Last night
A.: Let me show you how to turn off the alarm in case you want to go outside in the morning before I'm up.
Dad: That's alright, I won't.
A.: Are you sure.
Dad: Yes.
A.: Okay, but remember not to open the door without disarming it.
I didn't disarm it when I came downstairs because my parents were still asleep. Mom still is. Dad came down looking for something or other. He went for the door.
A.: Dad!
Dad: What??
A.: What did I tell you about not opening the door unless you've turned off the alarm?!
Dad: I forgot.
I disarmed it, showed him how to use it. But the point is, would it hurt to listen? I don't say these things for my health. It wouldn't have been the end of the world if the alarm went off--I'd have turned it off. It would have woken mom, but it's not that early anymore. But if I'd been in the shower, for example, we'd have had problems.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday morning roundup
Note to Tea Partiers: just because you chase away the fringiest of your element, doesn't mean racism isn't a big part of your platform.
I thought that rites and celebrations like weddings were about sharing important times in your life with the people you love; apparently, some people think it's more about having wedding pictures unmarred by overweight friends.
Gail Collins reminds us how nice it is to have avoided the era of the weasel testicles.
I thought that rites and celebrations like weddings were about sharing important times in your life with the people you love; apparently, some people think it's more about having wedding pictures unmarred by overweight friends.
Gail Collins reminds us how nice it is to have avoided the era of the weasel testicles.
Responses to comments
(1) Thanks for the birthday wishes!
(2) ETC, your husband's spot on--"your problem is our problem" is what any relationship is about. That's why, for example, back in the day before I knew better than not to travel with my mother, I was horrified that she would say things like, "well, I'm pulling over at McDonald's because I like it." Mind you, in her case, it was all about making that statement, but it also reflected a missing of the point: we're in this together; it's worth finding something that works for everyone (including when there's something right next door).
(2) ETC, your husband's spot on--"your problem is our problem" is what any relationship is about. That's why, for example, back in the day before I knew better than not to travel with my mother, I was horrified that she would say things like, "well, I'm pulling over at McDonald's because I like it." Mind you, in her case, it was all about making that statement, but it also reflected a missing of the point: we're in this together; it's worth finding something that works for everyone (including when there's something right next door).
napkin refusal
There was another fun part about dinner I forgot to tell you about. Keep in mind that my mom had botched oral surgery, so when she eats, she gets food all over the outside of her mouth. She needs napkins.
Mom: Could I have a napkin?
A.: They're in that vase.
Mom: Where?
A.: There.
Mom: Oh, no!
A.: What?
Mom: I can't do that.
A.: Why not.
Mom: Then you'd have to wash it. It would be wasteful.
A.: I'd throw it in the wash with all my other laundry. It wouldn't change anything.
Mom: Otherwise you'd throw in something else.
A.: No, I wouldn't.
Mom: It's a waste of water!
A.: Well, paper napkins are a waste of paper, and you just throw them out afterward.
Mom: I don't. I reuse them. I use them to clean the floor.
A.: I reiterate that washing these cloth napkins will change nothing in terms of water consumption. And I add that that kind of water consumption is a drop in the bucket compared to that involved in (1) the manufacturing of plastic water bottles and (2) the meat industry. If you're concerned about water, stop eating cows.
Mom: Then what are you going to do with all the cows?
A.: Stop raising them!
Mom: I know. I know about the methane...
Dad: All of that stuff has been debunked.
A.: It absolutely has not. It's just science.
Mom: I know it's bad, but what are you going to do?
A.: Stop eating cows! And have a cloth napkin.
Mom: No!
Mom: Could I have a napkin?
A.: They're in that vase.
Mom: Where?
A.: There.
Mom: Oh, no!
A.: What?
Mom: I can't do that.
A.: Why not.
Mom: Then you'd have to wash it. It would be wasteful.
A.: I'd throw it in the wash with all my other laundry. It wouldn't change anything.
Mom: Otherwise you'd throw in something else.
A.: No, I wouldn't.
Mom: It's a waste of water!
A.: Well, paper napkins are a waste of paper, and you just throw them out afterward.
Mom: I don't. I reuse them. I use them to clean the floor.
A.: I reiterate that washing these cloth napkins will change nothing in terms of water consumption. And I add that that kind of water consumption is a drop in the bucket compared to that involved in (1) the manufacturing of plastic water bottles and (2) the meat industry. If you're concerned about water, stop eating cows.
Mom: Then what are you going to do with all the cows?
A.: Stop raising them!
Mom: I know. I know about the methane...
Dad: All of that stuff has been debunked.
A.: It absolutely has not. It's just science.
Mom: I know it's bad, but what are you going to do?
A.: Stop eating cows! And have a cloth napkin.
Mom: No!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday night dinner
I can't complain so far. I mean, on one hand, Mom has just now stopped complaining about the lamp that I convinced her not to bring. And she's only stopped because she's gone to bed. But I've not heard anything about the size of my butt, or my detrimental-to-the-soul decor. I have fielded many questions and comments about the size of my cat, but that's to be expected. Mom even asked me why I fed her so little if she's going to be fat anyway. She's a cat, she said; may as well let her enjoy her life.
But the lamp talk started the second she walked in the door.
Mom: That's the lamp you have in here?! That lamp? The lamp we have is so much better.
A.: [Shrug]
Dad: You're tired. Just sit for a minute without feeling like you need to say anything.
Every few minutes, as I was getting dinner together, I heard something like this:
Mom: I don't understand. Now how am I going to get you that lamp.
And just before she went to bed, she went on about how the lamp would work in that guestroom, too.
And every time I brought something out in the kitchen--including flatware--she said, "you didn't buy that, did you? you know we have plenty of that."
And--I'd forgotten to tell you guys about the shoe discussion over the phone, in which she threatened to bring me sandals and I begged her not to. Well, she brought them anyway, and they're butt-ugly. Mom often has good taste in shoes, but--and this is saying a lot--I have enough shoes in my life.
A.: I'm not taking these, mom.
Mom: Why not?
A.: Because I don't need any more shoes.
Mom: You never know.
A.: Fine. Also because they're hideous.
Mom: They're great.
A.: No.
For five minutes, while dad and I were unloading the car, she would alternate lamp talk with, "look at where that plant is! plants need light." I pointed out that the plant was right in front of the glass door, and that normally the curtain was drawn. She let it go.
Mom calmed down once she sat down, had a snack or too (dad has a point: it's not surprising she was in a mood). Dinner went well; I threw some stuff on the stove and in the oven, made a salad and fruit salad, put out some appetizers they'd brought from the Russian store in Boston. I'll take them to the one here tomorrow just for fun; I've warned them it's pretty lame. They also brought a nice wine; it was good to have a glass. I don't usually open bottles, since I don't go through them before they go off, so it was a rare treat.
Oh, there was drama over the shrimp. Dad asked if he could help, so I told him he could make salad or peel the shrimp I'd just boiled. He opted for the latter, said it came out well. I told him it was just a drop of vinegar and Old Bay. Mom saw it.
Mom: Do you have cocktail sauce?
A.: No, but even if I did, I'd recommend against it. It's pretty good plain.
Mom: Hah!
Dad: Really, it is.
Coming from him, that means a lot.
Mom: I'm old and set in my ways. You can't tell me what to do!
A.: Well, you don't have to have any.
Mom: I'm hungry, so I'll have some. But you can't tell me what to do. I've gone this far having cocktail sauce. You can't stop me.
A.: I just don't have any. I didn't, like, spill it all out before you got here just to spite you.
Mom: But you're telling me not to have any in my house.
A.: I am?
Mom: Aren't you?
Dad: I didn't hear anything about that.
Mom: Well, I don't want to hear any lectures about what's healthy.
A.: [Shrug]
Later
Mom: These are really good tomatoes.
A.: They're the heirloom tomatoes from Trader Joe's; they're the best non-organic tomatoes around. I served them at AV day and people loved them.
Mom: Organics are a bunch of hippie crap!
A.: [Sigh].
And so it went. But it was very peaceful, as dinners with my family go. Very low on criticism, too.
I'll keep you guys posted.
But the lamp talk started the second she walked in the door.
Mom: That's the lamp you have in here?! That lamp? The lamp we have is so much better.
A.: [Shrug]
Dad: You're tired. Just sit for a minute without feeling like you need to say anything.
Every few minutes, as I was getting dinner together, I heard something like this:
Mom: I don't understand. Now how am I going to get you that lamp.
And just before she went to bed, she went on about how the lamp would work in that guestroom, too.
And every time I brought something out in the kitchen--including flatware--she said, "you didn't buy that, did you? you know we have plenty of that."
And--I'd forgotten to tell you guys about the shoe discussion over the phone, in which she threatened to bring me sandals and I begged her not to. Well, she brought them anyway, and they're butt-ugly. Mom often has good taste in shoes, but--and this is saying a lot--I have enough shoes in my life.
A.: I'm not taking these, mom.
Mom: Why not?
A.: Because I don't need any more shoes.
Mom: You never know.
A.: Fine. Also because they're hideous.
Mom: They're great.
A.: No.
For five minutes, while dad and I were unloading the car, she would alternate lamp talk with, "look at where that plant is! plants need light." I pointed out that the plant was right in front of the glass door, and that normally the curtain was drawn. She let it go.
Mom calmed down once she sat down, had a snack or too (dad has a point: it's not surprising she was in a mood). Dinner went well; I threw some stuff on the stove and in the oven, made a salad and fruit salad, put out some appetizers they'd brought from the Russian store in Boston. I'll take them to the one here tomorrow just for fun; I've warned them it's pretty lame. They also brought a nice wine; it was good to have a glass. I don't usually open bottles, since I don't go through them before they go off, so it was a rare treat.
Oh, there was drama over the shrimp. Dad asked if he could help, so I told him he could make salad or peel the shrimp I'd just boiled. He opted for the latter, said it came out well. I told him it was just a drop of vinegar and Old Bay. Mom saw it.
Mom: Do you have cocktail sauce?
A.: No, but even if I did, I'd recommend against it. It's pretty good plain.
Mom: Hah!
Dad: Really, it is.
Coming from him, that means a lot.
Mom: I'm old and set in my ways. You can't tell me what to do!
A.: Well, you don't have to have any.
Mom: I'm hungry, so I'll have some. But you can't tell me what to do. I've gone this far having cocktail sauce. You can't stop me.
A.: I just don't have any. I didn't, like, spill it all out before you got here just to spite you.
Mom: But you're telling me not to have any in my house.
A.: I am?
Mom: Aren't you?
Dad: I didn't hear anything about that.
Mom: Well, I don't want to hear any lectures about what's healthy.
A.: [Shrug]
Later
Mom: These are really good tomatoes.
A.: They're the heirloom tomatoes from Trader Joe's; they're the best non-organic tomatoes around. I served them at AV day and people loved them.
Mom: Organics are a bunch of hippie crap!
A.: [Sigh].
And so it went. But it was very peaceful, as dinners with my family go. Very low on criticism, too.
I'll keep you guys posted.
Friday evening roundup
I loved traveling in Japan, but I can't disagree with the following:
***
In case you're wondering, my parents are still on the road. I was a bit stressed because I couldn't leave work as early as I'd wanted, but I needn't have fussed. Although I guess I should take this opportunity to mop...
"...until now, the tourism market has been geared almost exclusively to domestic travelers, which means that much of the tourist infrastructure does not meet the expectations of foreign tourists."and
"The pace of destruction gathered speed in the 1990s, when more than 40,000 old wooden homes disappeared from central Kyoto, according to the International Society to Save Kyoto.And I care for the Paris cupcake trend even less than I do for the one in DC.
Though the city still has ancient temples and gardens, they are overwhelmed by a sprawling mass of gray buildings and neon signs — the product of ineffective zoning policies in the city, Mr. Kerr said."
***
In case you're wondering, my parents are still on the road. I was a bit stressed because I couldn't leave work as early as I'd wanted, but I needn't have fussed. Although I guess I should take this opportunity to mop...
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Thursday morning roundup
"Is this really necessary" is always my first thought when I come across very long articles in the New Yorker. Having said that, I barely noticed this one as I read it. It's insightful and heartbreaking.
I don't understand.
People like me are getting sick of the '100% certainty, with us or against us' bully tactics on the part of people like my mother, with regard to Israel. It's a really good article:
I don't understand.
People like me are getting sick of the '100% certainty, with us or against us' bully tactics on the part of people like my mother, with regard to Israel. It's a really good article:
They do not belong to a synagogue and do not attend services or belong to Jewish organizations, yet they consider themselves Jewish — bound in a web of history, culture and DNA to their Jewishness, and by extension, to Israel.and
All said that they had voted for Mr. Obama, supported his efforts to prod Israel and believed there would never be peace in the Middle East without determined intervention by the United States.and
Nonetheless, “It makes me angry that the Israelis are always blamed for the problems and asked to make concessions,” Ms. Creed said. “You know, the Israelis are not the ones launching rockets and placing fighters in houses with children inside.”
Mr. Moore, the headmaster, expressed frustration that the voice of Israeli advocacy in the United States was monopolized by what he called the “Israel right-or-wrong” camp.Although I think the dude who wrote this question is kind of a prick, I find it interesting because Carolyn makes a good point: everyone's needs are different. For example, I kept needing my RM not to ask me how my day was.
Israel is not just the homeland of Jews but of Jewishness, he said, and should be known for its embrace of the values at the core of Judaism — truth, fairness, kindness, freedom.
That is what he would tell those hard-line relatives of his, he said, “though I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t change their minds.”
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday evening ramble
My parents are just not working with me.
I am making an effort to remain upbeat about this visit. I am hoping against hope that the weekend will be dominated by discourse unrelated to (a) how fat I am; (b) how poorly decorated my house is; and (c) how dumb my cat is.
Actually, I was just chatting with a friend about how our parents' generation, having bought houses decades ago, does not understand the market with which we're dealing. But I digress.
I got an e-mail from another friend asking whether I had/wanted to make birthday plans. I told her my parents would be here. Which is fine. If my parents would work with me.
You'll recall that we--my parents and I--had a discussion about how since they were coming down, I wouldn't make other birthday plans. They'd be here some time Friday afternoon. We'd have the evening and the a good part of the weekend to do stuff around town.
A.: When are you leaving on Friday?
Mom: We're thinking about 10am?
Now, that means they probably won't actually be on the road before 2pm, and they might get here at 10pm at the earliest. Which would leave me spending my birthday waiting around for my parents to arrive.
Do you appreciate that nuance: it's not that I object to celebrating my birthday with my parents; rather, I object to spending my birthday, which happens to fall on a Friday night, waiting around for my parents. I do, after all, have friends. And I live in a city where there are drinks to be had (and work in a different city, in which there are even more drinks to be had). And it's precisely because I'm not getting any younger that I don't want to waste a birthday night waiting around at home. Although birthdays with my mother often end in tears (by way of unflattering analyses of my personality, etc.), they are slightly less pathetic than birthdays alone.
So I don't think it's too much to ask for my parents to work with me.
So, back to our conversation:
A.: When are you leaving on Friday?
Mom: We're thinking about 10am?
A.: No.
Mom: ??
A.: That's too late. If you do that, you'll get here too late. You'll be especially tired and crabby, and we'll end up losing the whole weekend [like last time].
Dad: Okay, we'll think about leaving earlier.
A.: Please do. Like 6am. [Because that might get them out of the house by 9am, maybe?]
Mom: That's too early! We'll get stuck in traffic.
A.: You can get stuck in traffic at any point during the day.
Mom: I don't know.
I'm calling them back.
***
Part II
Mom: Hello?
A.: Can we talk about why it would be better to leave earlier?
Mom: I'm glad you called. Do you want this lamp...
A.: No.
Mom: Wait! It's great... it's...
A.: Mom, I have all the lamps I need in the house.
Mom: But...
A.: I don't need another lamp.
Mom: Let me tell you about the lamp.
A.: Mom--I do not want the lamp. I don't care how nice it is. Please do not bring the lamp. Now, then. Do you see why I'd like you to come earlier?
Mom: Yeah, yeah. We'll think about leaving earlier.
A.: Okay.
Mom: Goodnight.
A.: Goodnight.
***
I'm taking my friend up on a "post-parental visit pick me up early next week." And inviting other friends. Like I said, I'm not getting any younger; why shouldn't I double up on birthday celebrations?
I am making an effort to remain upbeat about this visit. I am hoping against hope that the weekend will be dominated by discourse unrelated to (a) how fat I am; (b) how poorly decorated my house is; and (c) how dumb my cat is.
Actually, I was just chatting with a friend about how our parents' generation, having bought houses decades ago, does not understand the market with which we're dealing. But I digress.
I got an e-mail from another friend asking whether I had/wanted to make birthday plans. I told her my parents would be here. Which is fine. If my parents would work with me.
You'll recall that we--my parents and I--had a discussion about how since they were coming down, I wouldn't make other birthday plans. They'd be here some time Friday afternoon. We'd have the evening and the a good part of the weekend to do stuff around town.
A.: When are you leaving on Friday?
Mom: We're thinking about 10am?
Now, that means they probably won't actually be on the road before 2pm, and they might get here at 10pm at the earliest. Which would leave me spending my birthday waiting around for my parents to arrive.
Do you appreciate that nuance: it's not that I object to celebrating my birthday with my parents; rather, I object to spending my birthday, which happens to fall on a Friday night, waiting around for my parents. I do, after all, have friends. And I live in a city where there are drinks to be had (and work in a different city, in which there are even more drinks to be had). And it's precisely because I'm not getting any younger that I don't want to waste a birthday night waiting around at home. Although birthdays with my mother often end in tears (by way of unflattering analyses of my personality, etc.), they are slightly less pathetic than birthdays alone.
So I don't think it's too much to ask for my parents to work with me.
So, back to our conversation:
A.: When are you leaving on Friday?
Mom: We're thinking about 10am?
A.: No.
Mom: ??
A.: That's too late. If you do that, you'll get here too late. You'll be especially tired and crabby, and we'll end up losing the whole weekend [like last time].
Dad: Okay, we'll think about leaving earlier.
A.: Please do. Like 6am. [Because that might get them out of the house by 9am, maybe?]
Mom: That's too early! We'll get stuck in traffic.
A.: You can get stuck in traffic at any point during the day.
Mom: I don't know.
I'm calling them back.
***
Part II
Mom: Hello?
A.: Can we talk about why it would be better to leave earlier?
Mom: I'm glad you called. Do you want this lamp...
A.: No.
Mom: Wait! It's great... it's...
A.: Mom, I have all the lamps I need in the house.
Mom: But...
A.: I don't need another lamp.
Mom: Let me tell you about the lamp.
A.: Mom--I do not want the lamp. I don't care how nice it is. Please do not bring the lamp. Now, then. Do you see why I'd like you to come earlier?
Mom: Yeah, yeah. We'll think about leaving earlier.
A.: Okay.
Mom: Goodnight.
A.: Goodnight.
***
I'm taking my friend up on a "post-parental visit pick me up early next week." And inviting other friends. Like I said, I'm not getting any younger; why shouldn't I double up on birthday celebrations?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tuesday morning roundup
OMG would this @$$hole please stop wasting taxpayer money??
I don't have time to read this whole article, but I can assure you that we didn't need a bunch of punk staffers to "reshape" DC as "idealistic, earnest, geeky, understated, wise-cracking." With all due respect to Sally Quinn, there's always been more to this city than her crowd.
Cohen on Gingrich.
I don't have time to read this whole article, but I can assure you that we didn't need a bunch of punk staffers to "reshape" DC as "idealistic, earnest, geeky, understated, wise-cracking." With all due respect to Sally Quinn, there's always been more to this city than her crowd.
Cohen on Gingrich.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Response to comment
In the interest of full disclosure, this is a cheeky post, because I solicited ETC's commentary on Hilton Als' Tyler Perry piece. I don't have a lot to say about the skin tone issue--not solely because I'm white, but because I'm not well qualified to (a) discuss it in theory and (b) never having seen a TP film, in no way qualified to discuss it within his body of work.
But what HA had to say about women--in the case of TP's characters, black women--was interesting to me, especially since, as I'd mentioned, I'd just finished reading "The Fourth Hand" by John Irving, and really didn't like the way he wrote women. It's been a while since I've read some of this other works, which I enjoyed a lot more ("The World According to Garp;" "Widow for One Year;" "Cider House Rules;" "A Prayer for Owen Meany;"), but I don't remember having the same reaction. Reading TFH, I thought, JI has a very narrow idea of what his idea of a reasonable woman is. If she's "too" career-driven--similar to what HI says about TP's characters--she's pretty one dimensional. She's a type. He's pretty transparent about it, actually.
But what HA had to say about women--in the case of TP's characters, black women--was interesting to me, especially since, as I'd mentioned, I'd just finished reading "The Fourth Hand" by John Irving, and really didn't like the way he wrote women. It's been a while since I've read some of this other works, which I enjoyed a lot more ("The World According to Garp;" "Widow for One Year;" "Cider House Rules;" "A Prayer for Owen Meany;"), but I don't remember having the same reaction. Reading TFH, I thought, JI has a very narrow idea of what his idea of a reasonable woman is. If she's "too" career-driven--similar to what HI says about TP's characters--she's pretty one dimensional. She's a type. He's pretty transparent about it, actually.
Monday evening roundup
Has Fox News gone too far for many conservatives?
Even I am sick of these f*ing articles, of the false arguments in the organics debate, of the organics debate in general. Could people stop writing them so I can stop posting them?
Yes, who exactly thought processed veggie burgers were a "natural food"?
Even I am sick of these f*ing articles, of the false arguments in the organics debate, of the organics debate in general. Could people stop writing them so I can stop posting them?
Yes, who exactly thought processed veggie burgers were a "natural food"?
Monday morning roundup
Jill Lepore's excellent analysis of the Tea Party in the context of the American Revolution and Founding Fathers whose values the Partiers purport to represent.
On a related note, commemorating Civil War history without descending into strategic revisionism will be a challenge for Virginia.
Have I mentioned I'm glad I don't live in Fredericksburg? Although as long as the police do their job, I don't care whose name they invoke in their prayers (the issue is whether police who don't appreciate those invocations can say the same).
On a related note, commemorating Civil War history without descending into strategic revisionism will be a challenge for Virginia.
Have I mentioned I'm glad I don't live in Fredericksburg? Although as long as the police do their job, I don't care whose name they invoke in their prayers (the issue is whether police who don't appreciate those invocations can say the same).
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Gag us all
This would be funnier if it were further off from reality:
Sigh. Surfing Grist is so much more fun than vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms.
Sigh. Surfing Grist is so much more fun than vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms.
An ode to (some) pets
I found myself talking to the worms:
"Hey guys. Hope you like apple cores and strawberry stems, and whatever this splattery stuff is."
You've got to hand it to them: they're the perfect, low-maintenance pet. Unlike some, they don't wake you up, shed, whine, poop on your carpet, or run up the vet bill; they eat whatever you feed them; you don't have to worry about leaving them for weeks at a time; and they give you rich organic matter in return for your food scraps.
Good thing you're cute, Gracie.
"Hey guys. Hope you like apple cores and strawberry stems, and whatever this splattery stuff is."
You've got to hand it to them: they're the perfect, low-maintenance pet. Unlike some, they don't wake you up, shed, whine, poop on your carpet, or run up the vet bill; they eat whatever you feed them; you don't have to worry about leaving them for weeks at a time; and they give you rich organic matter in return for your food scraps.
Good thing you're cute, Gracie.
Response to comment, followed by a ramble
HFCS aside, it would have been just as worrying had the first ingredient been sugar. Who needs that much sugar in a sauce? Homemade BBQ sauce is always a good bet. The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook has a good recipe. Some of you may be amused but not surprised that the sauce is a suggested accompaniment to barbecued tempeh (tempeh being one of the grossest foodstuffs on the planet).
I thought about posting, but didn't, this item about travelers stuck in New York because of the volcano. One of them complains about the cost of getting real food, with vegetables, in the city's restaurants. I don't know--my NYC restaurant experience is limited--but I felt that way about traveling and dining in Japan.
In another article I thought about posting but didn't, this writer shares the difficulties of following road rules as a cyclist in New York. Just last week I had this conversation with a friend (who is distinctly anti-bike). If you people weren't trying to kill me all the time, it would be easier for me to follow the rules. You're the ones who have turned it into an every vehicle for itself situation, and my bike is a vehicle. I have as much right to be on the road as you do.
I thought about posting, but didn't, this item about travelers stuck in New York because of the volcano. One of them complains about the cost of getting real food, with vegetables, in the city's restaurants. I don't know--my NYC restaurant experience is limited--but I felt that way about traveling and dining in Japan.
In another article I thought about posting but didn't, this writer shares the difficulties of following road rules as a cyclist in New York. Just last week I had this conversation with a friend (who is distinctly anti-bike). If you people weren't trying to kill me all the time, it would be easier for me to follow the rules. You're the ones who have turned it into an every vehicle for itself situation, and my bike is a vehicle. I have as much right to be on the road as you do.
Sunday morning roundup
Nicholas Kristof on the grassroots Catholic Church. See also Jane Kramer's excellent piece in the New Yorker on the changing Church of England, and Bishop Robinson's open letter to the Pope.
According to Frank Rich, Arizona is just the tip of the national Tea Party iceberg.
Indonesians are warming to learning Mandarin.
Britain's mess of a party system.
On valuing silence.
Manufacturers have gotten the message about HFCS from domestic consumers, but they'll be using more of it in products bound for Mexico.
According to Frank Rich, Arizona is just the tip of the national Tea Party iceberg.
Indonesians are warming to learning Mandarin.
Britain's mess of a party system.
On valuing silence.
Manufacturers have gotten the message about HFCS from domestic consumers, but they'll be using more of it in products bound for Mexico.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday evening roundup
This is a joke, right? This guy can't be for real. Not in my state?!
Sex just does not make for a political scandal in Russia.
Don't listen to this horse$hit; organic agriculture can, indeed, feed the world.
Sex just does not make for a political scandal in Russia.
Don't listen to this horse$hit; organic agriculture can, indeed, feed the world.
Phone call
Mom: Are you ready for the roses?
A.: Not yet. I'll do some weeding this weekend.
Dad: You can made salad out of the dandelion greens.
A.: True, although I'm a bit afraid of them because of the soil. Lots of other weeds, though.
Mom: That's not what I mean: we need a system so that they'll survive when it gets cold.
Dad: But it doesn't get cold in DC.
"It doesn't get cold in DC" is my dad's version of "you've really put on weight." He was here once, over a decade ago, over the holidays, and it happened to be warm. I call him on it every time, but nothing can disabuse him of the idea that it doesn't get cold in DC.
Mom: When are you leaving?
Mom: I don't know--Thursday or Friday.
A.: Well, I need to know whether to take all of Friday off or just the afternoon.
Dad: We can amuse ourselves.
A.: No, you can't.
Dad: What kind of stuff do you have to do around the house?
A.: Not much. I mean, there's stuff, but I don't want to spend the weekend doing it.
Dad: You can narrate the Japan pictures.
Mom: Right--I still haven't looked at them.
Dad: How many megapixels do you have now? Five?
A.: 3.
Dad: 3? That would basically put your camera in the 'junk' category.
A.: I know, I know. But you're not happy with Panasonic?
Dad: It's a great camera, but the interface is a pain... but I don't know-- you're better with computers.
A.: I still don't want to deal with it. Anyway, let me know about when you plan on getting here.
Mom: We'll decide later this week.
A.: I'd prefer to inform my team earlier in the week.
Mom: We'll decide later this weekend, then.
A.: Okay.
A.: Not yet. I'll do some weeding this weekend.
Dad: You can made salad out of the dandelion greens.
A.: True, although I'm a bit afraid of them because of the soil. Lots of other weeds, though.
Mom: That's not what I mean: we need a system so that they'll survive when it gets cold.
Dad: But it doesn't get cold in DC.
"It doesn't get cold in DC" is my dad's version of "you've really put on weight." He was here once, over a decade ago, over the holidays, and it happened to be warm. I call him on it every time, but nothing can disabuse him of the idea that it doesn't get cold in DC.
Mom: When are you leaving?
Mom: I don't know--Thursday or Friday.
A.: Well, I need to know whether to take all of Friday off or just the afternoon.
Dad: We can amuse ourselves.
A.: No, you can't.
Dad: What kind of stuff do you have to do around the house?
A.: Not much. I mean, there's stuff, but I don't want to spend the weekend doing it.
Dad: You can narrate the Japan pictures.
Mom: Right--I still haven't looked at them.
Dad: How many megapixels do you have now? Five?
A.: 3.
Dad: 3? That would basically put your camera in the 'junk' category.
A.: I know, I know. But you're not happy with Panasonic?
Dad: It's a great camera, but the interface is a pain... but I don't know-- you're better with computers.
A.: I still don't want to deal with it. Anyway, let me know about when you plan on getting here.
Mom: We'll decide later this week.
A.: I'd prefer to inform my team earlier in the week.
Mom: We'll decide later this weekend, then.
A.: Okay.
Saturday morning roundup
I'd not call what's going on in the UK a "national debate on immigration;" it seems more of a screaming match, devoid of actual communication.
I have a question for those people attributing Eyjafjallajokull's eruption to God's wrath at Iceland's "neopaganism," how come Iceland got off pretty much unscathed?
As much as I'd like to sympathize with their plight, Burleith residents are uptight. I've lived there, and had police come to shut down a party at 10pm on a Friday night, without so much as a visit from the neighbors asking to keep it down. 10pm. Besides, Georgetown students are an easy target (and I can go on about them--at least the undergrads--too). More controversial: my not being able to wait until they tear down those f*ing projects the next block over. If you think that's insensitive, you try to sleep with all that noise.
Rwanda, police state.
I have a question for those people attributing Eyjafjallajokull's eruption to God's wrath at Iceland's "neopaganism," how come Iceland got off pretty much unscathed?
As much as I'd like to sympathize with their plight, Burleith residents are uptight. I've lived there, and had police come to shut down a party at 10pm on a Friday night, without so much as a visit from the neighbors asking to keep it down. 10pm. Besides, Georgetown students are an easy target (and I can go on about them--at least the undergrads--too). More controversial: my not being able to wait until they tear down those f*ing projects the next block over. If you think that's insensitive, you try to sleep with all that noise.
Rwanda, police state.
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