Tuesday evening roundup

Judith Warner looks at the post-DSK reckoning in the land of Simone de Beauvoir. And while she writes that French women had been lulled into complacency by a semblance of progress, LZ Granderson offers compelling evidence that Americans shouldn't get too comfortable, and that it's not like we, as a nation, have nothing to be ashamed of in terms of some of the rhetoric about rape spewing from politicians.

Are birthers turning on the GOP?

Stephen Walt's reading list.

Babies are smart. Raise yours to be bilingual.

Tuesday morning roundup

The Arab Spring rekindles the debate over natural human rights.

Spain moves to prosecute Salvadorean murderers of the (Salvadorean) civil war.

Copts are nervous, with good reason.

Kentucky taxpayers are contributing to a bible theme park.

I don't think the concepts Dave Brooks is poo-pooing are mutually exclusive with those he's praising. You can follow your dreams and chart your own course, and still be inspired by a problem and tackle it through teamwork. I'm just sayin'.

Phone call

Mom: They make a cute couple. They look very compatible. I'm happy for him.
A.: Good, good.
Mom: Tell him to open the bag with the bulbs, so they don't get moldy. I would have opened it but I didn't realize he wasn't leaving for another week.
A.: I told you.
Mom: No you didn't.
Dad: Yes you did.
Mom: Well, I missed it.
A.: This is one of those moments where I'd be worried about your memory, but I know you've always missed stuff like that.
Mom: I just didn't hear it.
A.: We discussed it for five minutes.
Mom: Really?
Dad: Yeah.
Mom: Well, I was tired.
A.: I understand. I'm glad I don't have to worry.
Mom: What was I going to ask you? Oh yeah, what was that play you saw the other night?

One of my least favorite exercises in the world is talking about names of plays (or books) with mom. Especially ones she hasn't heard of. She asked me on the phone on Friday. I told her, and told her she wouldn't have heard of it. She insisted. I was unwilling to speak loudly or spell it out, hooked-on-phonics style, in the theater (where I was, having just picked up my ticket, when she called).

A.: Venus in Fur.
Mom: What?
A.: Venus. In. Fur.
Mom: What?
A.: Venus, as in Vinyera. V myekhakh.
Mom: A furry Venus?
A.: Not quite. Venus in Fur.
Mom: I haven't heard of it.
A.: I know.
Mom: How did you know.
A.: It's relatively new.
Mom: Was it good?
A.: It was excellent.
Mom: Good, good. I'm glad you're going to the theater regularly. It's a good thing to do. Oh, dad's going to send you a picture of the bunny that was playing in the backyard.
A.: Sounds good.
Mom: Okay, bye.
Dad: Bye.
A.: Bye.

Sunday roundup

The damage in Joplin is disorienting.

Nicholas Kristof is starting to think that India is catching up.
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Even if torture could be effective, it's still wrong.

The Times declares South Florida "seemingly an incubator of law-breaking innovation."

In China, dog lovers are fighting the concept of dog meat and sparking a debate.

Maureen Dowd interviewsChristine Laguarde. Five Myths addresses women in combat.

Naomi Wolf reflects on what has and hasn't changed since she wrote "The Beauty Myth," which she opens with this anecdote:

Recently, I was at a party, and a man who, like myself, was in his late 40s, arrived with a woman 20 years younger. It took only a few moments of conversation before the rest of the group realized that the two had very little in common. And yet I did not feel the frisson of envy among the men present, nor did I see a bristle of jealousy from any of the stylish, accomplished women in their 40s. In fact, the mood of both genders was tender, almost pitying. The man may have imagined that he was showing off the youth of his date the way he might show off a new Maserati; but parading her around like an acquisition seemed only to make his friends feel sorry for him.

Here's how hot one can look at 74.

Jonathan Franzen on love, the self, and consumerism. The Post, too, addresses gadget addiction today.

These days we run more than we set.

A writer struggles with the limits of naming female anatomy.

Funny, just this morning I was unimpressed, even turned off, by the writing in the Groupon in my inbox. That might be why I disagree with the quiz question and answer on page 3.

Wow, you know vegan cheese and its alleged inadequacy have gone mainstream when they're in an article about Beyonce (well, about wedding music).

What is this world coming to?

Whole Foods was out of organic kale.

I mean, what the f* is WF good for if not organic kale?

Dahlias and wild rice

Mom: Let's go over this again: You're getting gladioli...
A.: No! We went over this last night. I'm getting dahlias.
Mom: Oh, no! I planted the dahlias.
A.: Okay, then--
Mom: No, it's fine. I'll dig them up, I have too many anyway.
A.: We talked about this last night.
Mom: It's not a big deal. Do you also want these little white flowers--I can give you the whole plants.
A.: I don't think Jay wants to carry whole plants.
Mom: What difference does it make? He'll just stick them in the car.
A.: He's flying. I told you that.
Mom: Oh, he's flying! Then it's too much for him.
A.: I told him to tell you tomorrow how much is too much. But how much space to dahlia bulbs and a few bags of wild rice take up?
Mom: It'll be fine. When's he leaving?
A.: Saturday.
Mom: What's he doing?
A.: I have no idea.
Mom: When's he coming back?
A.: Monday.
Mom: Oh, my!
A.: What?
Mom: Such a short trip. I guess that's his business. When's he coming here?
A.: Tomorrow.
Mom: Why didn't he come today?
A.: He offered to and you said tomorrow was better.
Mom: When's he leaving again?
A.: Saturday.
Mom: Next Saturday? What about this Saturday?
A.: This is this Saturday.
Mom: Is it? Oh. If it's next Saturday, then tomorrow's fine. Such a short trip. Whatever works.
A.: So we're good with what's happening tomorrow?
Mom: Dahlias and wild rice.
A.: Awesome. Thanks.

Venus in Fur at Studio

Venus in Fur is FUCKING PHENOMENAL. Like, so much so that I'm not asterisking the expletive. It merits writing out. As always, David Ives blows my mind. The acting and directing are also brilliant. Get off your butts and go see it.

Phone call

Jay is going to be in DC next weekend, so I asked him whether he wouldn’t mind couriering some plants (well, bulbs) for me from my parents. They offered to drop off the bulbs to him, but he graciously offered to pick them up from my parents. I e-mailed my parents a few days ago to say that Jay would be able to stop by Saturday morning or Sunday evening, let me know if that works and we’ll go from there. So I here nothing for a couple of days, and then my mother frantically calls me at work on Friday around 3:30.

A.: Hello?
Mom: Are you still at work?
A.: Yeah.
Mom: I need to know when Jay is coming. I need to get the bulbs ready. Also, I got you wild rice. But I need to know when Jay is coming. Can you talk to him?
A.: Yeah, I’ll ask. Can I call you later? I need to get back to work.
Mom: Fine. Call me when you get home.
A.: It’ll be a while. I’ll just call you later, I need to get this one thing done in the next 15 minutes.
Mom: Okay, this isn’t urgent. But I do need to know. I need to gather the bulbs. I need to figure out what we’re going to give you. I have lots of gladioli but I don’t think you need any more. I just need to make some decisions. Also, how much rice do you want? Is two okay?
A.: Sure—
Mom: I can give you all three. I mean, we bought one for ourselves, but you need it more.
A.: Two is fine for now—
Mom: No, no—what are we going to do with it? It’s fine. But I need to know when he’s coming.
A.: The rice is pretty good, you should try it. I’ll talk to Jay, but not now. I’ll have to call you back—
Mom: Fine. I’ll be outside. I don’t feel well. I have a headache. I need to rest. Jay's going to visit you?
A.: No, he's coming to DC anyway, but I'll see him.
Mom: On his own?
A.: No. I don't want to talk about this right now, I'll call you back.
Mom: Okay, call me back.
A.: Go get some rest. Feel better, mom. I’ll call you later.

***
I called later that night

Mom: Hold on, let me call your dad. Oh, he's napping. V.!
A.: Well, don't wake him...
Mom: You're right, he's tired.
A.: Jay said he'll come by Sunday afternoon, will call first. He'll stop by.
Mom: He's going to visit you?
A.: No, he's coming to DC with his boyfriend. The boyfriend will probably be in tow when he comes by to get the stuff.
Mom: Excellent! I'd love to meet the boyfriend.
A.: I figured you would.
Mom: I have gladioli, all this other stuff.
A.: Well, don't give him too much stuff.
Mom: Oh, he's not driving?
A.: No.
Mom: Okay. We'll figure it out. Here, let me get your father.
A.: Let him sleep, mom.
Mom: Okay.
A.: I'd better go. Have a good night.
Mom: You, too.

Thursday roundup

Some of this was supposed to be your Thursday morning roundup, but, alas, Blogger fritzed out on me (at least Firefox/Blogger combo--I'm on Chrome now), so here's a combined roundup.

***
Calcutta is rife with child prostitution.
African immigrants are not find Europe to be the promised land.
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More parsing of the President's Middle East Speech: Milbank thinks it rallied Israeli moderates around the conservatives, but on the ground, the reaction is missed. Sargent demands clarity from the press on what was actually said, and Fareed Zakaria puts it in historical perspective.

The health care demagoguery chickens are coming home to roost, but it's still best not to dwell. More on that from Gail Collins.

I'm glad this expose on Air India came out after our trip.

The debate over the relevance and significance of Gingrich's bling: either it matters because it's politically tone deaf or it doesn't matter because it's okay to be wealthy and show it. Either way, that's some fugly jewelry. Really, Tiffany?

go on vacation and
love whatever bikini body you have while you're there.

By the way, on Sunday my friends and I (who all studied abroad) talked about the value of study abroad. Apparently, the same people who are questioning the value of a college education are reducing study abroad to 'getting drunk in another language,' so it's great to see empirical findings to the contrary.

Really, people? take the million

Tuesday evening roundup

At least on the surface, a humanities degree is less lucrative.

What's in your farmed fish?

While we're talking about scary chemicals, check out this woman's flea-spraying horror story.

Chicago plans for climate change. But really, it's not like it has anything to do with anything, especially not tornadoes or other natural disasters.

T-Paw speaks.

Monday evening roundup

Left, right, and confused responses to Obama's Middle East speech. Note the one from the 'right'--big on conclusions, light on support for them.

There's more to Catholicism, and a lot more to "life," than abortion rights.

These Indian weddings strike me as everything a wedding shouldn't be. It's great to want a unique wedding, but wouldn't you want to stand out not in ostentation but in good taste, sense of community, and celebration of friendship and family?

The oceans are choking on plastic, so be mindful of yourKeurig cups. And bottled water.

The Times and Post have mixed feelings about "Follies" at the Kennedy Center, and really, it's too expensive for only kind of good/only good in the second act, even if it's really good in the second act.

Let me start this next string by declaring that I love Ruth Reichl. But I don't make any of her recipes, because they're complicated and heavy on meat. I'm not going to slam her list of must-haves, but I'll complement it with my own. I agree with her on rice and potatoes, but I'd say red, black, or brown rice. Black rice is my new love--great for sushi, too. And I'll add sweet potatoes to the potatoes category (yes, I know they're not related... but you can use them for some of the same purposes). I'll let eggs stay, even though I don't use them. Here are my other must haves:
-tofu, especially silken, which you can turn easily into savory ricotta or a sweet cream sauce;
-lentils (so versatile, and don't need to be soaked);
-chickpeas (soaked, cooked and frozen) or pintos (same preparation);
-organic greens.

Speaking of which, I am not one of those people indifferent to the price differential of organics, but I'm getting better at making myself buy them. I sprung for some organic kale last week, at a thousand-percent mark-up over conventional kale, and I it was worth it. Can't wait for the farm share to start up.

What do you mean, you have limited influence over what your kids eat? When I was growing up, what was for dinner was what was for dinner.

By the way, check out this pie chart of where ag subsidies go. Then, write to your elected representatives.

India

Click here to view this photo book larger

Sunday evening roundup

It's not rarely that something I read in the news infuriates me, but this really f*ing infuriates me. If you care about art, if you see art as an essential aspect of our humanity, don't move to Virginia. Actually, do. And vote.

Reverse outsourcing is upon us.

***
I had brunch with some friends today. A few interesting things came up, including the is-college-worth-it debate. Also, one friend said she was worried because her kid wasn't eating meat--she was concerned that even though he was eating hummus and veggie burgers, he wasn't getting enough protein. I didn't have time to compose or filter myself so that I would just roll my eyes in silence. I actually said that he didn't need that much protein. Good for this two-year old kid for knowing what's good for him.

Sunday morning roundup Part I

For what, exactly, are Russian journalists risking their lives? Apparently, for reporting to an increasingly apathetic public.

No, I would attend a pig roast if it were celebrating, for example, a landmark event in the life of a close friend (perhaps a farmer who uses humane practices). Even though one might argue that there is no humane slaughter of livestock. My point is, it's a more complicated analogy than Mr. Benjamin lets on. I would be hurt if my gay friends boycotted my wedding, but I'd also understand where they're coming from.

Love the butt you're with

This whole butt surgery trend makes me really sad. Nothing against J-Lo or P-Midd; I just don't get why people would undergo major surgery to get someone else's butt. Why not just work on your own butt?

What the f* is growing in my backyard?

Alright guys, I need your help. In the clusterf* that was my April, I finished off an already insane weekend by planting some seeds. I couldn't be asked to label them--figured I'd figure it out once they started to grow. So now I have no idea what the f* is growing in my backyard. I was hoping you could help me out. Here are my mystery veggies






I'm happy to report that at least two non-mystery veggies--carrots and sage--are growing, too.

What better motivation for a bike ride

Speaking of people/things trying to make my head explode, I'm working on a photo book for my India pictures. It's gotten a little more user-friendly but only just. It's so, so frustrating.

Saturday morning roundup

The hotel industry is not surprised by the DSK incident. Also: Juliet Williams articulates that very essential distinction that I alluded to the other day between the DSK and Schwarzenegger cases: though they both represent alpha-males gone wild, the former is a (very serious) crime.

Why does Kathleen Parker want my head to explode? This common refrain from the right--that it's up to the families to decided what's best for their kids--is indisputably true. It's also not the point. You can't extrapolate from your own upper-middle class, educated family to the demographics bearing the brunt of the obesity crisis. Going from "I wouldn't go near trans-fats and neither would anyone with half a brain" to "the government has no business banning trans-fats" is more of leap than she lets on. Has she ever spent time with families where the parent(s) work(s) multiple jobs, can barely afford to feed their family, and has no nutritional literacy whatsoever? Do you think that the kids I've tutored and their parents have any idea about trans-fat? Am I being elitist by arguing that nutritional literacy and awareness is largely correlated with class?

I'm not going to argue with her about banning potatoes from school lunches, from the angle that there's nothing wrong with potatoes. I am going to argue with her from the alleged nanny state angle, because the government pays for school lunches, therefore the government has every right to decide what it does and doesn't want to pay for.

I'm all over imposing the free market on our food system. If conservatives want government out of food and agriculture, let's quit subsidizing corn, soy, and sugar. Let's take a very close look at the sea of perverse incentives embedded in our Farm Bills.

Sartorial uncrisis

I knew I was okay when I was wearing pants again.

The hunger of which I wrote yesterday—the intense hunger that hit me on Monday afternoon—was a relief of sorts, a sign that I was back. But it wasn’t the first sign. That was on Monday morning, when I was getting dressed for work, and I could actually bring myself to wear pants. Which meant not only putting on pants, but also coordinating a matching shirt and putting that on, too. You see, last week—the three days of last week that I went to work—all I could do was throw on a dress, which is a lazy outfit. Last week, the thought alone, not to speak of the execution, of an outfit out of more than one piece was too much for me. But this week, I was once again wearing pants. And eating food.

Afghanistan's (mostly child) brides.

Not everyone was unimpressed with the President's Middle East speech.

Sarah Palin is talking again.

The impact of locavorism pales in comparison to that of plant-based eating.

Aspertame is nasty.

Man, the douche bags are really coming out of the woodwork

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