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January 26, 2008
The assault on true American values
So what's more American, baseball or capitalism?
After spending a day in the "virtual waiting room" of the Red Sox website, I'm very angry with the latter. All I want is to see my beloved Cardinals play here at Fenway. But no, I didn't get picked, and most of the lucky schmucks who did are just scalpers who buy up all the tickets and make you take out a second mortgage to be able to afford one of them. Argh! It was enough to make Heidi and I discuss the possibility of "affordable baseball tickets," much like the notion of "affordable housing." Baseball should be available to everyone, not just CEO's kissing up to their clients. All I want is to see one game at face value; is that too much to ask?
Capitalism's good for a lot of things, but this is where it goes wrong (that, and when I have to march past first-class on the plane). Baseball, a game for the common person, trumps it mightily, and doesn't deserve to be so maligned and inaccessible.
(Disclaimer: I know that Red Sox tickets are hard to get, no matter what the price. I just wish scalpers wouldn't resell them at astronomical rates.)
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January 25, 2008
Obama's Top 10 campaign promises
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January 15, 2008
Ayatollah once, Ayatollah twice
Just finished reading Barbara Slavin's Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies, a book about the U.S. and Iran, for my thesis. I'm fascinated. Those who believe Iran is just a totalitarian state hell-bent on unleashing nuclear weapons against Israel and the West had better read this book. For one thing, it's not totalitarian, but heavily factionalized. The Iranian parliament actually reminds me of the British parliament with their heated debates, only instead of knocking off each other's wigs they're knocking off each others turbans. Also, it's funny how the atmosphere among the youth in Iran generally mirrors America's - from punk-flavored rebellion (perhaps climaxing in the "pink revolution" of the late 90's, when all the girls wore hot pink under their chadors), to more conservative religious piety now. Again, that's a huge generalization, but nonetheless true, according to Slavin.
But the book is depressing because there have been so many missed opportunities for a renewed relationship with Iran. The fault lies with both sides. If only there was a way to restore relations with Iran without further alienating Sunni Arabs; of course that's a tall order.
The book reinforced my desire to visit Iran. It also reinforced my desire to see Persepolis, the animated film based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. Anyone wanna come with?
Posted by laurajuanita at 07:26 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 13, 2008
Authentic Mexican chow
I've craved authentic Mexican food for a long time. Ever since the Sondereggers' neighbor, Noel, brought over some homemade tamales after the Dorchester Day parade a couple years ago, I remembered I didn't have to get the cheese-ensconced fare that's served at most places claiming to appeal to the American palate.
I also love neighborhood joints, places that feel like Grandma's kitchen. What they lack in size, they make up for in welcoming details and homemade originals.
We found both in Angela's Cafe in East Boston last night. Most of us had never hung out in this Hispanic part of town before. The restaurant was small and inviting, the food wonderful and reasonably priced. The amazing thing was that it was in a residential area, with almost no other businesses in the surrounding blocks. We literally felt like we had invaded a Mexican grandmother's kitchen.
Recommendation found on Chowhound, a great resource for food-lovers.
Posted by laurajuanita at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 08, 2008
The Elections and the Return of late night
A year ago we were all in the doldrums about the elections, weren't we? So many candidates with seemingly so little to offer, and the prospect of a year of campaigning and mudslinging before the real grind of primaries began. Now here we are at the primaries, and suddenly this election has turned into the most interesting in a long time, probably in my lifetime. Who remembers Bush/Kerry, Bush/Gore (okay, the actual general election was interesting), Clinton/Dole (snore), Clinton/Bush, Bush/Dukakis, or Reagan/Mondale (I don't remember that one, I was only 4)? I know there were other candidates mixed in the bunch, but I forgot most except Perot, Dean, and a few others. The mixture of generations, classes, races, genders, and regional characteristics is what makes this year's election intriguing. Most will fall by the wayside as the months wear on, and only a couple will emerge. My prediction, and my hope, is that McCain and Obama will win their nominations, and not just because David Brooks says so. I won't go into all the reasons, but these two, as different as they are, seem like the clear choices for both parties.
To segueway, the combo of the writers' strike and the elections has also been compelling. Should candidates cross the picket lines to get their messages out there? Huckabee, Hillary, and Ron Paul at least already have. I don't know how I feel about it, but at least they provide non-writer material for the shows, enabling other non-writers to get back to work.
Which brings me to the return of Stewart and Colbert last night. How many times have I seen fodder for satire in the elections, not least of which occurred during the Democratic debate on Saturday, when Edwards told Hillary, "You look terrific tonight," and she all but blushed. What might have been. Anyway, many critics are saying Colbert performed much better than Stewart under the circumstances, which objectively is true (Colbert is funnier anyway). But Stewart was handicapped by not having his correspondents and not having a character to fall back on. I also believe he told dull jokes and asked dull questions on purpose, to show empirically how much the writers are needed. Still, nothing was funnier than Colbert's "strike beard," which resembled a cross between Gandalf and an Amish man. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. Probably during the last new episode of 30Rock.
Posted by laurajuanita at 02:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 01, 2008
Party like it's 1699
My nephew Jonathan says many funny things. After he shouted, "Let's party like it's 1699!" his mom said, "Woohoo, 18th century!" Jonathan also licks his finger and wipes his cheeks when pretending to be sad, and he uses what he calls "g-talk," where he inserts the letter g at beginnings of random words: "I need to put on my ghoes" or "Man, I feel geally gupid." He is destined to star in our TV show.
Last night we went with Bria and Amy to Boston's First Night celebration. With pretty flashing buttons as tickets, we were treated to standup comedy at the Orpheum, a Brazilian drum ensemble, swing dancing (didn't participate), a brief smidgen of Harry and the Potters, and a brief smidgen of whatever was showing at the "Top of the Rox", the best films from the Roxbury Film Festival. We also saw ice sculptures, bough hot chocolate, and of course witnessed the grand finale of fireworks on the harbor. All the while, the T transported us for free. All we had to deal with were obnoxious Southie boys who, predictably, alighted at the Broadway stop.
Now we can use our buttons for discounts at places like ImprovAsylum, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a Bruins game. I will probably take advantage of the first two and not the last.
Today it's off to a New Year's Day brunch. We're ringin' in the 18th century right with mimosas and Belgian waffles.
Posted by laurajuanita at 09:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack