Saturday, August 24, 2024
As widely reported, housing prices have far outpaced increases in income for many Americans, directing more of us to the rental market. Supply has not met demand and prices there have risen dramatically, as well. Is help on the way?
The story is somewhat optimistic; "2 million apartments are set to come online by 2028.” However, the "focus on high-end apartments — combined with the concentration of new units in the largest U.S. metros — means that renters in smaller markets may continue to have limited affordable options,” as would those seeking affordable options anywhere.
. . .
Last week, I discovered Guaraná Antarctica Zero, a delightful Brazilian soft drink. Larry Storrs, a dear friend, who had been a Mormon missionary in Brazil, wrote that he buys it regularly from a Latin-flavored market near his Maryland home. So, I looked for local sources. Several supermarkets in Hispanic neighborhoods in upper Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens seemed to stock it. However, before I set out to buy a case or two, I came across this authoritative work, “Guaraná, How Brazil Embraced the World's Most Caffeine-Rich Plant” by Seth Garfield. “In addition to giving you a boost of energy, caffeine may lower your risk of certain conditions. But consuming too much can lead to less desirable effects like headaches, confusion, and high blood pressure.”
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Do I risk it?
. . .
Unfortunately, I’ve never been in agreement with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dictum that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice for reasons like this: “Taliban bans the sound of women’s voices singing or reading in public."
Allow me to say a word in defense of the Roman Catholic Church, actually not the institutional church, but some of its teachings. The New York Times today writes about J.D. Vance’s conversion and acceptance of a conservative Catholic worldview.
Once upon a time, I studied the Catholic Worker Movement and particularly Dorothy Day, now being considered for canonization for her charitable works, ignoring her political radicalism. Had Vance encountered the movement’s anti-war, anti-statist, anti-capitalist philosophy, rooted in the Sermon on the Mount, his place on the Republican ticket would probably be now occupied by Hulk Hogan.
. . .
L’Incontro was a well-established restaurant in Astoria that served excellent Italian food. Three months ago, it closed its doors and immediately reincarnated as L’Incontro by Rocco, 1572 Second Avenue. Why the change? It was always crowded, one block to the subway, good street parking. The new space, attractively decorated in Sputnik Modern, appears to be less than half the size of the original. I spoke to the manager after dinner and he told me that the end of its lease forced it out.
In any case, Barbara and Bernie, cousins of cousins, met us there for a fine dinner with a few minor service glitches. The list of specials was longer than the printed menu. We ordered two salads divided by four, Insalata di Barbabietole, thinly sliced beets over mixed greens with shaved ricotta, balsamic vinaigrette and a touch of truffle oil ($19) and Insalata di Cavalo, baby kale with poached apples, provolone cheese and homemade balsamic reduction ($19). My main course was Vitello al Limone, thin slices of veal cooked in lemon and butter with string beans and roasted potatoes, just delicious ($42).
We skipped dessert at the restaurant, although one of their gelato flavors was fig, sort of my Holy Grail of ice cream flavors. Instead, we walked, trudged in my case, a half mile to Van Leeuwen, 1270 Third Avenue, for ice cream. It is now a national chain, having started with a food truck in 2008. Its unashamed promotion of vegan ice cream has given me pause until now.
There was a good variety of real ice cream. I got a cup with praline butter cake and dark chocolate fudge brownie, really dark and dense ($8.95). It made for a good combination and it allowed me to ignore the healthy alternatives.
Monday, August 26, 2024
"A law in Iowa that bars public schools from having books that depict sexual acts can take effect, following a ruling by federal appeals court judges on Friday. . . . The law, known as Senate File 496, was signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023, and bans any titles that describe sexual acts from K-12 schools, with the exception of religious texts."
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/
If you can get your hot sex from the Bible, why bother with any other books?
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Stony Brook Steve joined me in venturing far over to the East Side in continuing pursuit of 57 Sandwiches That Define New York.
We went to Regina’s Grocery, 300 East 88th Street, one of four branches of this local chain. I don’t know about the other locations, but this place is small, two two-tops indoors and one on the sidewalk. Whether deliberate or not, the premises look old and beat up. One wall is exposed brick, opposite partially are wooden slats. The floor is covered in little white tiles. Odds and ends hang on the walls.
The dozen or so sandwiches are supposedly named for family and friends. From among the Grandma Lucy, Uncle Chubby, Lil Phil and others, I chose the Uncle Rocco, which was described by the New York Times as “a caper-dotted Italian tuna sandwich served on a hero with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, spicy Calabrian pepper paste and arugula, is oily perfection” ($17). That’s an overreach, but I enjoyed it. On the other hand, Steve thought that his turkey sandwich was best left nameless.
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
I grew up on soda, specifically Pepsi-Cola. It came in 12 ounce bottles yielding two glasses, one for me and one for my brother, compared to Coca-Cola in 6.5 ounce bottles. If there was wine with dinner, it had to be Passover. Today, I’ll often choose a Diet Coke, unless Coke Zero is available, over a beer or a glass of wine. My repertoire also includes ginger ale, root beer and cream soda. So, I found this article fascinating, reviewing localized sodas from around the country.
You might know Moxie from the Northeast, but what about Jic Jac Blue Raspberry Soda from St. Louis?
. . .
Diet Cokes flew fast and furious at lunch for the four of us at Spicy Village a/k/a He Nan Noodle House, 68 Forsyth Street. The 93° temperature and the somewhat spicy food stimulated our thirst. The joint's appearance probably deters most people. A small, narrow, dumpy joint, it has a few red, shiny things hanging meant to evoke a Chinese setting. A careful look shows favorable reviews from the New York Times and Time Out and they were dispositive.
We ate “Spice Scallion sauce Vegetable Dumpling” ($10.50 for 10), Pancake w. Beef ($6.75), Spicy Lamb Huimei (hand-pulled wide noodles) ($12.50), Beef Brisket Hui Mein (more noodles) ($12.50) and Spicy Big Tray Chicken, chunks of chicken on the bone and potatoes stewed in a dark, spicy, salty broth ($21.50). By chance, I found this review later, very much paralleling our experience.
I couldn’t resist the best lunch deal in the Holy Land today when I went to Costco, 517 East 117th Street. Quarter-pound, all beef hot dog and refillable fountain soda (Pepsi products) for $1.50 plus tax. Even eating standing up did not diminish my pleasure.
Friday, August 30, 2024
Presidential Power Primer
According to the United States Supreme Court, a President of the United States can do a bad thing as long as it is deemed an official act, but cannot do a good thing, such as forgiving student loan indebtedness, because it is overstepping his authority.
Interesting report on L'Incontro: forced to relocate to Manhattan from Queens after being forced out by rising rental prices.
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