More on Guantanamo Bay

The Obama administration, while closeing Guantanamo Bay, takes the position that indefinite detention without rights is still ok anywhere else in the world. At the same time, an ex-detainee became a suicide bomber in Iraq killing 50 people, and an investigation showed that his stay in Guantanamo drove him to it after he tried to reintegrate but was unable to do so with that shadow hanging over him, and ended up turning to extremist Islam as a sole refuge. [Source: Washington Post]

Our Town

Kei and I recruited a passel of friends to rock climbing, who caught the bug and joined for a month. See how fun it is? How can you not be tempted?

Went to see the Thornton Wilder play Our Town. Anyone who's seen it, can you please tell me why the first two acts were in there at all? Seemed like a long and winding buildup to its main point.

Visited the Museum of the City of New York. I just have to wonder, how can they justify the use of all this space, in such a prime real estate spot in such a beautiful building, to display so little? You could get as much education looking at similar stuff online. Not worth visiting.

Sorbet

I'm no fan of wine. Of course, I don't drink alcohol, but on top of that, I have on many occasions been urged to try a sip of some wine, and the stuff is gross. I'm told you acquire a taste for it, but I surely haven't bothered to. That's why I'm surprised that I love this latest discover: wine sorbet. Especially because, by the way, I don't normally care for sorbet either.

Last night I went through half a pint of the sake sorbet and had to force myself to stop. It's basically wine and sugar but not alcoholic, and comes in flavors like pinot noir, champaigne, riesling, mimosa, rosé, and sangría. Next time you're looking for a gift to bring, why go for the boring bottle of wine -- choose a pint instead! (Ok, I tried the Pinot Noir, and prefer the sake -- the pinot is just more fruity than winey, but maybe it depends on whether you're a red-wine kind of person?) (Ok, I tried Champagne too. It's fine, but again not as winey as the sake, which is my running favorite.)

I wouldn't have tried sorbet at all -- like I said, I'm not a huge fan -- had not someone made me taste Sharon's coconut sorbet. It's made from coconut milk, which I should have guessed would make anything delicious, and it does. If you're a fan of sweet coconut milk, this is the sorbet for you.

Injured

Hey fans. My left arm hurts whenever I move it due to a rock climbing injury, due to continuing to climb well past the point of muscle exhaustion. Still, climbing is a blast.

I promised to tell you what a Tu B'Shvat Seder was. Apparently you eat the seven foods mentioned in the Bible, just like I did for Shavuot, only before eating each food you talk about it symbolically. Which is fun, especially if instead of eating the foods raw you have someone cook delicious pomegranate soup, barley cake with figs, and so on.

I also had a very nice Valentine's Day. I got vere chocolate. It is gluten free, and I'm not sure what that means exactly, but the chocolate was very bitter and dark. More than that, it wasn't really chocolate the way I normally think of it, because it was mixed with flavors that far overpower the chocolate taste, almost like the chocolate is the secondary ingredient. So I wouldn't compare it to the chocolates I'd reviewed on this site, but put it in its own category as another kind of snack altogether.

Keep climbing!

TORTURE ALERT: Concerns under Obama

Obama brought hope for an end of the constitution-shredding torture-supporting practices of the Bush administration. And indeed he has ordered the closing of secret CIA prisons, of Guantanamo Bay prison, and an end to the CIA exemption from rules prohibiting torture.

However, so far he has endorsed Bush's program of extraordinary rendition -- that is, sending detainees to other countries, where they don't have protection from torture, for interrogation. He has also endorsed the policy to detaining people for as long as he wants without trial no matter where they're arrested. He also pressured a British court not to release information about the alleged torture of a detainee in American custody.

Hope is not enough. I have to keep this torture alert going until we see that Bush's totalitarian philosophy is not enshrined into a permanent fixture of American policy.

Republican NY Senate

Democrats just took over the New York State Senate for the first time in decades, and are finally able to go through payroll record to piece together how Republicans spent their nearly $100 million budget. It's amazing what they were doing with our taxpayer dollars without telling anyone.

They recently realized there are some 75 employees [all Republican] working at the Senate’s own printing plant, a plain brick building on the outskirts of Albany. On Long Island, they found a small television studio, which had been set up — all with public money, with two press aides on hand to help operate it — for the exclusive use of Republican senators to record cable TV shows.

Democrats also came across what they are calling the “Brunomobile,” a $50,000 specially outfitted GMC van, with six leather captain’s chairs (some swiveling), a navigation system, rearview camera and meeting table...

Then there are the parking spots... Democrats had been given roughly one spot per senator — there were 30 Democrats last year... [T]hey have learned, there are more than 800.

And Democratic leaders must determine what to do about 45 workers toiling away in a building close to the Capitol who appear to have been engaged in quasi-political research for the Republicans.

[Source: NY Times] I'm amazed that they were allowed to be so secretive about how money was being spent. I also find it funny (and corrupt) that the printing office made fancy color copies for Republicans but only black and white for Democrats.

Quote

"If you want to increase your success, double your failure rate." -- Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM)

Legislative Action Alerts

For my readers in New York and Maryland, here is your task today. Call you state representatives on the phone and tell the secretary who picks up, "I'll calling to ask Representative _____ to support ______." It only takes seconds and you'll have done a good deed. Find your legislators and their contact info here.

Maryland: Tell your state (not federal) delegate and senator to support H.B. 208/S.B. 342, which would require that all garments made of real fur be labeled. It is unfortunately common for people to buy fur without knowing it. (If you live in Montgomery County, please also (and preferably) contact your legislators about this bill. If you know anyone in Montgomery County, tell them to do so!)

New York: Tell your state (not federal) senator to support S.B. 751, which would require humane treatment of "downed" animals, that is, farm animals who are too injured to walk. They are typically either dragged with chains behind trucks, pushed with forklifts, or left there to starve to death slowly. Note that in addition to being inhumane, allowing downed animals to be slaughtered means people are eating sick animals -- perhaps with mad cow disease -- and that's not good for consumers either.

Other states: Check out bills in your state here.

Just do it!

Holiday fun

Happy Tu B'Shvat! It is the Jewish Birthday of the Trees. Tonight I am having a Tu B'Shvat seder. I'm not sure what that is exactly, but I'm excited, and I'll be sure to let you know when I find out.

Happy Lantern Festival! I went to a party and had 元宵 and 麵線, while watching MIA wearing an absolutely ridiculous outfit for a person performing on their pregnancy due date.


I also went rock climbing with Kei -- which I'd done before, but this time I took the balaying course and got a one-month unlimited membership -- so if you're interested, I have one month to do as much rock climbing as I can. It is so fun, you must try it. Let me know if you're interested, and we're on.

Happy Groundhog Day!