tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13030288094104873732011-11-27T16:18:39.687-08:00Me, news, gossip, failed states, ephemera, classics, travel plans, plots, expeditions, reviews.Alphnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-32878105690081474332011-04-23T23:11:00.000-07:002011-04-23T23:11:31.848-07:00

Need I say more?

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-91869459810726445592011-03-29T10:52:00.000-07:002011-03-29T10:52:30.685-07:00

Hello patient readers. I have a story. For the sake of protecting privacy, more complete details are in the mass email - I guess if you miss details you should be on that list. Anyways, I found myself at a (lovely) dinner party at the home of some Messianic Jews (like Jews for Jesus. I am not quite sure). The hostess, who before living in Israel taught English in Chechnya for 14 years, was

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-41878903738879393692011-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:002011-01-16T10:15:26.062-08:00

I have a pretty sad story. When? Saturday morning? Where? At home. Set the scene: Me, my kitchen, really excited that I had bought, and so could eat oatmeal. If this was a book, a smart reader would have fortold doom when I decided, after carefully preparing my non instant oatmeal, to put a dollop of yogurt on top. Not just any yogurt though, my new goat's milk yogurt. If you had told me a week

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-517989014831858722011-01-14T13:51:00.000-08:002011-01-14T13:51:38.381-08:00

OH my what an evening. Walking down the street, my roommate saw a young woman struggling with a large Persian carpet. Offering to help, she was told that it was for an art gallary opening tonight, so we went. The art gallary was a small loft, with a bar selling hot sangrias (or mulled wine with fruit), a little bit of art, and surprising numbers of people wandering both through the art, and what

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-72930830683838173092011-01-14T03:41:00.000-08:002011-01-14T03:41:35.682-08:00

I wanted to give a shout out to a few things I appreciate: 1. Jansport. The backpacks. You know they have a lifetime warrenty? That could be the last backpack you ever have to pay for. Amazing. 2. Chickensoup. You just put stuff in a pot with boiling water and it tastes like MAGIC and prevents the FLU. 3. Bahai people. So friendly! Such nice gardens. 4. Canada. I give them shit, but really they

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-15417876876450954832011-01-06T10:44:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:44:28.659-08:00

So I should preface this story by saying that I am in no way famous. I did once have  a color photograph on the front page of a a section of the New York Times, but it was the Sunday Styles section, and it was only to make the point that people like me at anti war protests didn't really 'get it' - this was October 2001. Anyways, I am not famous, and don't have pretensions that I should/could/

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-7678423675608452512010-12-31T06:33:00.000-08:002010-12-31T06:33:02.726-08:00

There was an article in the New York Times about mothers worrying about their children hurting themselves on coffee tables. Guess what percent of these mothers are Jewish (I guess one is a Chinese mother, but there's a Jewish father)? Ha ha ha ha.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-19992385701588271572010-12-10T15:32:00.000-08:002010-12-10T15:32:13.338-08:00

Either a lot of your all are using proxies, or I just developed a strong following in cities all over France, as well as in Nepal and Senegal. WHO ARE YOU GUYS? Maybe the French love reading about the foibles of the British... although a post about French colonialism wouldn't be like, so loving either mon petit chou.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-76400628874664841842010-12-09T17:37:00.000-08:002010-12-09T17:37:53.885-08:00

I've never met a protest I don't like (obviously I don't actually mean this), but whoa there Brits, hold your horses. What am I talking about? The English have broken a long streak about getting involved in politics only as regards animal rights to attack a car holding Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles (nb, the NYT just called her Camilla, probably because they don't know what

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-14959842243038942182010-12-07T03:33:00.000-08:002010-12-07T03:33:40.799-08:00

So a few months ago Tony Blair said this: Shalom. It's a very great pleasure to be with you at this wonderful university here in Herzeliya... professors of the Lauder school of Government, Minister of Public Diplomacy, sounds a challenge, MKs (members of parliament), and of course my friend Tzipi Livni (head of Kadima, and leader of the opposition in Israel) , its a great pleasure to be here

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-23244018123464770132010-12-06T02:48:00.000-08:002010-12-06T02:48:25.651-08:00

Wikileaks again. This is the best article I have read about the Wikileaks, and better than anything I could write, so I'll leave it all that.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-31387289129351040152010-12-03T12:38:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:38:04.895-08:00

Yesterday in light of the World Cup announcements I thought it be interesting to focus on the Australian bid, especially since it only received one vote and was dismissed straight away. Up until that moment though, an entire nation genuinely believed they had a chance of successfully bringing the cup to Australia, especially since 46 million dollars was spent on it. Following the announcement,

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-41152458410711219872010-12-01T10:33:00.000-08:002010-12-01T10:33:12.464-08:00

For the first time ever, I am a needy person. I should clarify, I have probably often acted needy, but for the first time, I am the direct recipient of the generous donation of time that comes with volunteering. I have volunteered before and in fact done the same exact task that others are doing for me, so it is quite something to be on this end of the table. Although I very much appreciate

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-82029369532783476532010-11-29T13:28:00.000-08:002010-11-29T13:28:06.027-08:00

I really wanted to dig up some super huge scandal from the wikileaks, or at least be able to make some well founded predictions for the state of the US's place in the world in the coming decade. These leaks though - jeez - either the State Department was forceful in demanding the NY Times not print anything interesting or (more likely) the State Department is somewhat clueless. Not totally

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-68744482537271853742010-11-28T17:07:00.000-08:002010-11-28T17:07:44.029-08:00

Wikileaks has made public a quarter of a million pieces of correspondence between US State Department officials abroad and their bosses in DC. All apologies to wikileaks, and the New York Times (where I found these documents) but I want to post of one (or more later) of the documents that interests me. No commentary for now, but these leaks will cause many many shitshows for the State Department

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-44454540908543243152010-10-24T15:51:00.000-07:002010-10-24T15:51:09.152-07:00

Surprise, surprise, it is controversial that the UN is holding a philosophy conference in Iran. The argument seems to be that Iranian academics will not be free to express their opinions at this conference, and others are refusing to go in solidarity. Cheeps of "boycott boycott' echo in the wilderness. I think Brian Klug, Oxford philosophy professor has it right when he advocates going to the

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-60485467519651872082010-10-19T22:55:00.000-07:002010-10-19T22:55:12.359-07:00

The first installment of my non-anonymous monthlyish email update has been sent (by me. The passive voice is bad, so I'll say: I sent out the first installment of my non-anonymous email update). If you want to get it, email me at my normal email address or at pitcairnislandblog@gmail.com and I will add you to the list. Easy peasy!

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-55209350831595677202010-10-11T10:57:00.000-07:002010-10-11T10:59:06.379-07:00

Carl Paladino, let's talk. You say that gay pride parades involve skimpily dressed men waggling their tushies (my paraphrase. I say: you are right. But do you know what? I have to see this this And this So quityourbitchen.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-18145260653476022882010-10-10T22:02:00.000-07:002010-10-10T22:02:36.846-07:00

Saying goodbye a lot. Quite emotionally overwhelming, so as in all times of heightened emotions I turn to tea and Pride and Prejudice. I also recently watched Lost in Austen, a totally satisfying and silly TV miniseries for those of us who have had to buy second or third copies of our P and P dvds and books. Also saying "hello" to my late twenties. I have one wrinkle, in the middle of my

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-87760976066126975422010-10-07T09:38:00.000-07:002010-10-11T12:04:30.706-07:00

I know I should have better things to do than post today but this spoke to my heart: In my specific experience the coffee wars of the mid 00's embodied the dichotomy in my life between work and play. I worked near the original Blue Bottle, and would sometimes take half hour coffee breaks to stand in line for that perfect espresso (latte really, but espresso sounds better). I lived, and spent

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-26354805591028610002010-10-05T21:08:00.000-07:002010-10-05T21:08:40.905-07:00

This is a not super fascinating article in the New York Times about how people living near wind farms are complaining about noise from the turbines. This is the amazing last paragraph of the article, a quote from one of these complainers: "I remember the sound of silence so palpable, so merciless in its depths, that you could almost feel your heart stop in sympathy,” she said. “Now we are

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-44652497624832843762010-10-04T21:31:00.000-07:002010-10-04T21:31:11.449-07:00

Watching "Sea Point Days", the best movie I had never heard of, about my other other other homeland. 100% recommend. I'm not kidding, watch it.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-32120051687378603762010-10-04T13:35:00.000-07:002010-10-04T13:35:47.822-07:00

Alternative voice-overs: "You are an object, you should stand on a lovely pedestal." "The next best thing to running in stilletos." "Because straight care about shoes more than butts..."

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-86115392515413516092010-10-04T12:03:00.001-07:002010-10-04T12:03:01.237-07:00

!

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-62419424190757677922010-10-01T16:46:00.000-07:002010-10-01T16:46:03.957-07:00

AHHHH frustration aaaaah shattup shattup shattup. Mostly I am annoyed because he gives idiot right wing Jews an excuse to claim there is so much anti-semitism. ALSO I googled the CEO's/ owners of the big news companies, and yes, they are all Jewish - except for Rupert Murdoch. Actually, the Jewish CEO of NBC was just fired to make way for Steve Burke, whom I'm going to have to assume isn't

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-84065192863799363772010-09-30T09:35:00.000-07:002010-09-30T09:35:30.060-07:00

I recently ordered something from Apple. Tracking the shipment, I can see that it left Shanghai, China on September 25th, arrived in Anchorage, Alaska that night, arrived in Oakland on September 29th, and got to the Emeryville distribution facility today. I am not a particularly eco-nuttish person but I LIVE 41.5 MILES FROM APPLE HEADQUARTERS, in a state with 12.4% unemployment. I think there

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-10482595430518091112010-09-29T14:34:00.000-07:002010-09-29T14:34:41.233-07:00

Totally hypothetical question: If you could only have 10 books, what books would they be? Not hypothetical question: what if after paring down to 10 books you were in a place where new books were expensive, and mostly but not totally limited to best sellers and the best sellers of the classics? And you had access to a pretty good library, but one with mostly older books? Also if you live near me

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-41894176730988827012010-09-29T00:11:00.000-07:002010-09-29T00:11:24.249-07:00

If someone makes a million dollars in the stock market, does someone else (a collection of someone elses) lose a million dollars?

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-62814393873955704452010-09-28T12:39:00.000-07:002010-09-28T12:39:12.194-07:00

It makes me uncomfortable that President Obama feels he has to explain why he became a Christian. That said, his answer is the answer which least alienates me, and which is essentially the only agnostic or humanistic answer to that kind of question. "I am a Christian because I think Christianity teaches great things about how to teach others and I want to behave like a Christian" (I paraphrase)

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-81962605028221457372010-09-28T01:37:00.000-07:002010-09-28T01:37:54.748-07:00

If you are like me, you read this article about the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Survey, and really wanted to know what the questions were that us Jewish atheists (and the Mormons) did so well on. Anyways, here they are: (NB the survey doesn't include the answers, so the answers are whatever I think is correct. Unless you are a Jewish Mormon Atheist, chances are I got more right than you

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-20008107609181281212010-09-27T11:38:00.000-07:002010-09-27T11:38:08.270-07:00

The New York Times is way understating the point when they call Chris Daly, my former representative on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, "the most impossible, irascible, ultra-liberal politician in San Francisco." This man once yelled at me because he saw me sitting in the audience of a presentation he was giving on the budget, and didn't like the employer written on my nametag. I told him I

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-41002649307912771512010-09-26T21:54:00.000-07:002010-09-26T21:54:47.653-07:00

I was going to post something, but it was too personal, so I will just post this instead, because the more I post the more people read my blog regardless of the quality. No actually, I do have a story. I walked through People's Park today, where my friends, despite my initial hesitation, started a conversation with a woman whom someone else there had said knows a lot about the park. The

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-68457988821702802562010-09-24T17:12:00.000-07:002010-09-24T17:13:07.864-07:00

There are many presents I would accept for my upcoming birthday, but for the $11.50 to $12.00 budget this is your best bet. The best bet of all, in any budget range, would be the T-shirt of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the style of the Obama ads that was recently spotted in NYC.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-8565698222018802932010-09-23T12:17:00.000-07:002010-09-23T12:17:04.807-07:00

  OK, this is one of those not totally thought out theses, so bear with me. I was reading an article about Linda McMahon, the republican candidate for Senate in Connecticutt, when I started to think about working in government as aspirational vs bureaucratic. What does this mean? I don't have any real data, but from observation I think that the city governments of, say, New York and Washington DC

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-1557638112007661132010-09-23T10:26:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:26:06.073-07:00

Ha ha ha, ha ha ha hahahahaha. Some fancy company made a $50,000 mattress, a New York Times reporter reviews it and can't sleep because he finds it lumpy. You could dream about publicity this bad.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-36771129491504743632010-09-23T10:12:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:12:04.357-07:00

To my budget conscious and artistic readers in the Bay Area: The Borders Books across from the ballpark in San Francisco is going out of business. Most of their stock is 30%-50% off, although it is still mostly crappy, but they are selling their FURNITURE. There are amazingly solid industrial strength coffee tables for $15, many huge bookcases for $30, metal cafe chairs for $15, and light kits (

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-72864821825756796552010-09-21T09:39:00.000-07:002010-09-21T09:39:11.200-07:00

I recently claimed that creating public schools based on video gaming is the worst idea ever. I take it back. It is tied for worst idea ever with standing room only seats in airplanes. People: just because someone will be something, doesn't mean you should sell it to them.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-62193561922163650202010-09-20T23:20:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:20:46.001-07:00

If you were thinking of going to see Never Let Me Go, the movie coming out in theaters just about now, please go immediately and buy the book, and every other book Ishiguro has written.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-79469234056691280072010-09-19T21:45:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:45:27.108-07:00

This is fantastic. Christine O'Donnell, Tea Party, Republic, Delaware Senatorial candidate, dabbled in witchcraft for a while.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-61603651329802012692010-09-19T21:06:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:06:39.067-07:00

This might be a bit cryptic  but: many of you readers were recipients of my mass emails called  "This is  (censored) live from (censored)" (it wasn't censored in the emails but I'm like, protecting my privacy or something). For reasons many of you know, but if you don't, ask me (the answer will be - I am relocating. Where? That is what you should ask me),  I am going to resurrect the mass email,

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-17826979698753814322010-09-17T13:08:00.000-07:002010-09-17T13:08:11.570-07:00

"Jews have left their mark on every aspect of New York life, but perhaps none so ubiquitous and tangible as the palm-length encasements attached to countless doorways." Incorrect. See: Bagels, the garment industry, the movie industry, crosses (Jesus was a Jew. No Jews, no crucifix), CUNY...

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-5375344459950180922010-09-17T00:54:00.000-07:002010-09-17T00:54:32.019-07:00

The New York Times  reviews Indian Rock Park, and approves. What a place. It deserves coverage in the national media.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-30899104399211865022010-09-17T00:06:00.000-07:002010-09-17T00:06:48.967-07:00

I heard on the grapevine that Rodney King is marrying one of his jurors. As in someone who was on the jury of his case. I'm guessing it wasn't one of the jurors from the criminal trial in which the policemen who beat him were acquitted - at least not one of them who voted to acquit - that would be awkward.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-64359426915891264152010-09-16T22:19:00.000-07:002010-09-16T22:19:50.808-07:00

Word on the street is that some Jewish people are really offended that the Pope compared atheism to Nazism... pretty much. Even if he didn't really actually compare them, I think he shouldn't have gone there, really. Maybe he's like Tinkerbell and if people stop believing, he disappears.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-30036281138847415702010-09-16T15:31:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:31:16.548-07:00

It's that time of year: FYI: that is a translation of part of the Unetaneh Tokef, a prayer read in shul on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. If shul was like that I'd go more often.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-72431232807764286082010-09-16T14:04:00.000-07:002010-09-16T14:04:21.504-07:00

Wow, Gray Lady, budget cuts much? Hire your own travel journalists, sheesh.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-60167457201565653822010-09-16T11:20:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:20:12.058-07:00

Will anchovy vinaigrette keep well for a bit over a day in the fridge?

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-61141089909847566632010-09-15T23:06:00.000-07:002010-09-15T23:06:41.288-07:00

NO WAY. Oprah picked Jonathan Franzen's latest book, Freedom, to be in her book club. Remember the kerfuffle over Corrections? Instead of linking to a story, I'll just recap: Oprah picked The Corrections to be in her book club, basically ensuring that it would sell. He was bitchy and smarmy about Oprah's club, saying that the male readers he wanted would be put off by Oprah's selection. She

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-89992040161088844082010-09-15T22:58:00.000-07:002010-09-15T22:58:55.021-07:00

Buried. Ryan Reynolds freaking out in a box for 90 minutes. The only fun part would if someone videoed  watching me squirm, scream and cover my eyes, and then put it on youtube with funny music.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-48400713938343733892010-09-15T14:02:00.000-07:002010-09-15T20:10:22.593-07:00

Oh my god. This is the worst idea ever. Ever! This charter school is based computer games - kids love them, and apparently they are the best pedagogical tool since dunce caps. My thoughts? 1. You are teaching kids something that, according to those who run the school, they are very adept at picking up by themselves. Isn't the point of school to teach kids things they wont be motivated to learn

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-38412300949517354642010-09-15T10:20:00.001-07:002010-09-15T10:20:28.724-07:00

I would post some all starts from the Fashion Week shows, but either this year's shows are not so great, or I don't like spring clothes. SORRY people who rely on me for fashion advice.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-47293707556621620682010-09-14T11:04:00.000-07:002010-09-14T11:04:11.689-07:00

Happy Tuesday!

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-64096394630481633772010-09-13T22:40:00.000-07:002010-09-13T22:40:38.123-07:00

I am partial to Mad Men, but those Mad Men style ads during the show (at least when recorded) drive me nuts.  Nuts! Anyone know what I'm talking about, or am I nuts?

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-74928953385110157902010-09-13T17:31:00.000-07:002010-09-13T17:31:38.079-07:00

Why had I never seen this before? So many things I love... the USSR, dancing, more dancing... White Nights. Helen Mirren, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Isabella Rosellini, ballet, tap dancing, Russian accents. If this sounds good, watch it.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-17038524828524949212010-09-13T12:22:00.000-07:002010-09-13T12:22:45.539-07:00

Tzimmis! With Meat! Sorry Vegetarians...

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-70186395114155240432010-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:002010-09-13T10:55:36.391-07:00

In case any of you (I doubt it) still subscribe to the New Republic, I might take this opportunity to cancel your subscription.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-10663442416175115682010-09-11T17:27:00.000-07:002010-09-11T17:27:19.820-07:00

Tonight, NYC. Bollywood Disco. Everyone is there but me - go or regret it.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-44747058300239296682010-09-11T12:55:00.001-07:002010-09-11T12:55:30.491-07:00

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-80387144269185032272010-09-08T09:13:00.000-07:002010-09-08T09:13:09.291-07:00

There have been some brisket related questions floating around. I will provide the answers. 1. The brisket (briskets, actually) went well, with a slight mishap when I put it fatty side down instead of up, had to scrape the 'stuff' of the top, turn the meat over and reapply to the other side. Luckily this was all before I cooked it, so no harm, no foul. 2. About the rest of the menu: yesterday I

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-53895222314736832712010-09-07T21:56:00.000-07:002010-09-07T21:56:41.400-07:00

I can't really add much to this story. Haaretz reports: Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro has urged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stop slandering the Jews, according to an article published on the U.S. website The Atlantic on Tuesday. The ageing revolutionary devoted much of a five-hour conversation to the issue of anti-Semitism, wrote Jeffrey Goldberg, who interviewed

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-42856579281325518812010-09-07T09:34:00.000-07:002010-09-07T09:34:56.722-07:00

I think this could end badly.... An Irawi reality TV show plants fake bombs in celebrities cars and then films them when they are 'caught' at a checkpoint. Like when I used to tell someone I know that his birthmark was a third nipple, this might hit too close to home. 

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-29675457854130395242010-09-07T00:44:00.000-07:002010-09-07T00:44:45.703-07:00

This is either super empowered and awesome or super weird. The Scala & Kolacny Brothers Choir did a pretty cool cover of Creep by Radiohead (my go to shower song) in the ad for that facebook movie.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-47391443265063702152010-09-06T22:36:00.000-07:002010-09-06T22:36:43.088-07:00

I was watching this GENIUS video: Which led to watching this video: The full lyrics are: There were ten German bombers in the air, There were ten German bombers in the air, There were ten German bombers, Ten German bombers, There were ten German bombers in the air, And the RAF from England shot one down, And the RAF from England shot one down, And the RAF from

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-52008034031622003282010-09-05T23:24:00.000-07:002010-09-05T23:24:10.062-07:00

I learned from reading this that many well paid employees of the City and County of San Francisco live somewhere else, and deprive the city of their spending and taxes. Boo friggin hoo. From the article, it seems that most of the people moving out of town are making well into the 6 figures, and are living in the lush landscapes of Sonoma country (or at least San Mateo. Why would you move to San

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-24906102807956721402010-09-05T11:07:00.001-07:002010-09-05T11:07:32.310-07:00

My cousin Yuval says to write that he is cool

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-61906107175349140622010-09-02T19:34:00.000-07:002010-09-02T19:34:11.622-07:00

We, or mostly my roommate tried this a while ago, and let me tell you Bruni makes infusing things into vodka sound easy. We put something - I believe ginger -  in the vodka, let it sit for a few weeks, and when we opened the vodka, found a massive THING, a sort of living breathing creature, almost with arms and legs, as if the THING had grown mold, and which then had children and grandchildren

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-65982936829403812692010-09-02T11:47:00.000-07:002010-09-02T11:47:06.919-07:00

I seem to have the mountain lion situation under control, guys.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-45701295509904045272010-08-31T18:22:00.001-07:002010-08-31T18:22:37.228-07:00

Last night the police shot and killed a mountain line across the street from where I am currently sitting. 

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-77275382369230428892010-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-31T15:20:02.836-07:00

1. Why did I forget how great The Cranberries are? 2. New Yorker short story podcasts are the best way to survive a long car journey. Specifically this is incredible.  3. I wish my short stories were good like that. I wish I knew how to write dialogue. My dialogue is mostly awkward punctuation. 4. Please listen to/ read the story above. 5. Also read Ian Frazier's series in the New Yorker about

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-6485507296592030272010-08-31T10:07:00.000-07:002010-08-31T10:07:49.416-07:00

Creepy bumper sticker I saw in La Jolla (on a commercial van no less): Teddy, give Hillary a ride in your car. (note implicit Chappy reference for my Chappy readers!)

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-55656104100763511042010-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:002010-08-30T17:10:25.566-07:00

Whoa. LA- La Jolla- Santa Barbara and now back home. Lovely places to vacation, but could I live there? NOOO. Santa Barbara especially feels with me with a warm glow of wellbeing, but the people there are not dark hairy and neurotic enough for me.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-55942226664639436442010-08-21T23:40:00.000-07:002010-08-21T23:40:38.936-07:00

I'm going to be on vacation at the beach for a week with no computer!!! Here are somethings to ponder while I am gone: Spiceworld: best music movie of the 1990s or best music movie EVER? Will New York City save Lindsay Lohan? Chelsea Clinton's first born child - big nosed? Curly haired? Neurotic? First (half) Jewish President? Organic menu at Thai Delight on Shattuck - same food, different prices

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-67043968800179141122010-08-21T10:09:00.000-07:002010-08-21T10:09:05.232-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c Tech-Talch - Chatroulette www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party SO true, so true.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-92005899200481518502010-08-19T17:14:00.000-07:002010-08-19T17:14:27.955-07:00

I called 911 on someone yesterday. It made me feel sick with guilt for hours afterwards. Factors strengthening this guilt included that the man was young and African American and hadn't hurt anyone or broken any laws (besides jaywalking, but I'll get there in a moment). Factors mitigating my feeling of guilt included that I called the non emergency number, and told them he hadn't done anything

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-15546266514884196722010-08-16T11:32:00.000-07:002010-08-16T11:32:44.899-07:00

My annotated 'to read before the end of summer' list goes like this: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.      I read the first chapter in June and got distracted. It is 'good' in that it won the Booker Prize for (books in the middle of the books, booker, bookest spectrum) and also in that it is historical fiction that will let me feel that I know a lot about a certain time period (Tudor England) without

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-54374385732720572132010-08-14T17:18:00.000-07:002010-08-14T17:18:32.151-07:00

The theme music from the Sex and the City TV show is the same as the theme from "Eat Drink Man Woman." Discuss.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-79208071053398795302010-08-12T14:46:00.000-07:002010-08-12T14:46:19.668-07:00

I keep thinking I have an ear infection because I feel a strange pressure in my left ear, and I keep realizing it is just my hair. I have a curl that pokes right into my ear canal all the time, and soon there is going to be a sharply pointed intervention.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-26626082359585315852010-08-10T19:04:00.000-07:002010-08-10T19:04:24.173-07:00

I just took a gander of the list of service providers of people reading this. A lot of you all have been reading at work. Also, a lot of you work at really cool places - so I have some shoutouts. To the person who works at a place starting with J in Pasadena, next time I come down South I'd really love to see a you know what (you know, Boom, whoooooosh roooooar) and a you know what (you know,

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-26786817193504455572010-08-10T18:26:00.000-07:002010-08-10T18:26:37.449-07:00

Phone Conversation I just had: (cell phone rings, I pick up) Me: Hi mom. Mom: Oh! Hi! Me: What's going on? Mom: I didn't know my phone was on. Me: But you called me Mom: No I didn't. I just picked up the phone and you said hi. This is the power of Jewish mothers. We are apparently on the plan where noone even has to dial the other to get connected. They should harness this power to get better

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-45702394708701760422010-08-10T09:13:00.000-07:002010-08-10T09:13:25.785-07:00

AND MAKE A REALITY SHOW ABOUT IT. This is the greatest news EVER and I am tempted to move to Wasilla just so I can vote for him -  I will definitely watch the show. He and Scott Brown can make a beefcakes of the Republican party calendar. There are only two of them, so it would have to be a short calendar, maybe a summer vacation calender. Speaking of summer, the weather in Wasilla Alaska had a

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-21189281531305171762010-08-09T13:34:00.000-07:002010-08-09T13:34:02.427-07:00

Flight attendant curses at passengers, opens emergency exit and slides down chute to escape plane. I 100% support this man, and hope he is my flight attendant in the future (seems more likely he is headed for a career change).

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-73038154723328449742010-08-07T10:14:00.000-07:002010-08-07T10:14:03.953-07:00

Tony Judt died yesterday. His articles for the past 6 months or so in the New York Review of Books have been incredible. He has been suffering from Lou Gerhig's disease, paralyzed, in constant pain, and breathing through a machine. His editor's at the NYRB gave him free rein to write about whatever he wats, and he has been writing incredible essays about trains, Switzerland, the Kibbutz,

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-87981096893865510502010-08-06T13:35:00.000-07:002010-08-06T13:35:38.991-07:00

First of all, who is Gary Shteyngart? One of my favorite authors, who wrote Absurdistan, Russian Debutante's Handbook, and most recently Super Sad True Love Story. Hear are some tidbits: Gary Shteyngart went to Yeshiva Hebrew school for 8 years, where he was deemed uncool because he snuck porky snacks into the bathrooms. Gary Shteyngart was a janitor at Brookhaven, the nuclear lab. He had to

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-11082944301910700082010-08-05T17:10:00.000-07:002010-08-05T17:10:39.429-07:00

And I couldn't stop hearing I like it I'm not gonna kvetch I miss you I'm not gonna kvetch I love you I'm not gonna kvetch I killed you I'm not gonna kvetch I think it improves the song. Same meaning, really, but more evocative.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-57631783794740618422010-08-04T21:11:00.000-07:002010-08-04T21:11:07.505-07:00

Here are some good tidbits from Judge Walker's ruling today declaring Prop 8, the Proposition which would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, unconstitutional. I am sorry I don't know how to blue book, or whatever, but I got the text from here. Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Each challenge is

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-15549212566677884332010-08-03T17:31:00.000-07:002010-08-03T17:31:06.591-07:00

I was watching this because I wanted to see Mayor Bloomberg cry, but lost interest when I saw this, an article about giant busses planned in China that cars can drive through. At first I was like 'that will be like driving through a moving tunnel, people will crash all the time.' And then I saw the pictures and I realized that it was genius, and stuff like this is why the 21st century will

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-78693944007712997692010-08-01T17:57:00.000-07:002010-08-01T17:57:26.729-07:00

Dear iTunes 'Genius,'     I may know little about music, but I do know that R.E.M. is not Brit Pop. Yours truly, Me

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-73035145700593596452010-08-01T15:25:00.000-07:002010-08-01T15:25:01.620-07:00

Amazing.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-11739248127917387202010-08-01T10:37:00.000-07:002010-08-01T10:37:07.485-07:00

Congratulations Chelsea and Lisa! Also, Chelsea, welcome to tribe-ish. Good luck with the machatonim.

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-73226691281840925472010-07-29T09:38:00.000-07:002010-07-29T09:38:10.209-07:00

Not web traffic, or human trafffic. Car traffic! I was in the middle of reading the New Yorker article about traffic in Moscow (it's bad) when I read this about the effects of public transit and congestion. My Russian correspondent says it takes as long to get from Moscow to her house in a suburb 70 km away as it does to fly from Tel Aviv to Moscow (4 hours. 4 hours!). The point of the article in

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-9672905211316523632010-07-28T15:56:00.000-07:002010-07-28T15:56:56.185-07:00

OK. A question. Arizona. The law struck down today: immigrants must carry proof of legal status with them at all time. The question: how do the police know someone is an immigrant? So doesn't everyone have to carry proof of immigration status at all times?

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-40089129324566382382010-07-27T22:19:00.000-07:002010-07-27T22:19:48.250-07:00

YES I am back. If you are a dork about the same things I am a dork about you will enjoy this, the Global Urbanist blog which I have just discovered, and this, Slum/Shack Dwellers International, which I have had an organizational crush on since 2007. If you are have ever liked a novel ever, or invented Post Soviet States, or dorky Jewish men, you will like this a whole lot - Gary Shteyngart is

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-88263994312018124892010-07-24T19:29:00.000-07:002010-07-24T19:29:01.362-07:00

So I have posted less than usual because my brain is in the midst of an 8 week regime of being worked in ways it isn't used to. This means my brain (not my heart though) has no desire to, like*, post snarky links to NYT articles. I will finish this unusual foray into unconquered territory soon, and hopefully I'll be back with as much oomph as ever. Until then, like, look at xkcd comics or google

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-80570351322506718952010-07-15T22:06:00.000-07:002010-07-15T22:06:20.232-07:00

My thoughts seem to come in brief bursts lately rather than in complete paragraphs, so here are some thought nuggets. Pitchfork. I saw an article in the times I am too lazy to link too. I have this really really lame thing where every so often I try to expand/ increase the coolness of my taste in music. Most recently it involved a disastrous foray into electronic music, but every time I have

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-16863594250444613412010-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:002010-07-13T18:39:44.529-07:00

New York Times, we have to talk. Yes I read you every day. Yes you are the basis of my knowledge of news and culture. Yes because of you I know more about New York real estate than most people who aren't brokers. This World Cup has provided an opportunity for a number of mediocre and badly researched articles in your pages about South Africa. Yellow card, New York Times, yellow card. I will not

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-87114607010191053472010-07-03T13:31:00.000-07:002010-07-03T13:31:00.066-07:00

I needed to unwind my brain a little, so I turned on the TV to a show I had never heard of called 'Inedible to Incredible.' Bear with me, because it is a little complicated. This is a reality TV show where a terrible cook is nominated, and  a 'famous" (I don't know, I'd never heard of him, but what do I know) chef (John Besh) goes to the nominees house, surprises them, and teaches them how to

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-37919271087930016452010-06-26T12:50:00.000-07:002010-06-26T12:50:57.952-07:00

Do you judge people by their bumper stickers? I saw a car sporting 1. The bumper sticker of some seminary. Don't get me wrong, this isn't what I was judging, but when combined with 2. A Phi Beta Kappa sticker....  honey, please. I would make fun of them for getting good grades in priest school, although I'm pretty sure seminaries don't do the PBK thing (do they give grades? who knows), but if you

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-88976396745611717542010-06-18T00:12:00.000-07:002010-06-18T00:12:21.164-07:00

Just cut up my first two raw chickens. I have roasted plenty of whole chickens, and I have bought already cut up chicken many times, but today I bought a whole chicken (thank you Trader Joe's) which required transforming into (8) pieces of chicken. Even though butchering technically means that I actually killed the animals, butchering was involved. I don't want to be too graphic for the sake of

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-82149359520430751452010-06-14T17:06:00.000-07:002010-06-14T17:06:28.968-07:00

What he said. Seriously, I read this and was just so not thrilled, and also not able to think anything beyond the obvious that I just didn't process it, but now someone else did it better and I don't have to. Oy. 

Alphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1303028809410487373.post-10592941029221793802010-06-09T18:30:00.001-07:002010-06-09T18:39:01.706-07:00

Alphnoreply@blogger.com