Stormy Monday

I wake up to discover that Senator Byrd is dead. Less shocking the Ted Kennedy's death, but still significant.  I never met Byrd but remember watching his poetic rants on C-Span, meeting his interns/staffers, and hearing him rail against the Iraq war.   His death is not mentioned during the day, though there is an enormously powerful thunderstorm which darkens the sky and distracts my office for two-three minutes. 

Empire State of Mind

I get into New York at 8:40, am in Soho by 9, eat pizza in the West village by 10 at some place called Joes. Weather is cooler here and the pizza is much better. In the words of the guys at Joes, "it is made by italian hands, with American hands accepting the money." 

Musicians sing the Beatles in Washington Square Park surrounded by an engaged crowd. Young couples pollinate benches. I meet a group of old friends and hit a bar in Soho, which is well attended by recent graduates. Seems like a tough time to leave the cocoon of college and enter the workforce.

The sky turns into a cool blue pool in the early hours of Saturday morning. Cabs slink by, and the city recovers. I do too.

Lazy Saturday in the Research Triangle

Sunlight streaming in through the trees on a hot summer morning. Johny Cash playing, L makes banana pancakes. We sit on the porch and discuss long-term prospects for economic growth in the US and the value of secondary markets for corporate equity. Great pancakes. 

I help change a tire, visit a whole foods for picnic supplies, and spend hours on the Duke campus, lounging in the sun and eating grapes with L + S, and then just S. I attend an informal rehearsal dinner at a Mexican restaurant and meet a sincere and ambitious PhD student studying mid-20th century US intellectual history (protestant thinkers), a warm and talkative wine barrel maker, and some Hill staff from my neck of the woods. I feel a special kinship with the Washingtonians. 

L and I go see the 10pm showing of Get Him to the Greek. Generally hilarious.  Driving back to his house after midnight, we pass many deer and a small white kitten. 

Carolina Dreamin'

Saw Joe Trippi today at DC Digital Week, leaving a panel. I once viewed the Obama campaign as the conclusion of the Dean/Netroots rising in 2004. Not sure if the linkage still holds up.

Flew down to Raleigh/Durham (RDU) yesterday on US airways express, the worst flight experience I've had out of Reagan National. Intense security checks, crowded departure gate, and a mini-bus out to the tarmac. Almost got bumped for a voucher, but not everyone who had booked checked into the flight. I fell asleep shortly after takeoff and didn't wake up until our descent.

Met at the airport by L, a friend from college who lives down here. Leaving the airport, I feel a surge of escapist release as i'm surrounded by trees and grass. We drove to Chapel Hill, stopping to look at a picturesque Greek outdoor theater. Dinner was at Lantern, mild but well prepared Asian food using local ingredients. Marvelous dumplings thai coffee ice cream, and rice green tea. 

Staying in a rural area, in a house surround by gardens and woods. I feel asleep in a hammock on the porch. 

Persian Princes, Cambodian-Americans, and Belize

Saw Prince of Persia: Sands of Time on Friday night in Georgetown. Very entertaining hollywood fare, a solid B-film. Ben Kingsley's character and performance are unimpressive, though Jake G. and Alfred Molina shine.

Attended the annual reception for The Cambodian-American Professionals Association, which was held at SEARAC, near Dupont Circle. The circle was packed with hundreds of fans watching the world cup... amazingly the United States managed to tie England.

Early dinner with R, an old friend from Belize who is moving to Hawaii, followed by banal party-hopping. I did meet a guy who had just come back from Belize.

Re-watched the Quantum of Solace on Sunday. Quantum is a terrific revival for the series, though Craig needs to take himself a little less seriously.

Shan Cuisine in Northwest Chinatown

Had dinner at Burma Restaurant last night with G, who is leaving DC for law school. Completely deserted, not unlike some of the fancier restaurants in Myanmar. Burmese food is very distinct from both Chinese and Indian cuisine, in a good way. The owner/manager told me she was from Shan State, in the Northeast, and left twenty-five years ago. She has been back, though not since Cyclone Nargis. Very nice woman, and very burmese: low-key, friendly, concerned.

Memorial Day Bliss

Spent Memorial Day Weekend on the Delaware Shore

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Left the District early on Saturday Morning. No traffic, a fast a pretty ride through farmland in Maryland and Delaware. We stopped on the side of the road to buy fresh corn, watermelon, and snap peas and chatted with the college-student-sellers about their post-graduation job prospects in DC.

Broadkill beach is remarkably wild and natural: reeking (dead) horshoe crabs strewn about on the shore, crabs pinching your feet as you wade out into the water, a giant sea slug, a live conch. Very few other people around for most of the weekend.

Went into Rehoboth on Saturday night to a local hangout called "Summerhouse."  Pizza at Grottos. 

Drove home Sunday night, encountering horrendous traffic. Blackberried and listened to "The Things They Carried," a short story about the Vietnam War. 

Home at 11pm. 

Food For Thought: The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment

Attended a lunch with Peter Beinart, a journalist and CUNY professor who just wrote a fascinating piece in the New York review of books: "the failure of the American Jewish Establishment."

In the piece, Beinart persuasively argues that a number of large jewish organization are out of touch with the young non-orthodox jews in the United States on the question of Israel and the peace process.In person, he was just as articulate and compelling, discussing the article with the audience and deftly handling questions from the beltway policy audience.


I agree with most of Beinart's article: most of the mainstream Jewish organizations are failing to represent young non-orthodox Jews on the question of the peace process.

Before the long weekend

Looooong Friday here at Work. Decided to review another product from bathroom vanities Very excited. 

Iceland Express announced a sale to europe for 212 outbound... Almost ready to book. 

Getting out of Dodge, Part 4: Conclusion by commencement

Graduation day, finally.  Walked over to the packed old campus interior, with thousands upon thousands of filled  seats. At around 10:30, the processions started, visible mainly from the jumbotrons. Lots of young people in black robes. The Forestry school grads had plants and shrubbery on their heads, which was the highlight.

After some speeches, each dean exchanged formal words with the President, who conferred degrees to everyone except for the law school students (who still need to pass the bar). The honorary degrees were numerous (10) and high profile. They included: Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, novelist Orhan Pamuk, the President of Liberia, and Aretha Franklin, who got the loudest cheers. None of them spoke, and accepted their doctorates silently.

Everyone marched out and we went to the Morse courtyard for the presentation of undergraduate diplomas, by residential college. This was much more intimate and consisted of a speech by the Master, prizes, and each student (roughly 100) being presented with a diploma and their major and honors noted.

We ate a terrific lunch in the commons (amazing strawberry shortcake) and went over to the English department, where my brothers introduced me to their professors, one of whom is a prominent writer.

I took taxi back to Bradley international airport and talked to the driver about weekend, the recession, and the changing demographic breakdown of the U.S.

The President of Liberia was on my flight back to DC, and I congratulated her on the honorary doctorate. She was surprised, but quickly figured out that i'd been at the ceremony. Smart woman.