, I made a wildly inaccurate estimate of the population of Hawaii, actual = 1,450,900,
me = 6-8 million. Today, the newspaper’s real estate section had a
figure that I couldn’t even guess at, the median age of first-time home
buyers in the United States. The National Association of Realtors says
38 and rising as home prices continue to spiral upwards.
Monday, September 1, 2025
Today, on Labor Day, the Washington Post identifies 5,700 national holidays of some note and the ability to find which commemoration(s) align with your birthday. https://www.
It's worth maneuvering over, under, around or through their paywall to enjoy this information. Did you know that today is, among other things, Chicken Boy Day and National Burnt Ends Day?
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Tacos
Grand Central, 711 Second Avenue, is a small place, a narrow storefront
containing two four-tops and six high stools at a counter. Takeout and
delivery kept it busy. Its menu is a model of basic Mexican cuisine —
tacos, burritos, tostadas, nachos, enchiladas and quesadillas. I chose
the all-day special, three tacos with a can of soda for $11.99, possibly
inspired by TACO, Trump Always Chickens Out. Mine were chicken on soft
5” corn tortillas, cooked to order. While I had Coke Zero, I was
impressed by the large assortment of Jarritos, a Mexican soda brand with
interesting flavors, such as tamarind, guava, pineapple and passion
fruit.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
A
sub-headline on an op-ed about gerrymandering says, “If Democrats
redistribute a state to entrench power, they will lose the moral high
ground.” I don’t disagree, but So what?
Is
the moral high ground the goal in electoral
politics? Until humankind achieves
that level of selflessness posited both by Christianity and Marxism, the
quest for power will override the better angels of our nature.
. . .
H
Mart, 210 Amsterdam Avenue, is one of about 100 branches of this
nationwide Asian supermarket chain, with a strong Korean flavor. This
one sits a few yards from Palazzo di Gotthelf, but I am only an
occasional customer with the competition offered by Fairway, Trader Joe's and Zabar's. However, they serve as an outlet for bb.q Chicken, the
Korean enterprise with thousands of locations worldwide. I usually eat
at 25 West 32nd Street, on the way to Madison Square Garden.
I
bought a box of Golden Original Boneless ($14.99) and sat on a picnic
bench on the grounds of our estate. There were about 15 chunks of very
crispy chicken in the box, more than enough to satisfy even me. I
brought my own cans of lime-flavored Polar Premium Seltzer, because H
Mart’s markup on certain products is outrageous. For a time, at least,
the world seemed like a nice place.
. . .
In
announcing that Florida is eliminating vaccine mandates for its
schoolchildren, the state’s chief medical officer said, “Who am I to
tell you what your child should put in their body?” You! You’re a goddamned doctor, that’s who!
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Given
the quality of the advice on vaccines provided by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, I suggest that he be known as Killer Kennedy.
. . .
Yesterday,
it was Korean chicken, today Filipino at Jolibee, 609 Eighth Avenue,
one of its 1,700 locations around the world. Terrific Tom joined me and we
put the economies of scale to our advantage. We shared a six-piece
bucket of nice and crispy fried chicken, coming with two biscuits and
French fries, an extra side of mashed potatoes and two refillable
fountain drinks for $14 each of us. That’s a bargain by today’s standards and
Tom’s company added great value.
Friday, September 5, 2025
El
Mitote, 208 Columbus Avenue, is a busy Mexican restaurant with a full
bar and seating indoors and outdoors. Caring Ken Klein and I chose air
conditioning as summer weather hung around.
I ordered a burrito bursting with scrambled eggs, chorizo, rice and beans ($18). To drink, I had hibiscus aqua fresca, flavored water ($5). Its very tart natural taste required a few squirts of sugar water served on the side.
On
the way home, I stopped at Trader Joe’s to shop, 2073 Broadway, and
almost had my pleasant afternoon ruined. The elevator and escalator
remained busted for the week in this location where all the business is
below street level. Having been to the gym already this morning, I was
in no mood to haul weights up two flights of stairs. Raising my voice
did not restart the mechanisms.
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