August 29, 2003
Watchoo talkin' bout, part 2
Doesn't my wife looks like Gary Coleman? I think she does.
Tennis anyone?
We wen to the US Open last night, got to see Capriatti and Agassi play. Agassi is older than me, and in much better shape.
August 27, 2003
Am I in Jakarta?
If I wanted to live in a place where the economy was so bad that we had to be reprimanded by the IMF, I'd move to Indonesia.
From Forbes:
"While Democrats and Republicans traded charges over the deficit in predictable ways (Democrats calling President George Bush's policies irresponsible; Republicans saying it's all quite manageable), more unusual is the IMF sticking its nose in. The international bank is set to reproach the U.S. for being too optimistic in its assumptions on government spending and revenue, and lacking a coherent budget plan, according to Reuters. The IMF draft report also says that the U.S. lacks "a medium-term concept to consolidate budgets and reform the social insurance system."
http://www.forbes.com/2003/08/27/cx_da_0827topnews.html
Sleepless Summer
Well, we may not have gotten as many people as Seattle, but it was a great night anyway at Bryant Park. Over 10,000 showed up to hear Howard Dean talk about his vision for America.
Some New York photos here.
August 25, 2003
The Willing Conscript.
Today's website: Military Families Speak Out
Today's song:
The Willing Conscript
Oh Sergeant I'm a draftee and I've just arrived in camp.
I've come to wear the uniform and join the martial tramp.
And I want to do my duty, but one thing I do implore
You must give me lessons, sergeant, for I've never killed before.
To do my job obediently is my only desire.
To learn my weapon thoroughly and how to aim and fire.
To learn to kill the enemy and then to slaughter more,
I'll need instruction, sergeant, for I've never killed before.
Now there are several lessons that I haven't mastered yet.
I haven't got the hang of how to use the bayonet.
If he doesn't die at once am I to stick him with it more?
Oh, I hope you will be patient, for I've never killed before.
Oh, there are rumors in the camp about our enemy.
They say that when you see him he looks just like you and me.
But you deny it, Sergeant, and you are a man of war,
So you must give me lessons, for I've never killed before.
The hand grenade is something that I just don't understand.
You've got to throw it quickly or you're apt to lose your hand.
Does it blow a man to pieces with it's wicked, muffled roar?
Oh, I've got so much to learn because I've never killed before.
Oh, I want to thank you, Sergeant, for the help you've been to me.
For you've taught me how to slaughter and to hate the enemy.
And I know that I'll be ready when they march me off to war,
And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before.
And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before.
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
August 24, 2003
No comment.
"The majority of American voters would not like to see President Bush re-elected to another term according to a poll by Newsweek magazine.
The survey released Saturday showed that 49 percent of registered voters would not back the president for a second term if the vote were held now. Forty-four percent would support Mr. Bush's re-election."
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=AA40140D-FF3F-4B8D-AEB579CA3DBB57E7
August 21, 2003
Searching for...
As my brother Jon pointed out, people are finding my website in strange ways. You can check your server logs to see what terms people are searching for on Google that end up directing them to your website. For my site, folks are using the following search terms:
catolicos+echmiadzin
Jerry+Kann
kapali+charshi+turkey
sam+werberg
where+is+the+staff+of+moses+turkey
morocco,+pictures
Blue+Mosque+Armenia
Eugene+Zeltmann
dar+carpets
For the record, I have no idea who Eugene Zeltmann is, and I don't know where the staff of Moses is. But maybe Eugene has it...
August 19, 2003
Grandma.
One of the grandmothers I never knew. This is my Mom's mom, Bessie, though I believe she went by "Betty".
In the woods.
Spent a weekend up in the Adirondacks, with two friends, my wife and a dog. I made Pad Thai and Cauliflower Penne. Only the dog threw up, but the hosts claimed it wasn't totally my fault...
In case you're looking for a getaway, this place was really nice.
August 17, 2003
Rock On.
Howard Dean rocks it out at the Blues on Grand nightclub in Des Moines.
And be sure to check out the sound file.
August 15, 2003
Got Power?
As most of you know, the lights went out last night, just about everywhere in the Nonrtheast. Manhattan was one big block party. We spent four hours driving from Chelsea, around 18th street, to the George Washington Bridge, around 177th street. Well, at least we weren't on the train...
August 14, 2003
Real Action Heroes
An editorial calling for action figures for the "real heroes", in response to the Bush doll pictured below
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/14/Opinion/Honor_the_real_action.shtml
August 13, 2003
Fair and Balanced
"And by the way, a few months ago, I trademarked the word 'funny.' So when Fox calls me 'unfunny,' they're violating my trademark. I am seriously considering a countersuit," he said.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/08/12/media.fox.reut/index.html
August 12, 2003
August 10, 2003
August 09, 2003
Your Flag Decal
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
© John Prine (http://www.jpshrine.org/lyrics/songs/jpflagdecal.html)
While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.
Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.
Repeat Chorus:
Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...
"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."
August 08, 2003
The Russians
My mom is the baby in the picture below, and the woman in the middle is her mother, Bessie. The woman on the right would be my great-grandmother, Sarah Lechter, who was born Sarah Mehlman. The man, we think, is her second husband, Josef Lechter.
Halliburton.
Looks like the Iraq War hasn't just helped the Iraqi people:
"Working in Iraq has helped turn around Halliburton's financial performance, its second-quarter results showed. The company made a profit of $26 million, in contrast to a loss of $498 million in the period a year earlier. The company stated that 9 percent, or $324 million, of its second-quarter revenue of $3.6 billion came from its work in Iraq."
Keep on Dancin'
My Great Aunt Rose and Uncle Bill at our wedding, dancing the night away:
August 06, 2003
Watcha' Talkin' Bout Davis?
Now it's a horse race folks. Damn, I wish I lived in California, so I could vote for Gary Coleman:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/06/candidate.coleman/index.html
Also see:
http://www.garycolemanhasaposse.com/home.html
Dean NYC MeetUp
Hundreds of NYers packed into the Essex Lounge for a Dean MeetUp tonight. The momentum builds...
Rat-Dogs
I've always said you shouldn't own a dog that could be mistaken for a rat, and now I feel vindicated:
"Fearful of tiny dogs turning into hawk hors d'oeuvres, officials on Wednesday grounded an anti-pigeon campaign employing the winged predators after one of the birds attacked a Chihuahua in Bryant Park."
http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_218113258.html
"Except Lieberman"
Seems I'm not the only one who takes exception to Joe:
"When grassroots Democrats gather to talk about the crowd of candidates for the party's nomination, there is plenty of disagreement about the merits of the various contenders, but the activists invariably come around to saying, "Of course, I'd support anyone against Bush." Then, as an afterthought, they add, "Except Lieberman." "
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0805-11.htm
August 05, 2003
Oh Joe...
Another good reason not to support Joe Lieberman for the Democratic ticket:
"Lieberman said Monday that nominating Dean would lead the party 'into the political wilderness' and would be a 'ticket to nowhere.'"
Now, I'm not sure which wilderness Joe's referring to, but if it's the one where you get a balanced budget for 11 YEARS IN A ROW, please, lead me there. It's really a shame that Joe has to come out swinging like that and can't generate any positive press for his own accomplishments.
It would really be great to see the other Dems come out with something similar to the following, from Dean:
Dean said that he would not launch an independent campaign for president should one of the other Democrats get the nod at next year's convention. "I will support the nominee," he said. "It is essential that George Bush not be re-elected for the future of this country. It is essential for our economy. It's essential, so we can regain the respect we had around the world."
All above quotes from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/05/dean.lkl/index.html
August 04, 2003
Dirtbikes
My brother got a dirtbike recently. I need to ride it soon, it looks fun.
August 03, 2003
Great Uncle Fritz
My father's uncle, Fritz Philipp, the watchmaker. In this picture he's calibrating the timing on a watch. Fritz was a dwarf, left Germany in the 1930's, and died in Norfolk, Virginia of cirrhosis of the liver.
August 02, 2003
Family Archives
Going through some old family pictures at home, found this one of my Mom being taught Braille by Helen Keller.
August 01, 2003
Disguises...
CentCom has just released altered pictures of Saddam Hussein, showing possible disguises he might be using:
Montreal Apartmens
The Cubist apartment blocks, built for Expo '67.
My Current Reading List
Secrets of State: The State Department and the Struggle Over U.S. Foreign Policy by Barry Rubin
Witness to History, 1929 - 1969 by Charles Bohlen
Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Worls for America by AFSA, edited by Shawn Dorman
The Evolution of Diplomacy by Harold Nicolson
The Art of Diplomacy by Francois de Callieres
Memoirs, 1925 - 1950 by George F. Kennan
Memoirs, 1950 - 1963 by George F. Kennan
Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger
First Line of Defense: Ambassadors, Embassies and American Interests Abroad edited by Robert V. Keeley