I hate Pachelbell

Baseball stars

Not long ago I stepped out of the subway, and there was a crowd of people along the sidewalk watching a pickup truck with A-Rod on the back slowly driving down a red carpet that covered the street. Apparently they were parading people who would play in the All Star Game, and Rodriguez was the first of a lot of other apparently super-famous baseball players I'd never heard of that were right there in front of us, waving as they each went by in their own vehicle. The only other name I knew was Carl Ripkin, Jr., who had been a star player of the Baltimore Orioles back when I was a kid.

Coney Island

Recent weekend was my first trip to Coney Island. I'd never felt that motivated to go there, but on news that it was going to be torn down for condominiums, I made the trek, and I'm glad I did, because it's another part of New York I hadn't seen. It was much like so many beach-and-boardwalk towns, but with a very New York feel (and, of course, rides). Nice to know it's there, just a subway ride away. I'm not much of a beach person really, so I don't know that I'll be back -- I feel about it like I do about South Street Seaport, that I'm glad we have our own Baltimore Inner Harbor if I ever had a desire to go there even though I never actually seem to have the desire. This city has so much!
Yes, that's a vending machine that dispenses hot dogs! (Kosher, of course.) Did you notice it says "Hot Nosh 24/6"? Shabbat Shalom. Lots o' Jews down there in Brighton Beach / Sheepshead Bay.

Bamn soul chicken

What have I been up to lately? Working. It's basically all I do.

Well, last night I went to the Bamn! automat at St. Marks Place, and the had Red Bamboo Soul Chicken Sandwiches! (Red Bamboo is a vegan soul food restaurant in the West Village and this is their most famous dish, the one I get without fail every time I go there.) I put in $3 in coins, opened the little door, and pulled one off the hot plate, and it was good. I don't know why, but I find that place so cool.

There's also an opinion piece by Kristof in the New York Times on California's Proposition 2 which I found moving, and I'm usually desensitized by now to all this stuff. You can read the article, but for because people are too lazy to click, I'll just put an excerpt here:

Then there were the geese, the most admirable creatures I’ve ever met. We raised Chinese white geese, a common breed, and they have distinctive personalities. They mate for life and adhere to family values that would shame most of those who dine on them.

While one of our geese was sitting on her eggs, her gander would go out foraging for food — and if he found some delicacy, he would rush back to give it to his mate. Sometimes I would offer males a dish of corn to fatten them up — but it was impossible, for they would take it all home to their true loves.

Once a month or so, we would slaughter the geese. When I was 10 years old, my job was to lock the geese in the barn and then rush and grab one. Then I would take it out and hold it by its wings on the chopping block while my Dad or someone else swung the ax.

The 150 geese knew that something dreadful was happening and would cower in a far corner of the barn, and run away in terror as I approached. Then I would grab one and carry it away as it screeched and struggled in my arms.

Very often, one goose would bravely step away from the panicked flock and walk tremulously toward me. It would be the mate of the one I had caught, male or female, and it would step right up to me, protesting pitifully. It would be frightened out of its wits, but still determined to stand with and comfort its lover.

What can I say-- thank goodness for Bamn automat vegan soul chicken sandwiches!