OZYMANDIAS

2011-05-12T11:02:00.000-04:00

Welcome back, John.

Mr. McCain has a great article today regarding the torture debate w/r/t tracking down Osama. Reminds me of why I used to root for McCain.

2011-03-02T13:45:00.001-04:00

Just becuase I feel like starting to post youtube videos as well, here's a tribute to one of the funniest comedians ever...

2011-02-11T16:08:00.008-04:00

Superbowl Commercial

The one ad that I really enjoyed during the superbowl was the one by Chrysler, featuring Eminem. Detroit has really become a city of despair in the middle of America, an industrial wasteland in parts. But it has an exciting potential for a Phoenix style resurrection if done right. More people should be aware of this cautionary tale, and more Americans on the coasts should take pride in the economic strength that once emanated from Detroit, which for some time defined not only a city, but a nation.

2011-02-11T16:08:00.006-04:00

Egypt

The changes that are rocking Egypt are historic, and it’s difficult to understate their importance to the Middle East – a Middle East not defined simply as Egypt to Iran, but one that stretches from Tunisia to Pakistan: a vast swath of oppressive governments that have for too long stifled the economic and political development of their people.

And yet, it seems that Americans still don’t seem to understand what’s going on here. It baffles and scares me that the reports on this revolution by responsible journalists are filled with references to Twitter and Facebook, with doubts about the benefits of such a revolution to the region, and with an ignorance of the basic workings of the politics of the Middle East. I'm equally startled by the indifference shown by many Americans, who think all they have to do is read the headlines to figure out what's going on, instead of taking the 10 minutes to read a news article or two a day. It's like saying you know what's been going on in Iraq without knowing the difference between Sunni and Shia. It leads to a dangerously simplistic view of a complex and powerful social struggles.

This is a revolution sparked by those protests earlier in Tunisia, which opened the psychological gates for the Egyptian people behind which they had been growing angrier and more frustrated. This is not about Twitter, this is not about the Muslim Brotherhood, and this is not about Israel. All of those factors play into the dynamics of such an uprising, but they are peripheral. This is bunch of people who have gotten so angry at Mubarak, because of his absolute refusal to cede power and his tyrannical grasp over policy and politics, that they are willing to mobilize to that end. And why now? Who knows. That is the sort of difficult sociological question that will never be definitively pinned down, and really, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that it happened. And it worked.

However, let us not forget that this only really worked because the army stayed on the sidelines, thanks in part to the influence of the U.S. and our massive aid program. A violent crackdown on the protestors could very well have worked to disperse them (see, e.g., Iran after Ahmedinejad’s "election"). When you have to take a week off work to protest with your friends and family, it’s one thing. When there’s a good chance you’ll get arrested and beaten, or shot and killed, or blacklisted by the government, it’s something else entirely.

This revolution, because of its peaceful nature and because of the precedent that the Egyptian military has set, could be the catalyst for a democratic earthquake in the Middle East. One much along the lines that George Bush claims to have wanted to start with the deposition (and eventual execution) of Saddam Hussein. Our hard power didn’t work in that case. But in this case our soft power was used more effectively to assist a movement that was grassroots in nature. That’s the role we need to play if we are to see this change spread across the rest of the region over time.

2010-10-15T13:28:00.002-04:00

The Packers and the Colts

Like I said last week, a win is a win. Whether it happens by the skin of your teeth at the end of a game, or whether it happens in OT after their kicker botches a field goal attempt. Add another W to the column, and move on happy (just not too happy).

The Redskins look like they might be turning a corner. Don't get me wrong -- it's going to take a year or two for this new offensive and defensive scheme to really be able to work the way it's supposed to -- right now they lack both the experience in the scheme and the players to execute it effectively. However, waht they lack in experience the Redskins are now making up for in pure grit and desire. It's the ability to make a comeback happen in the fourth quarter, the constant bone-jarring hits from Landry and Orakpo, and the calm and experienced leadership of McNabb that has really been the difference down the stretch in the last few games. On offence, this is probably due to McNabb and Shanahan (the younger). On defense, I credit Shanahan (the older), Haslett, and London Fletcher (the often unsung hero).

The matchup agains the Colts will be a great test for the defense. Although they've been great at keeping the score low, which is the most important stat by far, they rank last in the league in yards given up. The problem is that, eventually, those yards will turn into points. They've got to find a way to get to Peyton Manning and to shut down some of his key targets. The secondary is going to have to step up in a big way, this will be their true test. The other unit that will have to really step up is the offensive line. I know they're plagued by injuries, but we really need to give McNabb some time back there, as well as open up lanes for Torrain to charge through. If these two units turn in good performances, we've got a good chance to win this weekend. Let's hope for the best.

2010-10-04T10:55:00.002-04:00

A Win is a Win

Yesterday marked a significant day for McNabb, as he returned home to the city that loves to hate him. Philidelphia has caused McNabb a lot of heartache during the decade he spent as the face of the Eagles franchise, even though he has too much class to show it. He took them to the playoffs regularly, to several NFC Championship games, and even a Superbowl. And although they couldn't do it while he was their quarterback, the Eagles fans finally showed him some much deserved respect as he entered the stadium last night at the helm of another team, with a standing ovation.

Of course, his new team is the Washington Redskins, and thank god for that. We finally have a leader in the locker room who even the veterans respect. Someone with immense experience in the NFC East, someone who knows how to win and has done so consistently. This has done wonders for team morale and cohesion, but up to now we haven't seen in translated into W's. The last two losses were pretty ugly, and even when Donovan stepped up and played well, the rest of the team didn't show up to play. Our running attack stalled. The linebackers couldn't cover. And the secondary absolutely blew.

But that changed against the Eagles. It wasn't that McNabb had a great game - he didn't. But the rest of the team really showed up to play, and made the win possible - at least in the first half. The defense was great at stopping the run the entire game, and the secondary landed some huge hits on the Eagles, not the least of which resulted in Vick's early departure from the game. Most importantly, however, was that the running game got going. Portis really pounded the ball down their throats, and Torrain is realizing the potential Shanahan saw in him all those years ago. Of course, they couldn't have done it without improved offensive line play, which is a big step in and of itself (we still miss Trent though, can't wait to get him back).

I still don't like how our secondary gives up the big plays, even when they know it's coming. They hit hard, but Moore and Landry need to cover better, and Carlos needs to start catching those potential interceptions. Our entire secondary needs to amp it up a bit.

We won this game, but we needed a luck to do it. I'll take it for now, but here's hoping we don't need luck the next time.

2010-07-20T15:40:00.003-04:00

Message from the Trenches

Yeah, I know, long time, etc etc. My apologies. But it's the way I am, as you know, so let's move on.

Just wanted to say that all is well here. I'm consumed by studying for the New York Bar Exam, which I'm taking in exactly one week. So I'm stuck in libraries, memorizing the exceptions to hearsay evidence and the rule against perpetuities, among other nonsense that I'll never need to have memorized in the future. Ah well. I am, however, going to Shakespeare in the Park tonight, where I'll be lucky enough to watch Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice. So clearly I guess I'm not studying too hard....

One week countdown to what is probably the last exam of my life. Well, I'm 30 years old, I guess it's about time. See y'all on the flipside...

2010-01-07T13:41:00.002-04:00

Shanahan comes to DC

This week has been one full of news in Washington DC.....for the Redskins, of course (what did you think I was talking about?). To recap: Coach Jim Zorn was fired, and Coach Shanahan was hired as the new head coach. His son Kyle will be the new offensive coordinator, the other positions are as of yet uncertain. This follows on the heels of the firing of Vinny Cerrato and the hiring of Bruce Allen as the new General Manager. Finally, a public spat between Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis has gotten a bit ugly. Like I said, lots of happenings.

Like most folks in the DC area I think it was long past due to fire Mr. Cerrato, and Bruce Allen was a great hire for the GM role. Since that hiring took place it has come to light that Redskins owner Dan Snyder had already begun preliminary talks with Shanahan to take the coaching position in DC, and it was Shanahan who recommended Bruce Allen. Jim Zorn was fired the day after the final game of the season, and a few days later Shanahan agreed to terms with Snyder and accepted a 5 year contract.

I feel badly for Jim Zorn. Although he was in over his head, and thus performed sub-par during his tenure as head coach, much of that was not his fault. In addition, he handled the adversity he encountered, from an egomaniac owner to an incompetent GM to a poorly disciplined team, with grace and dignity. He never lashed out, and he always stuck up for his players. He was a professional to the end, and for that he deserves credit. I think any team that picks him up as an offensive coordinator will do quite well.

Of course, I'm looking forward to Coach Shanahan, who has a great reputation and record. If anyone can fix the dysfunctional organizational mess that is the Washington Redskins, it's the Shanahan/Allen combo. Just keep Danny boy away from the front office, please. There's lots of talk about Shanahan possibly already making decisions on players, and from what I've heard of him (workaholic), it's possible that he has because he's known this Redskins gig was coming down the pike for a while now. I would hope that he keeps Campbell for another year (I'm a JC fan), trades Portis, and beefs up the O-line significantly. It should be a fun offseason.

2009-12-06T11:14:00.003-04:00

In Defense of Gay Marriage?

Check out New York State Senator Diane Savino's speech in defense of the gay marriage bill, which was predictably (but unfortunately) defeated recently in the NY legislature. Not bad, good blend of funny and serious, and clearly heartfelt. Good for her.

2009-10-30T21:32:00.006-04:00

The Redskins: A Tale of Woe

Like most Redskins seasons, this one began with some high profile off season acquisitions, some quarterback drama, and a lot of high hopes. And again like most Redskins season, it is on course for a tragic ending that leaves everyone shaking and scratching their heads. So as we enter the bye week, I think it's a good time to assess the state of the Redskins. This will be a series of posts over the next few weeks, but we start from the top.

Ownership & Management
The management of the team is the root of the team's dismal performance, and ultimate responsibility rests with the men at the top. Dan Snyder* makes three crucial mistakes in running this team.

First, he involves himself with personnel decisions on a regular basis. This is unproductive for two reasons: he is not good evaluator of football talent, and he is undermining the authority of those who work for him. Because he does not have a particular skill in football talent evaluation, he ends up simply finding the biggest star (the wisdom of crowds approach) out there and offering him bags of money to come play for the Redskins. It's like he's building his own fantasy football team. Which is a horrible way to create a winning football team, because it ignores the team building and strategic vision aspects of the game. Plus, as he does this constantly, he is undermining the authority of his coaches and talent scouts. If coaches have a strategic vision for the team in which they need players with A, B, and C qualities, and Mr. Snyder insists on acquiring someone with X, Y, and Z qualities because they are "playmakers", it kill the vision and demoralizes the coaching staff.

Second, Dan Snyder wants to win today, not tomorrow. Now, ordinarily this is not a bad thing, and most fans and players will tell you they want to win today also. But the problem lies in the fact that you cannot immediately assemble a team that will win today by putting together a bunch of talented players. Basic common sense argues for a longer term strategy. If it generally takes 2-3 years to develop a good quarterback and for him to develop a rhythym with his receivers, then perhaps changing quarterbacks every year is not the smartest move.

Third, Dan Snyder does not delegate. From the previous two points this should be clear, but deserves it's own focus because delegation is very important for a well run organization. Dan Snyder has great business instincts -- it's almost as if he can't make a mistake. But when it comes to football, 10 bad years should demonstrate to even him that he does not have the same luck with football. His job (along with Vinny Cerrato - see below) should be to hire the most talented and ambitious coaching and scouting staff possible, give them resources and get out of their way.

Vinny Cerrato is also part of this problem. In fact, I would argue that although Dan Snyder's actions are the main cause of the Redskins decline, this can be quickly fixed by simply removing him from all tactical and most strategic decisions -- just sit back and rake in the money, and let the football planning be done by those who've grown up doing this stuff. Vinny, on the other hand, there is no quick fix for. I'm sorry to say that I believe the Redskins would be better off if they found another GM and let Vinny go.

Vinny's main problem is that he is not a good manager. I don't know the man personally and I've never seen him in action, so the only evidence I have to back up this assessment is the performance of the Redskins organization. However, that is enough. A good manager makes a mediocre organization a good one, and a bad manager does the opposite. Vinny has had many years to show us what he can do, and I'm afraid it's not good. There are a basketful of examples I could use to illustrate this, but two will suffice. First, the complete failure to address the Offensive Line during the draft last year. Second, the disastrous way that the coaching position was filled two years ago. I don't feel the need to expound on these issues -- if you're familiar with the Redskins they will be self-evident, and if not then it would take far too much time and space to explain, and you've already indulged me by reading this far.

I have season tickets, and don't plan on giving them away at the end of this year. But I could be convinced otherwise. I hope that does not happen.

*The Washington Redskins are owned by Dan Snyder, who acquired the team through an auction about a decade ago after the previous owner (the much admired Jack Kent Cooke) passed away. It was universally believed in the DC area that Jack's son, John Cooke, would inherit the franchise which had earned the loyalty of millions of fans. Alas, it was not to be. Dan Snyder engaged in a hard fought auction, and was only 34 when he acquired the Redskins. Since then Mr. Snyder, although those close to him continue to insist his priority is winning football games, has failed to establish stability in the coaching staff, the quarterback, or the team strategy. He has, however, turned the Redskins into one of the most profitable franchises in football. Actions speak louder than words.

2009-08-26T10:41:00.002-04:00

Senator Ted Kennedy

Rest in Peace. Certainly he will be no Ozymandias -- the legislative accomplishments alone tell the story of one of the most remarkable public servants of the 20th century, and the personal tributes from across the globe speak to the force of his personality and humanity.

2009-07-26T20:13:00.002-04:00

Iranian Woes

Taking a break from travel logs, the news of the recent Iranian cabinet shuffle has intrigued me. In particular, it has confirmed for me that Ahmedinejad is a pretty inept administrator and leader, who prizes rhetoric and loyalty over competency (i know, i know, it sounds familiar). This particular quote from the Washington Post article today struck me as exemplary of the deteriorating situation within the Iranian government:

"In another move bound to anger critics, Ahmadinejad appointed the highly controversial Ali Kordan as special inspector on Sunday, according to the Mehr news agency. Last year, Kordan was impeached as minister of interior after his Oxford law degree turned out to be a fake. In his new job, Kordan will investigate cases of corruption and fraud within the government."

I mean, honestly. That's just plain idiotic.

2009-07-22T09:41:00.002-04:00

Location 13: Sarajevo

I believe we left off during the train to from Zurich to Ljubjana. Not that it was that crazy or anything, but it was an overnight train for which the sleeper cars were sold out. So I bought a seat, figuring that maybe there would be few enough people to stretch out. Not so much. As it turns out, my car was full (its the typical arrangement here, a compartment with 6 seats, 3 facing 3). We also had a dog (who was being smuggled onto the train), and a lady who just would not be quiet. Plus, there was no air conditioning, and it was crazy hot. Now imagine that for 10 hours. Ugh.

But it was worth it, b/c Ljubjana is a beautiful city. I took the city tour, wandered around the old and new cities for a bit, and just in general hung out by the river. The weather was still quite hot during the day, but the evenings were nice. The local food was interesting and engaging (horse meant, yum) and the people were fantastic. I met some locals who helped show me around a bit. It was a ton of fun. It´s actually a small city, but that was nice because it made the whole thing very walkable.

From there I caught took three trains overnight in order to get to Mostar, a city in southeast Bosnia. Not that I was planning on going there originally, but I heard from a few people that it was really worth a visit, and hey, why not? And I'm glad I went. The main attraction there is the Stari Most, which is a beautiful old bridge built by the Ottomans in the 1500's. It's kinda the national icon for Bosnia. It was blown up in the war, but subsequently rebuilt using the same stones that the UN divers fished out of the river. Speaking of the war, it is still evident on some of the buildings where you can see bullet damage and bombed out shells. Of course the war has been over for 15 years now, and there are hordes of tourists there, but still you can sense its on people's minds on occasion. I also took a day long tour of the surrounding area, visiting an old Turkish town, a massive natural spring (Blagaj), and a beautiful waterfall area where one can take a refreshing swim in the freezing cold water.

After a nice long stay in Mostar (3 days) I hit up sarajevo. More on that later. My trip is almost done....and I'm so sad because there are so many more places I want to see and adventures I want to have and people I want to meet and food I want to eat. Ah well.

2009-07-15T11:30:00.005-04:00

Location 11(?): Ljubljana

Let's see, I believe we left off in Florence, after which Neha and I travelled to Roma. Rome is a beautiful city. Once again mobbed by tourists, it still has a large local population and enough of a presence and charm such that the omnipresent sound of english and french does not detract much from its splendour. And its splendour lies in its history, which spans millenia, and is ever present as one wanders the streets.

One of the most charming aspects of Rome is to wander around the city and stumble upon, almost literally, a beautiful old church from thousands of years ago. Careful planning has led not only to the admirable preservation of these buildings, but also for thier integration into the city as a whole. This of course can be both a blessing and a curse. At night its wonderful to turn a corner and discover the Pantheon staring you in the face, but then it might remove some of the magic to find a McDonald's literally across the plaza, from which you can enjoy a Big Mac as you contemplate one of the largest domes ever built in Roman times.

The food of course, and the wine, are wonderful. We took our time in Rome quite easy....instead of a long march to see all of the sights, we took our time wandering the streets and trying valiantly (though ultimately largely unsuccesfully) to stay out of the brutal midday sun. And so passed Rome, at the end of which Neha flew home, and I took a train to Sierre, Switzerland.

Well, not exactly Sierre, which is in the valley between two mountain ranges. Up one of the mountains a bit is a town called Crans-Montana, which is actually quite a popular Swiss ski resort in the winter. There I met a friend of mine, who joined me from Basel where he is working this summer, and whose family has a beautiful house in Crans. Another friend joined us that evening, and the next morning we set out to hike up a mountain. All in all we hiked to an elevation of about 3000 meters, which is impressive for me considering how out of shape I am. The view from the top of the glacier was stunning, and the hike was difficult and rewarding. At times I was not sure whether I would make it up, but the sense of reward upon reaching the top was well worth it. We stayed at a hut (outfitted with beds of a sort, and which served a nice dinner) maintained specifically for hikers moving across the Alps, and then we came down the next day to a much needed shower at my friend's house. After dinner, I caught a train to Zurich....

But was derailed in Visp. I was supposed to transfer in the town of Visp to go to Zurich, but my friend and I had lingered too long over dinner, and it turned out that when I got to Visp there were no more trains to Zurich. So, stranded in a strange town at 10:30pm, I set out to explore. I found a small cheap hotel reasonably quickly (thank god, because at this point my legs were about to give out after that hike), and stayed the night. The next morning I caught a train to Zurich, where I checked my bag into an overnight locker and set out to explore the city. There's not much in the way of sights in Zurich, but the city itself is beautifully laid out. I should mention here that Zurich, with the possible exception of Rome, is the most expensive city on my trip. It was quite impressive to walk down their equivalent of 5th avenue, with beautiful people everywhere and the endless parade of designer shops at very high prices. I made the obligatory stop at Sprugli (the original swiss chocolate shop) and enjoyed my 10 hours in the city, and then caught an overnight train to Ljubljana.

Now the overnight train is another story with some drama, but it appears that I'll have to save that and a description of Ljubljana for another time, cuz I'm out of time here. Adios.

2009-07-04T12:01:00.002-04:00

Location 7: Firenze

I arrived yesterday afternoon in Florence after 3 days in Venice, which in turn were preceded by 2 days in Vernazza. Vernazza, a small coastal town in northwest Italy, is part of the popular vacation area "Cinque Terra." The area derives its name from the five coastal towns that it encompasses, and the area is sometimes called the Italian Riviera for the abundance of natural beauty, both on land and sea. The two main highlights from that excursion are as follows... First, the hikes. It takes about 90 minutes to hike between each town, for a total hike of several hours if you want to hike the entire five-town route. Neha and I hiked between Vernazza and the town to the south when we arrived, and between Vernazza and the town to the north the next day. These are the two most arduous hikes, and the one to Monterroso (on the second day) is particularly difficult if you don't enjoy hiking or are out of shape. Neha had a tough time, but we both made it in good form. The hikes themselves traverse the hillside and cliffside along the water, making for gorgeous views. Second, the food. The seafood is particularly good, as it is in most coastal towns where it is all freshly caught and served in the local fashion. However, I found that I enjoyed the two things the folks in that area take particular pride in: pesto and foccaccia (separately, though of course they can go together). They claim to have invented both, and their pride is well justified. Very yummy.

On we go to Venice, about which I don't have too much to say. I imagine that once upon a time it was quite a beautiful vacation spot, but to me it's lost most of that charm. The streets and alleys and canals are overrun by tourists (who far outnumber the locals), which just saps the experience of something new and engaging that I enjoy. If one wanders the streets and alleys late at night, taking odd turns here and there to escape the more travelled routes, one can still sense the haunting beauty of Venice that inspired so much devotion in years past. The alleys can get quite small, usually softly lit, and you turn a corner to encounter a simple stone bridge over a canal, under which a local lies in his boat having a cigarette. That stuff is very cool. Some of the sights were also quite impressive of course, but you can read about those in the books.

And so we arrive in Florence. Today Neha and I completed a bike tour, in which we biked across the hills of Tuscany, stopping for a nice lunch, and pausing for a tour of a local winery and olive oil producer. The tour guides were very nice and funny, which is key for any tour, and the group was filled with folks our age (or younger). The only downside was the heat. It was about 95F today, and we all were sweating profusely. I'm personally proud that I made it up the large hill we had to tackle without the aid of the van, which most of the group utilized....though I'll admit I had to walk some of it, and I was dying when I got to the top. The Tuscan countryside, it should go without saying, is picturesque, filled with vineyards and olive trees and small towns that look sublime. So far I can't say the same for the city center, which is almost as bad as Venice in terms of the number of tourists (Americans and Canadians dominate). Luckily we've met some nice locals who've given us great restaurant recommendations, so at least we should be eating well.

Ciao ciao.

2009-07-03T02:03:00.002-04:00

Venecia

My apologies regarding the lack of posts recently. The internet cafes in Venice are more expensive than I would have thought (as is the entire city).

I've been in Venice for the past two and a half days, and it's been a lot of fun. The city is filled with more than just water (it's comprised of over 100 distinct tiny islands, all connected via bridges), but includes a cool ambiance and great seafood. The downside is the tourism.....on any given day there are as many tourists here as locals. Being that Venice is so small, the entire economy seems to run off sales of Venetian masks, Murano glass, and other tourist traps. There are hordes of them everywhere. However, it's not too hard to get away from them if you stick to the side streets, and then the magic of Venetian alleyways and small bridges over quiet canals becomes quite apparent.

My time is limited here for now, but I promise....and this time I mean it....to post more details upon reaching my next destination. I'm off to the train station right now: destination Firenze (Florence). Neha and I have an appointment with the Uffezi museum upon arrival, and then I'll find an internet cafe. Until then, ciao ciao.

2009-06-27T12:34:00.002-04:00

Nice

So I was planning to write a nice long blog post today, but it turns out the keyboards at this internet cafe (in France in general, perhaps?) are strange.....some funky variation on the qwerty standard. As a result the typing is slow, and so I'll save the detailed update for a few days from now.

I arrived in Nice two nights ago, and will be leaving tomorrow morning. Neha has just joined me, and it's nice to have company again (though i do find i enjoy solitary travel quite a bit). The beaches here are very rocky, but the water is the most beautiful shade of blue....perfect for a swim, which I took earlier today.

Tomiorrow we head to Vernazza, where we will spend a couple days before moving on to Venice. I doubt Vernazza has many internet cafes, so I'll post again from Venice. Now we're going to go get some ice cream......au revoir, et bon soir.

2009-06-24T14:12:00.002-04:00

Update

Now, the problem is that these darn internet cafe´s are quite pricey in Barcelona, so I´ll make this quick. I spent two nights in Girona, which was great. It was more than enough time to see the town, which can really be done in a single day, but I took my time and enjoyed myself. I walked the canal, saw the random small museums, and got lost several times. All in all, quite a good time. I´ll post more about the sights at a later time.

Currently I´m in Barcelona again, staying with some friends I made on the overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid, and whom I ran into randomly in the Barcelona metro earlier today. They seem quite nice (from England....a group of three, one of whom is celebrating her 30th birthday with this trip....not too far from my own situation, as it turns out).

Tomorrow I head to Nice in France, and then on to Italy. I hope all is well on the homefront.

2009-06-23T08:15:00.002-04:00

Girona

Just a note to say that, after 4 trains and a lot of schlepping with a 50+ pound bag on my back, I made it succesfully to Girona last night from Lisbon. The hostel is nice and clean, and I´m touring the old city today (brutally hot as always, but not as bad as Lisbon or Madrid). I´ll post details perhaps tonight or tomorrow.

Random note: it´s not as though I don´t appreciate the smooth rides or the ease of construction that pavement provides, but it´s really nice having cobblestone streets and sidewalks. Not only do they conform to the ground well, but the patterns that can be made everywhere using different color stones is quite pleasing.

2009-06-20T15:16:00.002-04:00

Location 2: Lisboa

After spending 4 days in Barcelona, I took the high-speed AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid, and then the overnight train from Madrid to Lisbon. Due to the delayed arrival of my Barcelona train, I almost missed the one from Madrid, but luckily I found another backpacker on the connecting train (we had to transfer between train stations in Madrid), and together we figured it out just in time.

I´d forgotten how enjoyable sleeper trains can be. Not only do you go to sleep in one city and wake up in another, which is just a wonderful concept by itself, but it´s conducive to meeting some very interesting people. I got on the train, and immediately was invited to have an "after dinner drink" with my compartment-mate. Turns out he´s an anthropology PhD student from Finland, studying the remains and evolution of Portugese culture in their former African colonies. We finished off a bottle of wine discussing his work, among other things, and then we returned to the compartment, crawled into bed, and woke up in Lisbon.

After figuring out how to get to my hotel via the metro (yes, I could´ve taken a cab, but this was more fun), I realized that Lisbon is a lot like San Francisco in it´s layout. It´s situated on a peninsula, flanked by a bay and the ocean. It´s an eminently walkable city, with distinct neighborhood vibes. And, most crucially for me, it has lots and lots of steep hills, with trolleys that ease the climb. Determined to put my legs to the test, I hiked up a particularly steep hill with my large backpack, as locals passing on the trolley gave me the "stupid tourist" shake of the head. The trolleys here are a bright yellow, and very symbolic of the city -- they´re on all the tourist paraphenelia, anyway.

The first day I checked in, took a short nap, and then set out to explore the city. I promptly got lost in the Alfama district, notorious for its small alleyways and labyrinthine layout. It´s the old section of town, built originally by the Moors when they ruled in Lisbon many centuries ago. Hours (and many hills) later I found my way out, after having seen some of the really beautiful views and some of the great sights, including the Se Cathedral and the Castle on the hill...it´s name escapes me for the moment, but it overlooks the entire city and is quite beautiful (also built by the Moors a very long time ago). I spent the rest of the day wandering the city, and returned so exhausted and tired that I promptly fell asleep.

A word on the heat. It´s hot here. Today it hit 40C (that´s over 100F). I´ve sweat off at least a few pounds in the few days I´ve been here, consumed more bottles of water than I care to count, and climbed that damn hill every single time. It´s a little silly, but what the heck. It keeps me in shape.

Yesterday I spent the day wandering about the city some more, and then went to Belem, which is a nearby neighborhood in Lisbon. Most notable in Belem is the monastary, originally built by the King Emanuel, from which Portugal sent and received all its famous explorers and traders. The monestary itself is quite beautiful, especially in the afternoon sunlight, and once housed over a 100 monks of the St. Jerome order. The tombs of several kings lie there, as well as the tomb of Vasco de Gama.

Today was spent on a tour of nearby Sintra, as well as some of the nearby beaches at Guiche and Caiscais. I´ll post more on those later. As for my schedule...I leave on the night train tomorrow night to Madrid, from there to Barcelona, and then a local train to Girona. I´ll spend a couple days in Girona, then back to Barcelona, and then on to Southern France, perhaps with a brief stop in Cadaques.

2009-06-15T14:29:00.002-04:00

Location 1: Barcelona, Spain

As some of you know, I'm taking some time this summer to do some travelling across Europe. I've got no real purpose or destination -- I'm simply taking the time I have to enjoy myself these next few weeks, and to think about how my life might be changing now that I'm approaching the big 3-0 (to be honest i'm kinda looking forward to turning 30, but it's as good an excuse as any to get out and see some more of the world). Basically, it's a trip of self-reflection and relaxation, with some adventure thrown in.

Currently I'm in Barcelona, my favorite city in Europe. I chose to begin my trip here because my brother is currently here as well, on his way back to the U.S. from a study-trip to Brussels with his MBA program. To my surprise, my Spanish has not deteriorated as much as I had feared, although I do have difficulty finding the words I want more often that not. I wish I could spend 3 months here and regain my fluency, but alas, it's not this trip. Perhaps the next one.

I arrived yesterday, and spent the day getting re-oriented with Barcelona, as well as going with my brother and a friend of his to Parc Guell, a planned neighborhood by the Gaudi -- a recommendation of mine, which I would also recommend to anyone else visiting Barcelona. In the evening we caught a flamenco show, which was truly impressive. I never really realized how much tapdance was involved in flamenco....the dancers were great, and it was well worth the entry price (although the dinner part of the dinner/show combo was sub-par). I also enjoyed the flamenco guitar playing, which is a lot of stacatto rhythyms and quick finger strumming. It reminded me of the Spanish classical guitar I have at home that has gone ignored for far too long. Perhaps I'll try my hand at learning that again this next school year.

That's all for now, but I'll be posting regularly on trip updates. I didn't bring my computer, so I can't really upload photos, but they will of course be available upon request when I return.

2009-05-26T16:21:00.003-04:00

Blue Hills at Stone Barns

This past weekend I enjoyed the gastronomically pleasing cuisine of Chef Barber at his Blue Hills restaurant at Stone Barns, which is a farm about 40 minutes north of New York City. The setting was idyllic: rolling green hills, farm animals lounging (or clucking, mooing, etc.) about, and a massive greenhouse in which lots of recognizable vegetables were grown, and some unrecognizable ones too. Chef Dan Barber has been widely recognized for his farm-to-table style of food, and recently has been taking the "foodie" circles by storm. In 2009 was named James Beard’s Outstanding Chef.

The restaurant is well known for using ingredients produced locally in the Hudson Valley, and primarily from the farm itself. There's a peculiar pleasure one gets from knowing the food you're eating was probably plucked, killed, or otherwise prepared on the premises and within the past 24 hours. The kitchen prepares a menu of courses for each table, based on local ingredients available and in season. You simply tell your server which ingredients you'd rather not eat, and the rest is fair game (so to speak).

The food itself was very good. Simply prepared, lots of great flavor, and highlighting local ingredients. There was a tad too much asparagus for me (we had it in three different preparations --- though the asparagus burgers were surprisingly good), but other than that I enjoyed the food thoroughly. The first course was asparagus centered, the second was brook trout, the third was goat, and the fourth was dessert prepared two ways: either a mint marshmellow with milk sorbet or an asparagus ice cream over a sort of graham cracker.

It is worth the trip? Well, I would argue the the trip is actually part of the fun. After our meal we wandered around the farm. We spent time watching the cows feed, laughing at the pigs rolling in the dirt, and taking pictures of the cute little lambs (no doubt soon destined for the chopping block). Since we went for lunch - only available on Sundays - we had lots of sunlight left after our meal to take a nice walk around the farmland. For those coming from NYC, just the chance to get out of the concrete jungle is almost worth it in itself.

As for the price....well, you just have to suck it up. I'd prefer this food be available less steeply, but I also realize that keeping a farm on a small scale like this is expensive. I believe we paid about $100 per head, including wine, 4 courses, tax and tip. That's not something I can do very often, but it's on par with most other NYC fine dining establishments.

2009-05-19T12:06:00.002-04:00

Mr. Chief Justice

An interesting piece on Chief Justice Roberts by Jeffrey Toobin in the recent edition of the New Yorker.

"His jurisprudence as Chief Justice, Roberts said, would be characterized by “modesty and humility.” After four years on the Court, however, Roberts’s record is not that of a humble moderate but, rather, that of a doctrinaire conservative. The kind of humility that Roberts favors reflects a view that the Court should almost always defer to the existing power relationships in society. In every major case since he became the nation’s seventeenth Chief Justice, Roberts has sided with the prosecution over the defendant, the state over the condemned, the executive branch over the legislative, and the corporate defendant over the individual plaintiff. Even more than Scalia, who has embodied judicial conservatism during a generation of service on the Supreme Court, Roberts has served the interests, and reflected the values, of the contemporary Republican Party."

2009-05-08T11:56:00.004-04:00

Quotes

At times, even though I have lots to say, I don't have the time to say it here. However, what I thought I could do is include a quotation that gives some insight into what I'm thinking about. For example, currently I'm giving thought to what I should do after I graduate next year. My options are (luckily) plentiful and fulfilling. As I think through these potential paths, a quote comes to mind from Teddy Roosevelt.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

It's always been one of my favorites....of course, T.R. had the benefit of being someone who ended up knowing the "triumph of high achievement"-- he might have spoken differently if he had failed.

2009-05-03T12:54:00.002-04:00

Rain Rain Go Away

My first week of summer in New York is filled with rain. Out of the next 6 days, 5 will see lots of rain. This is rather disappointing. Plans to go hiking, climbing, and just wandering around Central Park have been rather quickly and, in my view, unfairly derailed. Of course, last weekend when I was locked in the library from morning 'til dusk studying hard the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Sometimes I think Murphy was on to something.

After a week in New York, I head to California. I pray the weather there shall be better.

2009-05-02T15:52:00.002-04:00

The Summer of Ozymandias

I had my last final exam yesterday, had way too much to drink last night in celebration, and today is the first day of my summer vacation.

Unlike summers past, this summer will not find me working or stressing about anything in particular. Well, that's not quite true, because old habits are hard to break. But I'll be fighting the temptation, because this summer I plan to take a bite of out of life. Currently my plans include 2 weddings, travel across the United States (perhaps twice), a long trip to Europe (exact locations TBD), and a long trip to one additional continent -- probably either Africa or South America. Planned activities include lots of reading, contemplation about life's big decisions, plenty of physical activity, and catching up with old & new friends. If you're reading this and have some free time this summer, no matter where in the world you are, drop me a line. Odds are I'll be in your neck of the woods at some point, and I've got nothing but time.

Let the summer begin.

2009-02-08T23:51:00.001-04:00

I'm back.

I just read an article online about Sarah Palin that I found very good and thoughtful. I thought I'd share it with you.

If you get a chance, click here and give it a read.

2008-07-08T13:02:00.006-04:00

London Sights

It was a blustery weekend in London, but nevertheless I braved the wind and schizophrenic rain to take in some of the sights and sounds. Below are my reflections on four of the places I visited in London.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Really a great piece of architecture, though if you've seen many cathedrals in Europe this one is not going to be too much different. Great big halls, wonderful statues and paintings, and a very interesting history. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that you can climb up to the very top of the dome, to a blacony from which you get an absolutely stellar view of all London (if you have the stamina....some people were having quite a tough time of it....530 steps in all).

The Tate Museum

I was looking forward to this one. The Tate is London's modern art museum, and is fantastic not only in its collection of work, but also in the architecture of the building itself. It's an imposing structure on the south bank of the Thames, and many tourists find themselves confronted with it unexpectedly since the 'Millenium Bridge' leads right to its doorstep. And lucky them. Free to the public like the rest of the museums in London, I was glad to see many people contemplating Picasso, Rothko, and others. I was sad to miss out on the exhibit on Urban Photography, which alas was a special exhibition for which they were charging a hefty entrance price.

The Cabinet War Rooms / Churchill Museum

This is a great find for military history enthusiasts, such as myself. Carefully hidden around the corner from Parliment and Big Ben, it does not get nearly the tourist traffic of other, more glitzy destinations. It's fairly small and unimpressive from the entrance...but don't be fooled. The free audio tour is great, and the Churchill museum is quite impressive. The underground warren is dimly lit, and its not too hard to imagine Churchill and his war cabinet huddling in these smoke filled roooms and debating the wisdom of a southern front, or when the Americans would finally join the war. Very cool. Also, in the Churchill museum you can hear audio recordings of many of his more famous speeches.

The British Library

If the Cabinet War Rooms are relatively less frequented by tourists, then the British Library is almost deserted. This is probably because it suffers not only from a non-impressive entrance, but also because it is distant from most other sights in London, and not especially good for young children (it is, after all, a library). But if you are a dork like me, you'll love this place. Particularly impressive is the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, which has some fantastic works on display. Here you can see the oldest known copy of Beowulf, a Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta, original works of Da Vinci, Aristotle, as well as more recent items like Lewis Carroll's diary (opened to the page where he remarks upon finishing a story for Alice about getting lost down a rabbit hole).

2008-07-07T05:16:00.002-04:00

Incredible Tennis

Yesterday afternoon I took out some work, turned on the television, and thought I'd finish editing a paper while watching the Men's Wimbeldon Final.

Four hours later, I had done almost no work.

If you are a tennis fan and you missed this one, I highly recommend watching a repeat of the match. Even if you know who wins, the quality of the tennis was just phenomenal. It had everything one could want from a sporting event: high stakes, great opponents, amazing quality of play, back and forth momentum swings, and an unknown victor until the last second. It was easily one of the best tennis matches I have ever seen. This is what tennis is supposed to be.

In the end Nadal prevailed, but to me the winner is less important than the game. I hope to see a vigorous and healthy Nadal-Federer rivalry for years to come, producing some more of this world-class tennis.

2008-07-02T08:36:00.006-04:00

First Impressions

I arrived in London on Saturday for a 6 week adventure in the land of meat pies and pudding, and was greeted by glorious sunshine. In fact, today is the first day that it has rained, which means I had four days of beautiful sunshine and great weather to get acquainted with London.

My first day was filled with rather mundane stuff: arrival at the airport, getting unpacked and situated in my new apartment, buying groceries, a local phone, etc. The most exciting aspect of this day, by far, was my new apartment. It's a one-bedroom apartment about double the size of my studio in New York (about the size of Navin's place). Not only that, but it's a full service apartment, which means that a maid comes by once a day to clean up, make my bed, even do my dishes! It also happens to be situated in one of the swankier parts of London (Chelsea, by Sloane Square). The first night I went out to dinner with two other Summer Associates from New York, and I saw the following in 5 minutes: 1 ferarri, 2 aston martin's, and 3 porsche's. Craziness.

My second day was sunny and warm, so I set out on foot with a friend to explore the city. If you'd like to follow along on a map, we started on Sloane Ave in Chelsea, walked up through Hyde Park, then east along Oxford street until we came to the British museum. The northeast corner of Hyde Park has a distinctive tradition: people take turns speaking (usually from on top of a box, or chair, or some other raised platform) on whatever topic takes their fancy, while a crowd of people stand by and listen or participate. It's like a semi-official soapbox with an interesting history....it's a popular place for protests, and a good place for entertainment. Anyway, when we got there some guy was going on about how the Bible does not allow you to have multiple wives. Apparently political topics normally dominate, but I guess on Sundays perhaps people get religious.

The British museum was impressive. One notable aspect about most museums in London is that they are free to the public, which is wonderful. It means that I don't feel compelled to stay and see as much as possible in one visit, and instead can return at my leisure to visit different exhibits. Two of the most exciting items I saw were the Rosetta Stone, and some ruins from the Parthenon (which has engendered some recent controversy). We then walked down to the Thames, along the south bank (passing the eye of London), and back to the apartments. In all I'd say I walked for about 6 hours, which is a good long time, and my feet were hurting. Nonetheless, I went to a local pub and had some Guiness later that evening.

On the third day I started work, of which I'll say little in these postings, because, well, it's work. Nothing much to say. The people are great, the office space is nice, and the lunch is heavily subsidized (one pound!). Let me take a minute here to discuss the ubiquitous topic of price. Yes, London is expensive. Yes, more expensive than New York. Yes, by a lot. Seriously, the only thing that's reasonably priced around here is beer and pub food (go figure). A box of cereal costs 6 dollars, a monthly subway pass costs 200 dollars, and dry cleaning one pair of pants is 12 dollars. Unreal.

So here I am, five days into my London excursion. It's not very much time, so I plan to take advantage of what I can while I'm here. This weekend will be dedicated to exploring and getting more acquainted with London....some more museums, open air markets, and perhaps some of that local Indian food that's supposed to be so good. Next weekend I'll head to the English countryside I think.

2008-06-18T15:27:00.004-04:00

Tim Russert

It's been a few days since Tim passed away, but since the funeral is today I thought it was fitting to say a few words. Not that I knew Tim, but like many Americans I admit to a feeling of kinship with him because of what he did and what he was trying to accomplish.

Though I have seen his commentary on news programs for more than a decade, I only became a regular Meet the Press viewer a couple years ago. It quickly became one of my few regular TV programs, even though I disagreed often with his method of interviewing. Reflecting on this paradox, I think I enjoyed the program because I got the impression that Tim was really, honestly, trying to get politicans to communicate a clear and coherent message, and nailing them when they did not. Although I'm sure he was as ambitious as the next guy, it seemed his desire to have politicians live up to a high standard was the real driving force behind his career and fascination with politics.

I am increasingly skeptical that the commentators, pundits, anchors, and even 'experts' on many news shows have my knowledge and the general welfare as their primary concern. I'm not naive; I don't expect it to be their only concern, but I would like to see a little more social consciousness and accountability exercised in television journalism.

I watched MTP because Tim, for whatever intangible reason, did not give me that impression. It seems he genuinely cared. In today's politics, and in today's television journalism, that's a quality we can ill afford to lose.

2008-06-11T21:36:00.004-04:00

American Exceptionalism

A front page article in today's New York Times proclaims that that, when it comes to free speech, the U.S. is "exceptional" because we impose a higher bar than other countries, most notably Canada, when it comes to censoring individuals and/or the press. Now, the word "exceptional" by itself can have both positive and negative connotations, and I first thought it was a testament to the editorial staff of the Times that they used such a deliberately ambiguous word. However, such thoughts gradually disappeared from my mind as I read the article, which seems to have a bone to pick with the Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence and the state of free speech in America today.

After spending some time discussing the heavier speech regulation in other nations, and tacitly agreeing with some quoted philosophers that such regulation might make sense to preserve tolerance and cohesion in a liberal democracy, the article spends a couple sentences surmising that this American "exceptionalism" probably has something to do with our history and focus on individual liberty.

You could say that.

In truth, this is a vast oversimplification of one of the bedrock principles of a uniquely American mode of governance. While it is undoubtedly true that words can be as dangerous as firearms, it does not follow that they should be equally regulated. This is due to a simple and obvious truth which the Times seems to have missed: speech is our most direct outward expression of thought. To regulate speech is, by direct implication, to attempt to regulate thought and belief. Indeed, most speech regulation in other nations is an attempt to suppress a particular belief and encourage another. And while it may be clear to us that some beliefs and thoughts are clearly wrong, dangerous, and ignorant, in the end that amounts to nothing more than a disagreement, vehement though it may be.

"...that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights..." These words are familiar to most Americans, and yet serious thought is, sadly, rarely given to its meaning and implications. For it has a very specific meaning, drafted by a man trained in the law and schooled in logic and rhetoric. An "unalienable right" is one that cannot be given away, even if one wishes to do so. It is inherent and non-transferable. Now, clearly such an absolute reading would cause serious administrative problems (witness Holmes's famous example of crying Fire in a crowded theater). Nevertheless, the sentiment expressed is one which sets itself firmly in the individual liberty of Americans to talk and believe as they will. Madison followed firmly in Jefferson's footsteps when he drafted the Bill of Rights - indeed, one could say that much of it was a collaborative effort.

Okay, I'll stop. I don't want to (nor do I have the time to) write an entire essay fleshing out these arguments. However, to me it is clear that our modern free speech jurisprudence is grounded not only in history, but also in sound political philosophy. While other countries might choose to promote tolerance over free thought, and superficial consensus over occasional discord, such a value system is distinctly un-American. It creates an atmosphere where certain thoughts are illegal, and certain beliefs are heresies against the state. If one is to preserve a liberal democracy, the only heresy I can think of is tyranny.

2008-06-10T10:00:00.005-04:00

Calling All Bets

David Brooks implies in his column today that American society is imperiled as a result of a dramatic increase in debt and the loss of frugality and industry as virtues in American culture. No doubt he is right that debt has increased noticeably in the past few decades, but I would be surprised if its recent increase represents an increase in the rate of increase. In other words, debt has always been increasing --- a rather predictable outcome of our capitalistic society that runs on credit and speculation (a lesson I learned painfully a few years ago, when i was informed my credit score was horrible because i had no debt). In fact our country has always run on speculation. George Washington himself speculated on land.

He argues that the 'dramatic increase' in debt in our society (assuming for the moment that the rate has increased dramatically) is destructive because it "inhibits social mobility and ruins lives." Unfortunately he does not back this up with any evidence, leading us to speculate as to the bases for this assertion. Such a simple diagnosis seems a bit naive for such a complex problem, and I wonder if the increase individual, family, and governmental debt over the past few decades is the result of a lack of social mobility, instead of the cause. Or perhaps it's more of a chicken and the egg thing. Regardless, I'm fairly sure this is not quite as well thought through as David Brooks would like to think.

Despite the weakness of the argument presented (I won't go through the whole thing), there is something compelling about the call to action. The 'debt society' as some have called it is an issue of significant national concern, contributing as it does not only to the precariousness of the economy but also to the undermining of reasonable expectations and thus the general happiness and contentment of Americans. This is my main concern, and what draws me to the subject. The average American should not expect to leverage his finances and gain money --- the virtues of industry and frugality are ones that have stood the test of time, and should not be allowed to pass without serious consideration.

However, it should be noted that many of the founding fathers, that David Brooks refers to as establishing this Puritanical backbone for our country, did not walk the walk. Though they proclaimed the virtues of frugality and independence from creditors, many themselves lived well beyond their means on a regular basis, most notably Thomas Jefferson. Debt and speculation have been part of the history of this country since its founding. It's not really its presence that is the problem, but the rather its prevalence and standing in our society. Because you never know when the debts are going to be called in.

2008-05-09T09:14:00.005-04:00

Horrible

I'm in the midst of final exams right now, but I want to take minute to vent my frustrations at the complete idiocy of cable and network news. Tens of thousands of people are dead in Burma, and tens of thousands more could die soon if proper aid does not reach them in time. Most news channels, instead of covering this disaster and putting pressure on Myanmar's government to open itself up to aid workers and supplies, are instead debating the content of a two-second Hillary Clinton soundbite. Honestly. It's unthinkable (and this coming from a politics junkie).

Newspapers report today that aid workers are being literally turned away at the airport in Myanmar, where they have come to provide relief to the homeless. This is not a hypothetical scenario. This is not reality TV. Real people will die. What the Burmese government is doing is criminal.

2008-05-01T09:10:00.002-04:00

Good or Bad?

Italy just did something that's either wonderful or horrible. I can't decide. See for yourself.

2008-04-20T10:42:00.004-04:00

More John Adams

It's hard to say which project is more difficult: reducing a life to a book, or reducing a book to a movie. This is not to say that a movie is somehow less valuable than a book, but simply that the capacity of books to capture nuance, information, and complexity usually exceeds that of a movie, in part due to the formatting and time requirements. The same goes when comparing a non-fiction book to the events or lives it attempts to recount.

In a nutshell, this is the problem that the HBO miniseries John Adams encounters. As recounted by this piece in the Post, the miniseries I recommended on this blog about a month ago does not fully include a certain aspect of John Adams' temperament and attitude that might be valuable to the viewer, and would perhaps create a more sullied, or human, view of this founding father (full disclosure: i have a somewhat tenuous connection to the author through another related individual, and i regard both of them as meticulous and insightful historians). In particular, the article cites Mr. Adams' vanity and self-obsession. I continue to believe that Paul's depiction of John Adams has been inspired, and would contest the view that this depiction does not show the weaker and vainer aspects of John Adams. To the extent that it does not do this fully enough to faithfully establish the character of John Adams, I will defer to the experts (including the author of the article).

I think it's useful and valuable to point out that there's more to John Adams, and indeed to all of the founding fathers, than could be depicted in a 7 part miniseries. But for all that, I think it's a great series with some truly wonderful performances. For those without HBO, I've been hearing that it will be released on DVD rather quickly due to its popularity, so you should not have long to wait.

2008-04-09T19:26:00.002-04:00

Chris Matthews

If you're one of those people who is constantly absorbed by current events, and politics in particular, then the host of Hardball and the Chris Matthews Show is no stranger to you. Indeed, he's one of the poster children for MSNBC, and probably one of the most recognizable political commentators on the airwaves today. Personally I still have not figured this guy out. Sometimes I really enjoy watching his show and hearing his opinions -- they can be incisive and informative. At other times he comes across as a whiner and a blowhard, and sometimes as just plain painful to watch.

Perhaps I'll devote a post to him and the other MSNBC familiar faces one day. For now, I just want to point you in the direction of this Times Magazine piece, which is a really interesting window into the life and psyche of Chris Matthews.

2008-04-01T12:46:00.002-04:00

Beware Your Blackberry

New studies show it's increasingly likely that constant phone usage (handsets, not bluetooth headsets) may cause cancer in the long term.

2008-03-28T17:27:00.002-04:00

Brief Life Update

- I'm closing in on the end of my second year of school. Since I'm doing the four-year JD/MBA program, that means I'm almost halfway done with school. Of course, I still have to contend with final exams.

- This summer I'll be working at a law firm in New York, where I plan to focus on learning about international sovereign law (their specialty). I also anticipate spending half of the summer abroad with this firm, although location is still TBD.

- Next year I'll move to the Business School. I'm looking forward with the decreased level of competition (a general phenomenon when comparing law and biz schools....its not meant to imply anything about biz or law students), but I'm not looking forward to re-learning how to work with numbers. Necessary, I know, but still painful.

- Somewhere in there, between summer internships and prepping for Bschool, I hope to take some fun vacations.

2008-03-19T19:53:00.003-04:00

The Speech

Obama's recent speech was a fantastic piece of American politics. It's the type of thing that gives hope to those who find ourselves becoming disaffected and cynical about the political process. Race in this country is a sensitive, nuanced, difficult and pervasive issue that most politicians are content to brush under the rug. It's far too risky to deal with head on. I'm sure Obama would rather have not been forced to make this speech --- it put him in quite a challenging position. But as many great leaders of the past have done, he took a challenge and turned it into a unique opportunity. An opportunity to say something meaningful and potent about America. And he delivered on that opportunity.

What I loved about this speech is that it simply refuses to be reduced to a soundbite. Its genius lies in its entirety, in how he acknowledges and deals with the complex reality of racial issues in America today, and how he uses our nation's history to demonstrate our ability to rise above such petty differences if we so choose. The speech was not only an nuanced and intelligent exposition on race in America, it was a challenge to America to rise above these divisive issues and attempt, in good faith, to talk with each other honestly about the common ground we share.

The pundit reaction has been predictable. They have all been taken with the speech, calling it amazing, brilliant, etc. And then they go back to obsessing about race in politics. It's as if his speech went in one ear and out the other. I hope Americans are better than that. Even if Obama does not win the Presidency, this speech will stand in history as a landmark in race relations in this country.

If you didn't catch the speech, you can see it in it's entirety (40 minutes) here.

2008-03-18T10:17:00.002-04:00

John Adams

Let me take a moment to plug the new HBO miniseries "John Adams" that premiered this past Sunday. Many of you might have had a chance to read David McCullough's book, but regardless of that fact you should be watching this show. The acting was superb --- both Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti turned in wonderful performances. In addition, the production and direction were well done, and the sets really captured the spirit and temper of the time (as far as i know).

For those of you who don't get HBO.....sorry for the teaser. I suggest renting it when it comes out on DVD.

2008-03-02T12:34:00.004-04:00

A Return To Posting

I'm back baby. And during my absence, I've discovered the joys of surfing youtube. I know my tastes are a little dorky, but if you're reading this chances yours are too. Below are three of my recent finds.....if you're bored, click the links and enjoy.

Nature:
Amazing camouflaged octopus

Musical Comedy:
For Back to the Future fans
For classical music fans

2008-01-11T21:34:00.000-04:00

Rambles, then Shantaram

After creating the list of books in my previous post, I went to the bookstore to purchase a few and begin my winter vacation reading. Sure, I could have bought my books on Amazon from the comfort of my studio apartment, without having to brave the windy cold New York streets in December. But buying books from Amazon requires a certainty of purpose that I did not possess. My list was not set in stone, and the meandering halls of a bookstore, with all their options and stories and adventures, were great antidotes to the single-minded focus that had driven my finals studying for a solid month.

So, anyway, I went to the bookstore. And discovered that most books on my list were only available in hardcover. Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with buying books in hardcover. I myself have done it plenty of times in the past. It’s just that when one has a book habit like mine, certain guidelines need to be followed or else total chaos will quickly ensue. One of these guidelines is to buy only paperback books so that I don’t spend too much money. Another one, for example, is to buy only one book at a time so that I don’t accumulate a bookshelf full of unfinished projects.

So, anyway, I did not end up buying those books below. Instead I limited myself to one paperback I’d heard was a great relaxing and fun read: Shantaram. And I have to say that it fulfilled all expectations (no more, no less). What follows is a brief review of the book. I don’t include any real spoilers, but if you’re sensitive to this sort of thing you can go back to surfing the web now.

This is the story of a man whose life fell apart while he was living in Australia. He became a junkie, resorted to armed robbery and other crimes, and was sent to jail. Amazingly he escaped from a maximum security prison and made his way to Bombay, where the adventure in the book begins. He explores the city, befriends the locals, lives in a local village and learns the local language all within the first couple years. He lives and works in the worst slums in Bombay for years. Gets thrown in prison, become a head councilman in the Bombay mafia. Goes to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets, and treks his way through the mountains to return to Bombay. Reading this book, I constantly marveled at the fact that this is based, in large part, on a true story.

Shantaram is a long but fun read, and a very good book. It is written fairly well. That is to say that the author is able to effectively and compellingly convey his ideas on paper. He does not have the mastery of the English language of, say, Rushdie or McCarthy or McEwan – this is not a classic book, by any means. He tends to be verbose, and some details are over-the-top and unnecessary. However I still think it’s a very good book, because there is something to be said for the sprawling majesty of a great story. The book ducks and weaves, leaving very few dull moments through its 700+ pages, and constantly engages the reader with personal asides from the author. The attempts at philosophy in the latter half of the book are a bit weak and feel somewhat forced, but other than that I have to say the story is very entertaining. Storytelling is an art that is difficult to master, but here it’s on full display.

2007-12-15T13:36:00.000-04:00

Book List

Well, I'm done with final exams. Having regurgitated lots of information in a very short period of time, and having completed an agonizingly long semester, I now turn to other pursuits: more work. Yes, sad as it is, my work is not complete. Although I get to go home tomorrow, where no doubt I'll be well fed at least, I have 2 weeks to complete a 40 page research paper (also called a Note) for the law review. I've already done an outline for this paper though, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

In the meantime I hope to be reading some interesting books. Any suggestions? My current list of books to read over winter break is below. I'm finding that it's rather heavily weighted towards non-fiction (indeed, only 2 fiction pieces listed, now that I look at it).....an influence of law school perhaps? I'm not sure. Of course, there's no way that I'll be able to make it through all these books this winter....but that's never stopped me from trying before.

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
by Jeffrey Toobin

Atonement
by Ian McEwan

Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA
by Tim Weiner

The Making of Victorian Values: Decency and Dissent in Britain, 1789-1837
by Ben Wilson

India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy
by Ramachandra Guha

Then We Came To The End
by Joshua Ferris

The Eight O'Clock Ferry to the Windward Side: Seeking Justice in Guantanamo Bay
by Clive Stafford Smith

The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing
by Paul Collier

From Higher Aims to Hired Hands: The Social Transformation of American Business Schools
by Rakesh Khurana

2007-11-22T18:15:00.000-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving

So let me say: thank you. And for any other folks making a turkey and/or stuffing, I hope yours is turning out better than mine :)

Many post to come, but probably intermittently and short, since finals season is upon me once more.

2007-11-15T23:36:00.000-04:00

Debate: Immediate Reaction

I just watched the Democratic debate on CNN, and was heartily disappointed. Not in the candidates, but in the debate itself. The structure and the format were tiresome and did not serve me one bit in learning more about the candidates.

Structure -- Why can't candidates get more than 60 seconds to respond to a question? Does anyone really think that a decent answer can be given to any substantive issue in 60 seconds? Why on earth does the press want to promote sound bites over substantive debate? Don't they feel the least bit of responsibility to the public to encourage more ideas, rather than fewer?

Format -- Who's picking these questions anyway? Can we please stop trying to figure out what Hillary Clinton meant by the "boys club"? Look around her at the stage! If it's not obvious to you, then you really should not be hosting the debate. On a related note, can these "moderators" please arrange questions in an order that makes sense? Thank god for the precise, issue oriented, pithy questions of the folks in the audience, or this would have been a complete waste of my time, instead of just a partial waste.

I think it was Senator Dodd who proposed, a few months ago on Meet the Press, that each candidate should square up with a Republican and have a 90 minute debate on ONE topic. That would be fantastic. And let's get some decent moderators in there please, not all these folks who are looking more to boost their own egos than serve the public discussion.

Although, I would be remiss if I didn't mention before the end that, once again, Senator Biden was fantastic. I really wish he could pick up steam. Both Biden and Richardson are refreshingly straightforward in their answers, explanations, and views.

2007-11-08T00:14:00.001-04:00

Bouley

I visited this fine dining establishment with my girlfriend a few days ago. It was overpriced and underwhelming. Allow me to explain.

We both chose the Chef's tasting menu, which one would think at a Michelen 2 star restaurant would contain a panoply of culinary delights. Not so. The selection was pretty uninspiring, which was a disappointing start to the evening. Nevertheless, thinking that the wonderful flavors would be sure to impress me, I ordered a nice four course meal.

It started off with a vegetable broth containing a few pieces of seafood (squid, scallops, salmon). Although under-seasoned, the fish was cooked perfectly and was of the highest quality, and I was pretty satisfied. And then it went downhill. The second course was a Rouget (it's a fish people, get with it) that was very well cooked - the meat was tender, the skin was nicely crisped. But the flavor was bland - no spicing or flavoring, and the portion was tiny. Next came the main course: squab and foie gras with cabbage. It sounded great, and even though I normally boycott foie gras (as should you -- cruelty to geese is beyond the pale) it looked interesting enough for me to give it a try. Ugh. The squab was really undercooked -- to the point where I had to send it back to the kitchen for recooking. They sent me back a plate without the squab! Just a piece of foie gras neatly arranged on a bed of cabbage. It was disappointing. I should note here that my girlfriend enjoyed her squab, so perhaps what I was served was an anomaly....nevertheless, it was bad. We both finished off the meal with a chocolate souffle, which was good but not great. It really was more like a molten chocolate cake -- not at all fluffy and airy like a real souffle should be (or at least, what I would expect from a supposedly great French restaurant).

I'm just your average amateur foodie, but this place disappointed. If you're going to pay that much money for a meal in NYC, there are a dozen places you should try first.

2007-10-24T21:47:00.001-04:00

Law School: The Wonder Years

No, I'm not talking about myself.

The New York Magazine had a pretty interesting article that looks at the law school and post law school trajectory of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It's a pretty good read if you have a few minutes to spare, and personally it seems to provide a glimpse into the formation of personalities and ideologies that underpin our major Democratic party contenders.

Also in the political news, I'm proud to see that the first Indian American was elected Governor of a state. Nevermind that it's Louisiana, it's still impressive (i kid, i kid). Seriously, it's especially impressive because it's Louisiana, a state that has not had a minority Governor since Reconstruction. Although we don't have much in common except our anscestry, it's still really cool too see Bobby Jindal win that race. It gives me hope that people can look past skin color (not so much a problem in Manhattan, but you know...). His resume is also, well, ridiculously impressive. Anyway, my hat's off to Bobby Jindal, the youngest current Governor in America.

2007-10-22T23:03:00.000-04:00

Ahhh....Football

Ever since Joe Gibbs returned to the helm of the Washington Redskins, fans like me have been waiting, hoping, and praying for a return to the glory days. And although it seems that Joe has finally assembled a team of amazing players and coaches that is up to his standards, with a young promising quarterback that can carry the load, something still is lacking.

Recently, that something is offense. Our defense, after plummeting last year, has returned to great form. London Fletcher has been a key addition and is proving an amazing resource. The addition of Fred Smoot and the health of Shawn Springs have allowed the secondary to shut down the passing game, and Sean Taylor has been let loose to pursue his unique talents of nabbing interceptions and putting the fear of God into anyone who catches a ball over the middle. They are causing turnovers, frustrating quarterbacks, and holding opponents to very few points.

The offense, on the other hand, needs to step it up. It's not as if the talent isn't there. Jason Campbell, the biggest question mark at the start of the season, has demonstrated tremendous poise in the pocket and great leadership off the field. His arm is getting more accurate every game, and he doesn't make the same mistake twice. Santana Moss and Randle El are still a dangerous combination, and Portis and Betts make a solid one-two punch in the running game. And yet we stall. Why, oh why, do we stall? I don't know.

And don't give me the injury excuse. I understand that the right side of the line was decimated with the loss of both Jansen and Thomas to season ending injuries, and that even their backups are getting injured, but honestly, shit happens. The best teams in the league are the best because they can put up amazing games even without their star players. Witness the Colts recently without Harrison.

I'm looking for better play calling from Al Saunders, and a more consistent performance from Portis. Both are capable of so much more, and I honestly think that if those two step it up, everything else will fall into place. There's not much hope that they'll beat New England next week, but the games after that are crucial to making the playoffs. The majority of those games will be on the road, so they better get their house in order in the next couple of weeks.

Here's hoping.

2007-10-20T23:29:00.000-04:00

Ahem.

A few people have pointed out that I've strayed remarkably far from my goal, articulated here over a month ago, to post daily. Allow me to explain: i've been busy. 'nuff said.

I'm sure I've lost readers with my extended absences, but I'm hopeful that those of you discovering this blog months from now and following my recent posting surge back to this one will find that I did make a true effort to write interesting comments on whatever happens to pass through my head at the moment. (Heeead! Pants! Now!).

At this moment, passing through my head, or more precisely into my mouth, is some red wine. Bourdeaux, if you must know, a 2001 vintage which I picked up this evening to accompany my review of Judge Learned Hand's views on the First Amendment. I have a fair amount of work to get done tomorrow, but I thought I'd take tonight off and relax a little, albeit doing a little work at the same time. Neha was visiting this past week, and so I didn't get too much work done....there's a lot to catch up on.

2007-08-28T22:28:00.000-04:00

New Posting Theory

My writing could use some improvement. And while I acknowledge that might be somewhat of an understatement, allow me to retain some dignity through corrective measures. Basically, I'm going to be posting more here. Almost daily, in fact. And while most if it might be somewhat mundane or uninteresting, I hope you'll keep reading, because quite frankly I could use the help. Stylistic comments, as well as substantive comments of course, are welcome.

We begin tomorrow. Enjoy.

2007-08-11T11:18:00.000-04:00

Validation?

A recent article from the NYT shows, amazingly enough, that I'm not the only one annoyed (see previous post). Maybe I should start a "Turn off the Beckham Cam" movement.

2007-08-09T21:23:00.001-04:00

The Beckham Debut

Today David Beckham made his MLS debut in front of a cheering crowd in our nation's capitol. Despite his magic touch and fame power, the LA Galaxy fell to DC United 1-0 in what proved to be a pretty good game.

As a consistent fan of MLS, I'm both happy and annoyed at the effect Beckham has had on the sport in the United States. Galaxy's current road tour around the country was planned specifically in order to maximize David's star power. Ticket sales jumped by over 15% in most locations, sometimes surprisingly more. It was clear the 40k+ fans at RFK stadium this evening, who stayed despite the downpour in the second half, were entranced by the possibility of witnessing Beckham's magic touch. Not since Pele came to play with the Cosmos has US soccer witnessed such star power.

People who were not interested in soccer have started to take notice. MLS has become probably the fourth or fifth most popular major sports league in the US (certainly behind football, basketball, and baseball -- and although i have no data to back this up, i'd guess it's about tied with the nhl). I've always enjoyed soccer, both as a player and fan, and it's great to see so many others learning the joy of the sport. In addition, I'm sure the extra ticket sales are bringing in more money to the MLS that they can use to promote the sport nationally. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, younger kids are getting more involved in soccer. I can't wait for the day when a "Bend it like Beckham" movie comes out in the US to popular acclaim.

Compared to these benefits, my personal annoyance is somewhat trivial. Nevertheless, I'd be less than honest if I didn't mention my profound disgust at the "Beckham Cam" on ESPN2 this evening. I really don't need to see a picture of him sitting on the sidelines watching the game for 20 minutes. Not only does that take up half my screen so I can't really see the soccer game (which of course is a sideshow compared to the Beckham drama), but that means that the commentators can't stop talking about him even if they wanted to (which is debatable).

None of this should be taken as a personal slight against David himself. I don't know the man. Further, I think he's shown strength of character in remaining on the sidelines in recent games when the pressure for him to play must have been enormous, and he's done so without talking trash and always supporting his team. After the game today, he was less concerned about his performance and more concerned about the team's loss. And that's the way it should be.

2007-07-30T14:58:00.001-04:00

Winnable?

A report from two analysts outlines results that are a little surprising. They see strong, tangible evidence that significant progress is being made towards securing a peaceful Iraq - or at least reducing the violence enough for normal life to resume. This report joins a growing body of evidence that the Iraq war might, just might, actually not be total disaster. And the surge might be working. I'm not sure if it's "winnable", since I think we might have already left that one behind, but if we can leave Iraq retreating from a position of strength and having laid a legitimate path towards peace for the Iraqis to follow, then that is certainly not the abject failure that some Democrats are crowing about on the Hill.

While I certainly don't fully agree with the views of the authors on other topics (particularly Mr. Pollack), this view on the surge has been reported enough that it deserves some consideration. General Petraeus, whatever his personal views may be, seems to have a realistic grasp on how to handle a counter-insurgency operation, and the managerial skills to carry it out. Of course, the obstacles remain enormous, and it's far too early to predict the outcome. I certainly hope it works out well....although I would hate to have this emerge as a victory for Bush. In my view, if we have successes in Iraq, they will arrive despite his leadership, not because of it.

2007-07-30T10:27:00.000-04:00

Another Novak Leak

Apparently, Novak is in good with some key players on the Hill. Today he reports another covert operation, military in nature, that involves sending US Special Forces to aid Turkey's fight against the Kurds by attacking and killing Kurdish leaders inside northern Iraq. More on this tonight when I get home.

2007-07-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

A Different Type of Kidnapping in Iraq

The House Oversight Committee today conducted hearings on allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse at the new U.S. Embassy in Iraq. This is scary stuff -- read the written testimonies submitted to the Committee at the bottom of this website. I was particularly disturbed by the testimony of Rory Mayberry.

Iraq is a fiasco from top to bottom, and the worst part of it is that there are so many fiascos going on that stuff like this, even though it should normally be a large scandal in its own right, gets overlooked. This is really sad.

As you can tell, my internship for the courts is almost over. Posting of a political nature will resume at the normal pace.

2007-06-26T09:38:00.000-04:00

NYC Subway

As a non-native New Yorker, I have a love/hate relationship with the NYC subway. Sitting in the 2 express train this morning I was contemplating my evolving feelings toward this monstrous beast, and I think I've (so far) gone through three main stages.

At first I was confused by the subway, along with most other visitors and newcomers. Now that I understand the system I realize that it's not all that complicated -- it's just explained quite poorly. The subway maps could really do a better job of differentiating the express lines from the local ones. In addition, changes in service should be posted on the trains where all can read and debate them before getting on the train, instead of being blared unintelligibly through 30 year old intercom systems by conductors who might need to learn more English, only after the train has left the station. It's no wonder most visitors take taxis everywhere.

But then, once I became familiar with the system, I became an avid subway fan. I loved it. It would take me anywhere in the city for a pretty decent price ($4 round trip is expensive anywhere but Manhattan), it's air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, and it runs 24 hours a day. At times, especially if you're taking an express train or don't have to transfer, it can be faster than taking a taxi. It was, as the parlance goes, our honeymoon phase.

Recently, however, I have shifted to a more skeptical view. I still appreciate the convenience of the subway, and I truly stand in awe of its capacity and infrastructure (almost 500 stations; Times Square station alone handles almost 40 million people annually.) However, the little things are beginning to annoy me. Such as the constant "train delays" during rushour which leave you stranded for god-knows-how-long in an underground sardine can on wheels. Or the changes in service which you don't hear because (who knew?) you were listening to your ipod. Or perhaps it's just that while the subway system is convenient and extensive, it's not quite as dependable or comfortable as one would like (once again explaining the prevalence of taxis.)

I'm sure my views on the subway will evolve, after all I do have another three years in the big apple. But to those visiting NYC I'd give the following advice: if you're in a hurry, take a taxi.

2007-06-23T23:29:00.000-04:00

Books

In this, the Summer of Kabir, I was expecting to see many movies. However, I appear to be stymied by the paucity of decent movies in theaters this summer. Even the pretty-bad-yet-everyone-sees-it-anyway movies, such as Oceans' 13, don't hold any attraction for me. Spiderman 3? The previews looked awful. Besides, I made the mistake of paying to see Pirates 3, which was not worth it at all. That'll be the last sequel I see this summer until Jason Bourne returns to kick some ass. I am intrigued by A Mighty Heart and 1408, and hopefully will get a chance to see both fairly soon.

In the meantime, I have been reading. Requests for in-depth reviews will be gladly granted, but here I will simply give an overview of the three books I have read in the past few weeks.

The Great Influenza, by John Barry
Mr. Barry does a great job with this book, notwithstanding a few minor issues. The topic is fascinating, and one that often gets overshadowed by WW1 in history books that cover the early part of the century. The book represents a synthesis of very strong research and a good storytelling, which makes for an entertaining history lesson. Several ideas of his are intriguing, such as the theory that Woodrow Wilson's battle with the flu in Paris after WW1 contributed directly to his changed attitude towards the peace process. On the downside, Mr. Barry tends to get too involved with tangents, such as the personal lives of the leading medical scientists at the turn of the century. These anecdotes, while interesting, detract from the flow of history and are not presented in a way that allows the reader to easily move back into the main storyline, making the book somewhat more of a ponderous affair. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book.

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Amazing, and almost a masterpiece of literature. McCarthy's descriptive skills are at their peak when describing desolate landscapes and searing visual imagery, and the post-apocalyptic world he creates provides ample room for him to display these talents. As my friend Rob points out, McCarthy does not fall into the trap of explaining the apocalypse and thus moving into a sci-fi setting where he would begin to lose focus. The hallmark of great novels, of those that exhibit staying power through the years, is depicting scenarios that everyone can empathize with, and plumbing the depths of human relationships and behavior in all its complexity. In this McCarthy succeeds brilliantly - and his mastery of the english language is exquisite. At times I felt like I was reading a long poem, instead of a novel. The only downside to this book is its singular focus. There are so many intrigues, situations, and experiences in the book which could have been explored more deeply - McCarthy has shown that he has the ability to do this, as he did effectively in Blood Meridian. However, I readily admit that the simplicity of the storyline is part of its beauty, and so perhaps this is not a true downside at all.

Confessions of an Economic Hitman, by John Perkins
An entertaining read, I find this book insightful and yet annoyingly obtuse and paranoid at the same time. In this non-fiction book, Mr. Perkins recounts his life as an "economic hitman" working for a consulting company (MAIN). In his role as Chief Economist, Mr. Perkins contends that it was his duty to dramatically inflate the growth potential of developing countries. This justified large U.S. and World Bank loans to these countries which he knew they could never pay back, thus creating a system whereby these countries would be forever indebted and obligated to the United States, which then used its influence to install pro-U.S. governments as part of the Cold War. He also contends that this entire scheme was orchestrated by the NSA and CIA, although he never gives any proof of this except fairly vague circumstantial and hearsay evidence. From an economic perspective Mr. Perkins make some great observations: essentially it is the anti-globalization argument made with a firsthand account of how the companies and governments can (and have) exploited globalization trends. However, I find Mr. Perkins' larger conspiracy theory accusations hard to accept without more evidence. The CIA abuses of power in Central and South America are well documented, but a greater economic conspiracy reaching down from the top eschelons of the government, and covering everything from Indonesia to Iran and Columbia, I find hard to believe.

2007-06-20T21:10:00.000-04:00

A Word of Explanation on the Posting Drought

As an employee of the federal judiciary, I have discovered that it is a significant faux pas for me to publicly express political opinions about major issues of the day, especially as they relate to the law. It might even be illegal...but as an unpaid intern with significantly limited influence, I doubt it. Actually, my influence is not as limited as I would have thought, which is kinda cool.

Nevertheless, in deference to the unquestioned neutrality of the judiciary (i might be apolitical for the summer, but i can still be sarcastic) I will refrain from political posting. Which is sad really, because there is lots of good stuff out there right now, and my new job is 9-5 which leaves me lots of time to post.

So what's left for me to post about? Well, it turns out there's a lot of cool stuff in NYC that I have not explored yet. I'll recount my adventure stories here, as well as book and movie reviews, and perhaps the random tangent.

Welcome to the Summer of Kabir!

2007-06-04T21:22:00.000-04:00

Updates and Empty Promises

I have not spoken to many of you who read this blog in a while, and really I have not posted here in a while as well, so it's time for some housekeeping.

I successfully finished my first year of law school. Although I don't have my grades yet and I'm pretty sure I bombed Criminal Law, I'm confident that next year I'll be moving on to my second year as a law student. This is a very good thing for a few different reasons, but mostly because my grades won't matter nearly as much and I'll be able to take classes that interest me more. So what lessons have I learned from my first year in law school? What wisdom can I impart? Here are a few items from the top of my head:

1) Whoever said that "technicalities are the soul of the law" is dead wrong. Technicalities may be the lifeblood of the law, but policy is the soul of the law. The policy is what drives it, it is the ephemeral force that shapes it and guides it. But technicalities are the lifeblood - without them, there is no way to give voice to the policy.
2) The first year of law school is not as bad as everyone says it is.
3) A good lawyer makes all the difference in the world.

Right now I'm an intern for a federal judge in downtown Manhattan - that's as specific as I want to get here, so if you want more details just contact me in person. I'll be NYC all summer, with perhaps a trip somewhere at the end of August before classes start up again. A few weeks ago I went to Costa Rica for a week, and that was a ton of fun. I'll post more about the trip soon.

Which brings me to my empty promise. I always like to think I'll post more regularly, but I usually fail. So this time I promise nothing. Nada. Zip. Hopefully, you'll get another post sometime soon.....who knows, maybe this will backfire as well and I'll start posting regularly....

2007-05-16T16:21:00.000-04:00

Get your FOID today!

Craziness. Just plain craziness.

2007-05-16T09:25:00.000-04:00

Unethical

The recent testimony by James Comey regarding the fiasco surrounding the renewal of wiretapping authorization by the Justice Dept is downright scary. It seems very clear that Gonzalez was willing to go to extraordinary lengths to get something done that was not legal. This is the man who now runs our Justice department.

Can there be any real doubt that he puts loyalty to his old friend George above the interests of Justice and the rule of law? It's not just this fiasco, or even the still unexplained firings of US Attorneys. The entire Justice department was re-tooled to become a partisan machine, right down to the hiring of interns (i'm not kidding). The calls for him to resign have waned. It's time to renew them.

2007-04-26T17:43:00.000-04:00

Iraq is Important

Like most Americans these days, I'm not particularly happy about our involvment in Iraq or the lack of progress that's being made towards stabilizing the violence there. And yet, there is a strong argument for continuing US involvment in Iraq on a large scale - a view that I do not endorse, but one that I feel has been lost in the quagmire of incompetence that has engulfed this administration (recently highlighted by George Tenet's remarkable revelations). I bring this up because Joe Lieberman had an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post a few days agothat makes this case, and while I don't buy his conclusions he does make some acute observations that people in this country should consider carefully.

Senator Lieberman says the following: "Al-Qaeda's strategy for victory in Iraq is clear. It is trying to kill as many innocent people as possible in the hope of reigniting Shiite sectarian violence and terrorizing the Sunnis into submission."

This seems quite accurate - but it's even more important to realize where this comes from. Al-Qaeda is not a terrorist organization in the traditional sense of the 20th century terrorists movements. It is not like ETA, the PLO, the IRA, or the Tamil Tigers. It does not want to establish a national identity and create its own state. It does not seek legitimacy through open negotiations with heads of state, or fear that using a nuclear bomb would hurt its cause. Rather it is an organization that thrives on terror and absolute control - killing civilians has become an end in itself, because this creates the fear that allows them to rule with impunity.

The necesary result of this analysis is that when US forces leave Iraq, unless the Iraqi people band together in a way they have never done in history to quell Al-Qaeda's rise, we will probably end up with a radically Islamist government that would have massive implications for stability in the Middle East, as well as for our continued safety at home. Terror is a powerful tool, and it takes country with a strong national identity and adherence to democracy to resist it. Iraq is not at that stage yet, or at least it does not appear to be. I don't think that this analysis necessarily leads to the long term military occupation solutions that John McCain or others are calling for, but it is important to realize the stakes that are involved.

Senator Lieberman makes his second major point when he says: "Al-Qaeda, after all, isn't carrying out mass murder against civilians in the streets of Baghdad because it wants a more equitable distribution of oil revenue. Its aim in Iraq isn't to get a seat at the political table; it wants to blow up the table -- along with everyone seated at it."

This statement gets to the fundamental nature of the war on terror. Terror is not just a tool of Al-Qaeda, it is a system of governance that is diametrically opposed to the democratic and parlimentary systems that dominate the world. Teror prevents individuals from rallying to together, demanding individual freedoms, and governing with the consent of the governed. Consequentially, it is not in Al-Qaeda's interest to negotiate - and there is no indication that it will stop at Iraq if we leave there, and every indication that it will continue to be a national security threat for our country. Winning the war on terror is imperative for us

The problem is that many folks, including apparently Joe Lieberman, confuse winning the war on terror with subduing Iraq, or Afghanistan, or killing terrorists around the world. This is a new type of war, one that will not be won by the capture of a nation's capital, or the installation of a puppet government. Rather, this war is won simply by not being lost. Terror cannot exist in a vacuum - it is viral in nature, and needs to spread as it destroys its host. We don't have to occupy Iraq and hunt down every terrorist to win. We simply have to ensure that there are stable forces in that country that operate outside the zone dominated by terror. Granted that is easier said than done, but neither does it require a large military occupation, or even a continued offensive by our troops.

2007-04-20T21:20:00.000-04:00

In Memoriam

Ross Alameddine was a 20 year old English and French major from Massachusettes.

Jamie Bishop was a 35 year old German teacher, a former Fulbright scholar, and a husband.

Brian Bluhm was a 25 year old Masters student in Water Resources, and active in the Baptist ministry.

Ryan Clark was a 22 year old Georgia native finishing a triple degree in Psychology, Biology, and English with a 4.0 GPA.

Austin Cloyd was an 18 year old freshman who spent significant time helping rehab homes in the Applachian communities.

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak was a French teacher and is survived by husband, also a faculty member.

Daniel Perez Cueva was a 21 year old from Peru who is survived by his family.

Kevin Granata was a 46 year old Professor who studied biomechanics and had a family.

Matthew Gwaltney was a 24 year old Masters student in Civil and Environmental Engineering from central Virginia. Voted "best guy to take home to your parents" in highschool.

Caitlin Hammaren was a 19 year old sophomore studying French and International Relations

Jeremy Herbstritt was a 27 year old graduate student in Civil Engineering.

Rachael Hill was an 18 year old freshman, studying Biology.

Emily Hilscher was a 19 year old freshman known for her love of animals.

Jarrett Lane was a 22 year old senior, and valedictorian of his highschool class.

Matt La Porte was a sophomore with aspirations to join the Air Force.

Henry Lee was a sophomore from Vietnam, survived by his parents and nine siblings.

Liviu Librescu was a 76 year old Professor and Holocaust survivor. He blocked the door of his classroom to prevent the gunman from entering.

G.V. Loganathan a 51 year old native of India and longtime Professor.

Partahi Lumbantoruan was a 34 year old graduate student from Indonesia. His family sold property and their car to finance his education.

Lauren McCain was a home-schooled devout Christian with a passion for languages.

Daniel O'Neil was a graduate student in engineering, who wrote his own songs and posted them online for the enjoyment of his friends.

Juan Ortiz was a 26 year old graduate student in Civil Engineering from Puerto Rico.

Minal Panchal was a 26 year old Masters student in Building Sciences who wanted to be an architect like her father.

Erin Peterson was an 18 year old freshman and a devoted Redskins fan.

Michael Pohle was a 23 year old senior studying Biology and a great athlete.

Julia Pryde was a 23 year old Biology graduate student doing independent research in Ecuador.

Mary Read was a 19 year old freshman just getting used to life on campus.

Reema Samaha was an 18 year old freshman and passionate about dance.

Waleed Shaalan was a doctoral student from Egypt who came to the US to work with G.V. Loganathan, also killed in the shooting.

Leslie Sherman was a sophomore who had plans to travel to Russia in the summer.

Maxine Turner was a senior studying Chemical Engineering, who planned to graduate in May.

Nicole White was a 20 year old junior who liked swimming and had been a lifeguard.

"We must be the change we wish to see"
-Mahatma Gandhi

2007-04-14T12:11:00.000-04:00

Thoughts

Finals season is here, and I'll be underground for the next few weeks studying for exams. Oddly enough, historically it seems that I post more during these times than I do when I have more free time. Anway, a lot has happened recently in the world, and so I'd thought I would start out my posting resurgence with some quick thoughts on.....

....the Democratic contenders for President. At this point I have not yet formed an opinion regarding who I'd support for the Democratic ticket, especially since the policy stances of the candidates have yet to be clearly defined. I must say at this point that I would choose Obama or Edwards over Hillary. I have a lot of respect for her policy acumen and her service to the country, but I don't think she is capable of uniting the country the way the other two candidates could, and the way the Democrats need to move.

....the death of Kurt Vonnegut. One of the greatest writers and moral commentators of the 20th century, Kurt Vonnegut combined piercing insights with a very dark humor, creating a prose that was impossible to put down. His books have resonance and impact on young and old readers alike, and his ability to cross boundaries and appeal to to everyone marks him as one of the best in his field. This might be a good time to revisit Slaughterhouse Five.

....on the discovery of the father of Anna Nicole's baby. Thank god this is over. Let's pray this man will be a good father, and was not just in it for the publicity.

....on Google buying DoubleClick. From what I know of this area of technology, this was a very good move for Google. The media and advertising industries are strongly relationship driven at the top, and DoubleClick has those relationships. Google has successfully gone after the long tail, but if it's going to get the head of the industry then it needed to get DoubleClick's customers one way or another. Was it worth 3.1 billion? Only time will tell.

....on taxes. Mine are done and mailed. Are yours?

2007-03-15T19:45:00.000-04:00

Guns

A recent ruling by the DC Court of Appeals holds that a ban on possessing handguns in the household is unconstitutional. The District of Columbia has long had a law that forbids its citizens from keeping handguns in their houses in an effort to reduce the high violent crime rate for which that city was once infamous.

This ruling is a milestone in the history of the debate over the meaning of the 2nd amendment, and will probably give the Supreme Court its first such case in many decades. With the Court significantly more conservative than it used to be we might see a ruling that would overturn much of the gun control legislation in this country. That would be a shame.

There is a significant and legitimate debate in this country over what rights exactly the 2nd amendment protects. Does it mean that individuals must have a right to bear arms at all times, or is the purpose to protect the existence of state and local militias in a country that had just won its independence based on those types of militias? I leave that debate to the side here. Assuming, arguendo, that the former interpretation of the Constitution is correct, I think there is still an argument that the District of Columbia has the ability to pass such gun control legislation as it has done.

The Constitution, through the Bill of Rights and by its very nature of establishing a limited government, reserves many rights to the people. However, it has long been established that many of these rights are not completely inviolate. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, religious freedoms are just some examples of rights that we cherish in this country, but that have limitations placed on them by Congress.

The basic principle that the Supreme Court has used when evaluating whether a law is constitutional in this context has two parts. 1) Does the law serve some compelling national or state interest? 2) Is there a reasonable alternative way of achieving that interest that would not infringe on individual rights? This is typically called the ‘strict scrutiny test’. Actually, from what I know this test is used only in cases of racial segregation – a more relaxed form is used when evaluating issues of religious freedom, etc.

Now I’m just a law student, so my analysis is clearly one lacking in experience or significant research. But it seems pretty clear to me on its face that this ‘strict scrutiny’ test is validated in this case. I had this written as a draft (I swear) a few days ago, and just recently an Op-Ed piece by Chemerinksy, a respected Constitutional Law professor, in the Washington Post essentially made the same arguments as I have (giving me a very large head for today. Don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll come down soon.)

Plus, I would really hate to see much of gun control legislation invalidated when the evidence is pretty clear that it has had a positive effect on violent crime rates. If this does go up on appeal to the Supreme Court, it will be interesting to see if they take the case, and if so, how they rule on the issue.

Full Disclosure: while I used to be in favor of complete bans on handguns, my position has been shifting over the past year or so, and currently I’m kinda on the fence. See this recent editorial by Robert Levy for the classic libertarian case for the individuals’ right to bear arms.

2007-03-05T14:16:00.000-04:00

Politics of Hate

As chance would have it, I was watching C-SPAN the other day while it was broadcasting the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) proceedings. Some of the speeches were pretty interesting, even though I disagree with most points on their agenda - I was particularly intrigued by Rudy Guiliani - but that is for another post.

To the point: by far the most ignorant and vapid speech given was by Ann Coulter - a conservative blowhard who has exemplified the polarized politics of the past 10 years, and who now exemplifies the vitriolic rage of a conservative base that seems to be unable to stop its slow drift to the fringe of the party (witness the GOP presidential frontrunners.) By now her quote about John Edwards has become infamous, and it certainly took me aback when I heard it. And while it does capture the venomous nature of her attacks, it fails to expose the clear hypocrisy of them - a point which demonstrates the lack of substance of her claims. Two examples will suffice.

First: later on in that same speech, Ann says that "I'm not against gays, I'm against gay marriage. In fact I don't see why more gays aren't Republicans." How on earth can that be a sincere political statement when she clearly considers calling someone gay to be an insult? I don't get it.

Second: when insulting Al Gore from the podium, Ann criticized him for having a large 'carbon footprint' despite his devotion to reducing global warming. The implicit criticism is that he is a hypocrite. About 5 minutes later, she was asked by a reporter from The Nation about how her three broken engagements can be reconciled with her strong position on the sanctity of marriage. Instead of answering the question (and I can imagine possible legitimate answers), she instead invoked her right to privacy and asked the reporter to respect her privacy. Not only is this making her guilty of the same sin, it's also wonderfully ironic since she's vehemently pro-life, and yet the right to an abortion has its constitutional basis in the same right to privacy that she invoked in her defense.

This is not an isolated incident. Ann Coulter has been making similarly racist and homophobic remarks for many years now, often on national TV. For example, last year, at this same convention, she used the term 'raghead' twice in a very insulting manner.

It is heartening to note that Ann's remarks have been widely condemned by conservative political groups and candidates, including Mitt Romney who introduced her and who she supports. However, it is disheartening to have seen the applause and hear the jeers in the auditorium after her comment.

The politics of hate have been present in this country since its inception, and I don't expect them to go away soon. But that does not alleviate the responsibility we have to speak out when such a national and public figure makes such offensive comments.

2007-02-21T22:01:00.000-04:00

Media Rant

I love the freedom of the press, but I expect more from our media. I really do. And it irkes me to realize that the large companies that run these media outlets are only promoting questionable stories, which I find offensive and juvenile in varying degrees, because they are popular. I realize that they generate lots of viewers, and living in a capitalist society I can't really blame the news channels from trying to maximize profits. But at some level, there must be an accounting of moral responsibility. And I think we are beginning to reach that level.

There are two stories in particular that exemplify this trend. The first is that of Anna Nicole Smith, and the various legal questions her death poses. Anna Nicole Smith was a good looking woman who made some news a while ago by marrying a very old billionare. I find the fact that news outlets dedicated so much time to that story mildly annoying, but it's not a big deal. There was nothing new there, and quite frankly if people are interested in that stuff that's fine with me. It's not like she or he really minded the attention.

This story is different because of one minor and one major factor. The minor factor: she's dead - show some respect. I realize that whatever gets people to the turn on the TV is good for the bottom line of these studios, but I also believe that there is a price we as a society pay when certain lines are crossed. To be specific I am referring to the fact that all news outlets are treating Anna's death like a circus. Even the trial judge is using this trial to get on his soapbox and enjoy his 15 minutes of fame. This is about her. And she's dead. Show some respect.

The major factor: she has a little baby. Why does nobody talk about the little baby except to laugh at how silly the paternal dispute is? Why is it that nobody seems concerned? I know this because I have watched several shows on NBC, CNN, and FOX about this issue in morbid fascination. Every commentator, without exception, has laughed about the horridness of the whole situation for 29 minutes, and then spent the last 60 seconds lamenting that nobody talks about the poor child. Not only is this behavior somewhat stupid, I find it morally questionable. Once again, I believe there is a price we pay as a society for this.

Sidenote: Yes, I am aware there is a certain hypocrisy in me railing against those who watch this type of news, and then acknowledge that I watched it too. I believe there is a key difference: I normally don't watch this stuff, and don't intend to continue doing so in the future.

My second example involves Britney Spears. I won't say too much about this, because I believe that it speaks for itself. I would not even know about it if the news outlets had not been flooded by this remarkable story. The girl is 25 (i think). She has 2 babies, and is divorced. She clearly has some sort of substance abuse problems, is suffering from depression, and has not had a moments peace for a decade. With this background, and signs of possible breakdown that could have serious ramifications for her health and that of her children, I believe it is morally irresponsible of the media and others to report on this as if it were a joke.

I hate to get on my high horse here - that's not normally what I do, and I usually tune out when others do it. At the same time however, this is starting to piss me off. I figured I have not posted in a while on here, so people might enjoy a good rant.

PS - i was recently made aware of this video of Craig Ferguson from the Late Late Show, which in some ways bears remarkable similarity to my rant above. I've seen his stuff and think he's quite talented and funny - now I have more respect for him.

2007-01-31T22:47:00.000-04:00

The Man Who Would Be King

I recently saw "The Man Who Would Be King", a charming film starring the young and energetic actors Sean Connery and Michael Caine and based on the short story by Rudyard Kipling.

If you like Kipling's stories about India, if you like Sean Connery or Michael Caine, and if you're interested in adventure movies in the 70's style, then you'll love this movie. Chances are if you like any one or two of the above factors you'll like this move despite the unwanted third.

Sean and Michael play two former officers in the British army. No longer part of the army, they dismiss the idea of returning to Britain and instead concoct a fantastic scheme to travel to 'Kafiristan' (from what i could gather, somwhere around modern day Tajikistan) and become Kings by using their rifles to join with a warring tribe and take over the land.

The script is well written, with a lot of comedy that balances the adventure elements nicely to make for an entertaining movie. The scenery is great - not sure where they shot this movie, but the depiction of Kafiristan is beautiful. However, this movie is all about the acting. Sean Connery is wonderful as a rogue spirit with an impetuous nature and a talent for acting crazy, and Michael Caine is oddly endearing as someone with great military discipline but little moral value. The two characters weave their way through the story with ease and enjoyment, which makes the movie fun to watch.

As is probably obvious at this point, I had very few gripes with this flick. Perhaps some of the props were a little fake looking, and I did think the ending was overly dramatic. Somehow though, I found the cheeziness of this movie made it that much more enjoyable - much like the cheeziness of the Indiania Jones movies.

Good movies, good times.

2007-01-17T21:27:00.000-04:00

Update

Regarding the post below, it appears that a belated apology has been issued for those remarks. I find the apology encouraging, but its delay and reluctant tone signify to me an apology in words only. If Mr. Stimson continues to demonstrate that he holds these views, the ABA should censure him.

2007-01-13T13:36:00.000-04:00

Ethics

In a society that has been tarnished by many unfair calls of being 'unpatriotic', the recent comments by Charles Stimson, the deputy secretary of defense of detainee affairs, rank among the most foolhardy.

Mr. Stimson suggested that corporate clients of many top law firms should end their relationship with these firms if they do not agree to stop representing Guantanamo Bay clients. Upon cursory examination there seems to be nothing wrong with this: corporate clients may take their business anywhere they like, and consumer activism to change corporate policy is nothing new. However, the analogy is flawed in one very important aspect: domestic politics should not be allowed to effect Constitutional guarantees. Among these Constitutional guarantees, the right to 'due process under the law' from the 14th ammendment is a fundamental and critical one.

A possible rejoinder is that these corporate clients, along with the executive branch, do not believe that these Constitutional guarantees extend to inmates at Guantanamo Bay. They are entitled to their opinion, but their opinion is not controlling. The controlling opinion is that of the judiciary and its highest court: the Supreme Court. And this highest court has ruled that these prisoners are allowed certain 'due process' under law, which includes representation. The court (as well as the nation) is split as to exactly how much process is due to these folks due to their unique circumstances, but the right to representation at least is clear.

To exert private sector and executive branch pressure on law firms in the manner suggested basically circumvents the ruling of the USSC. It would allow the people's representatives and its monied interests to render the ruling of our highest court unenforceable. I'm not going to get into why this somewhat democratic-looking concept is not a very good idea just now (see James Madison's views on factions in the Federalists Papers). But suffice to say that I at least think it's a bad idea.

The Constitution has given the people of this country certain unalienable rights in order to allow the functioning of a just society. Irresponsible comments like those of Mr. Stimson threaten these principles.

2007-01-11T18:33:00.000-04:00

English (and blogger) Migration

I'm back baby! And my blog has a whole new look! No, just kidding, it doesn't (clearly). But I have just migrated to the new Blogger, and I have to say that it's a big improvement over the past one. I like the interface better and it seems to be faster as well, which is impressive since new versions of things are usually slower. I'm also impressed that Google brought it out of beta so quickly (don't ask me why Gmail is still in beta. I don't think anybody knows.)

What motivates my return to the posting realm you ask? Other than blogger migration, and my guilty conscience for not posting in a long time, it was the news that Beckham has signed a deal with LA Galaxy for 5 years. Craziness!

David Beckham is an icon in the soccer world, and undoubtedly one of the biggest sports stars of the past 50 years. From his transition from the English leagues to Real Madrid (and that team's subsequent slump) to his relationship with one of the Spice Girls (i'm not sure which one...sugar....spice....something like that), his life has been great fodder for tabloids and newspapers alike for many years. And so it may not come as a surprise to people that Mr. Beckham is going where tabloid celebrities feel right at home: Los Angeles.

I'm actually quite excited about this. As a member of the small, but growing, contingent of people in this country who follows MLS I think this is going to do wonders for US Soccer. The US is starting to turn out some real soccer talent at the professional level, and the presence of Beckham playing soccer here will draw a lot of attention to this fact. He'll also force a lot of US players to raise their game to a new level, something which we desperately need to do before the next World Cup.

So welcome to the US, Mr. Beckham. The paparazzi will make you feel right at home.

2006-12-23T21:11:00.000-04:00

Seriously? Leonardo?

The first memory I have of Leonardo Di Caprio is his role in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?", a great movie in which I think he did a fantastic job. I recall thinking that this was a kid with a lot of talent. But soon that image was supplanted by his role in 'Titanic', where he did not act quite as well and displayed a sort of egoistic arrogance that was not very appealing.

Ever since the Titanic, I've never really taken him too seriously as an actor, although he has been quite a prolific one. One would think that his long experience with acting, and the ups and downs of his career, would have given him a better grasp of the silver screen, but I have not found it so. Granted, I never saw The Aviator or Catch Me If You Can, both supposed to be good movies, but frankly the previews did not really capture my imagination. I loved Gangs of New York, but more for the directing and the topic than the acting. He was good, but not great, in that movie.

But recently I have seen two movies in which I believe Leonardo has come into his own. The first was 'The Departed', a well designed film that put him on screen with some great actors such as Nicholson and Damon. So it's no lowly compliment when I say that he was the best actor in that film by far. Not only was he believable, but he created a persona out of his lines that was engaging and interesting both in action and drama sequences.

Today I saw 'Blood Diamond', and once again I was impressed with Di Caprio's acting abilities. Working with a topic more engaging than in 'The Departed', but perhaps with a less veteran cast or director, he carried this movie and turned what could have been a cheezy political commentary into a somewhat compelling drama involving not only politics, but a human tragedy. That egoism that surfaced in the Titanic has disappeared, replaced with a sort of vulnerability that carries well on screen.

Bravo Leonardo. Keep it up. Next on my viewing list for this holiday break: The Good Shephard.

2006-12-21T13:55:00.000-04:00

Nature Finds a Way

In the movie Jurassic Park, the scientists controlled the population by populating the island with only female dinosaurs so they could not reproduce. Then during the movie it was discovered that the females were reproducing asexually - much to the scoffs, guffaws, and general disbelief of many skeptical members of the audience. I remember protesting that this was possible, and being ridiculed for it. But vindication is here at last.

Just recently a Kimono dragon in a British zoo has done just that. Never having mixed with another male, genetic tests confirm this so-called virgin birth. The process is known as parthenogenesis, but has never been observed in such a large animal or reptile.

And just like that, another traumatic experience comes to a close.

2006-12-20T23:50:00.000-04:00

1 down, 7 to go…

Yesterday I took my final exam for Civil Procedure, a grueling and boring class that ended with a (you guessed it) grueling and boring exam. And with the completion of that hellacious test, I’m now officially done with fall semester.

CLS, like most law schools around the country, assigns grades for all of its classes based on one final exam at the end of the semester. This archaic and brutal method of evaluation is really quite evil, and the fact that it’s standardized across the country makes it worse. Everyone does it because everyone else is doing it, and nobody wants to be the first to change, even though it’s universally acknowledged to be dumb.

While test taking in general is a poor indicator of success in the real world, continuous testing on material as the semester progresses is probably a much more useful indication of competence and intelligence than one massive exam. The idea is simple: more data points are generally better. They allow one to trend things out, to remove unfair questions, and to engage the students throughout the course of the semester. This whole ‘one test to regurgitate everything you know’ idea is baloney.

Indeed, it’s not the only facet of law school that has survived unchanged since the 1800’s. The first year law curriculum, which is mandatory, has not noticeably changed for over a century. I’m serious, a century! It’s a little absurd. Now don’t get me wrong – I think that the courses taught are important and the concepts in many cases are necessary foundations for understanding the newer evolutions of the law. But things have changed, and not all students need to know the details of property rights. 200 years ago in an agrarian society that made a lot of sense. It no longer makes sense. I would advocate trimming these classes down significantly, even making some of them optional.

But hey, I’m only a first year law student, so perhaps my perspective is a little skewed. All I know is that I had to spend 3 weeks almost chained to my desk as I tried to absorb an crapload of material, which I will probably never need again. Luckily, they say it gets easier from here. Next semester will be hard – although not as hard as this one – and then it’s all downhill from there. Sweet.

And now, the brilliant part is that I have 2.5 weeks free! I don’t have to use vacation days or anything – I just do whatever the heck I want. It’s great. I’ll be posting daily for the next few weeks.

2006-11-15T17:55:00.000-04:00

I know I have not posted much recently, due to many factors out of my control.

But I'm back, and as you might expect, I've got lots of thoughts on the recent political developments which I'll be discussing soon. In fact, I plan on going into a sort of monastic lifestyle for the next month while I study for finals. My life will consist of going to class, going to the gym, and studying (with some CNN and blogging thrown in there).

I planned to start blogging tomorrow, but I could not resist posting on the following story:

OJ is back.

And he's absolutely disgusting.

Fox News is going to air an interview, based on a forthcoming book, with OJ in which - get this - OJ details how he would have killed his wife (if he had done it). The book is written in the first person, and is pretty much a straight up confession of how he killed his wife. Oh except for the fact that he claims he didn't do it. But if he did, here's how (in graphic detail) he went about killing her.

This means that OJ, whether you thought he was innocent or guilty of the murder, is a vile human being regardless.

If he did kill his wife, then not only is he guilty of that heinous crime, but now that he got away with it he's actually trying to capitalize on it by publishing his confession?? He's practically gloating! This makes me sick.

If he didn't kill his wife it's almost as bad. Then instead of mourning her death, he's trying to capitalize on it by writing a fake confession detailing how he would have killed her! Has he no respect?

Someone please throw OJ back to whatever planet he comes from.

2006-11-02T18:49:00.000-04:00

Thoughts..

...on the Burmese wedding seen here. The wedding between Thander Shwe (daughter of the Burmese leader/dictator Than Shwe) and her now husband Zaw Phyo Win has many Burmese around the world in a state of outrage, and well it should. The video clearly depicts a wedding that must have cost tens of millions of dollars to put together. In a state where the population is in such a dire state of poverty, it is a crime that such an event should take place. The state of affairs in Burma (or Myanmar, if you prefer) is one where democracy is non-existent and the voices of freedom have been violently suppressed. One can only hope that it's more progressive neighbors will exert some moderating influence on it, but so far no luck on that front.

...on the race in Virginia between Allen and Webb. It seems that Allen is a moron, and I gladly endorse Webb (for whatever my endorsement is worth). I find that Webb has much more credibility and intelligence, and Allen's repeated bungles, from the macaca comment to the recent wrestling match down at UVA, demonstrate a person who upon close scrutiny seems only to get smaller and nastier. It's no wonder that Webb has seen a recent surge in the polls, although it's still way too close to call.

...on the election in general. I hear everyone talking about how we must vote for the person not the party, and how all politics is local. That's simply not true. I feel like the the party you support in this election is might be more important than the person for two reasons: 1) a divided government will be more thoughtful, make less mistakes, and be less corrupt than the current one, and 2) a change in direction of the country cannot be affected without voting Democratic. Republicans, no matter how moderate they are, are very unlikely to stand up to the President and the enormous pressure that he can bring to bear on them. If a change is needed on a national level, it cannot be done by the current party in power.

...on Donald Rumsfeld staying in office. This is an absolute shame. Donald Rumsfeld has presided over what has been an absolute debacle of a war effort, and Bush's failure to hold him accountable for this record is sad. The President's emphasis on loyalty is admirable, but his inability to move beyond that when the circumstances require represents a serious character flaw in our commander in chief.

2006-10-26T20:35:00.000-04:00

The Ad Wars

As the midterm elections approach millions of Americans face important decisions. The question of who to support on election day is of vital importance not only to their home state or district, but to the nation's agenda as a whole. And so, as always, it falls to shadowy special interest groups to produce television ads that tell us all how we should vote.

One of the more interesting controversies has surrounded Michael J Fox's ad dealing with stem cell research. This ad I find pretty respectable - it dealt with a single and definable policy, the person appearing in the ad had a vested interest in the policy, and to the extent that it appealed to emotions rather than reason it appealed to hope, not fear. The reaction of Rush Limbaugh to this ad (which he has since apologized for) was to demean it, and to insinuate that Fox was faking or exaggerating his symptoms. This reaction was more emblamatic of the ad wars in that it did not refer to a policy but instead dealt with character, it had no evidence, and relied on fear rather than hope.

Another shadowy group has recently pulled an ad from Tennessee, where Harold Ford was poised to win the Senate seat in an amazing race, becoming the first black Senator from a Southern state in god knows how long. His lead has since slipped dramatically, and the race is getting close. The Democrats are alleging that the ad (seen here) is racist because the blond white girl tells Harold to call her. This is just downright silly in my opinion. The ad would have worked just as well if it was a black girl in that spot - it was making fun of his attendance at a Playboy party and had nothing to do with race. I personally think that the Democrats raised the race issue in order to try and reverse the falling poll numbers of their candidate. And hey, it worked for a little bit, but it's still part of the dirty ad war as far as I'm concerned.

2006-10-24T23:00:00.000-04:00

New Link

Avid readers of this blog will have noticed a new link under 'Blogs of Note'. The SCOTUS Blog is a very interesting, somewhat objective (it has functionalist leanings) review of the US Supreme Court.

It is a great place to go for breakdowns of recent cases, especially ones that don't make the headlines but are nevertheless important in terms of American jurisprudential philosophy. With everyone wondering how the court will shift due to the additions of Roberts and Alito, this is a good place to check periodically.

Incidentally, SCOTUS = Supreme Court Of The United States, in case you were wondering.

2006-10-23T16:30:00.000-04:00

Beirut in Retrospect

23 years ago today 241 Marines and others were killed in a suicide attack on the marine barracks in Beirut. A Mercedez-Benz truck, loaded with explosives, crashed through the security barriers and into the barracks, detonating with the explosive force of 12,000 pounds of TNT. Until the Iraq war, this was the deadliest single attack on US soldiers on foreign soil since WW2.

Despite the many eminent authorities that have cited the creed that "history is doomed to repeat itself", I find that the circumstances are always different and you can never easily apply past lessons to current situations. With that caveat in mind, I think it is instructive and humbling to look at how the US handled the bombings in Beirut.

The bombing took place in an environment of hostility against the West. Anti-American rhetoric coming out of many Arab nations was high, and countries such as Iran and Syria were calling for the destruction of not only Israel, but the 'Great Satan' as well. The US military presence was seen as imperialistic and oppressive, and despite US efforts to reach out and start a dialogue with these groups and countries, there was violence and tension in the area. While it has not been proven, it is suspected that Hizbollah carried out the bombings with the funding and approval of the Iranian government.

Does the above paragraph sound familiar?

After the Beirut bombings many options were discussed. President Reagan considered a military strike, sanctions, and other retaliatory measures. The military strike was planned and ready to go, but it was aborted prematurely. This was largely because the Secretary of Defense, Casper Weinberger, was concerned that it would jepordize US relations with other Arab nations without really accomplishing anything. No retaliatory measures ever materialized. 6 months later the Marines were pulled out of Lebanon.

It is debatable whether this was the right thing to do. Clearly the radical fundamentalist groups that existed then still exist today, they still hate the US, and they still want to kill Americans. So from that perspective perhaps we should have had a stronger response that would have changed the course of events. But the other vewpoint also has validity: namely that without committing massive amounts of ground trips and engaging in a long and bloody struggle, there is a high probability that whatever retaliatory strikes we would have committed would not have curtailed the enemy's ability to commit acts of terrorism at all, and it would have had the significantly deleterious consequence of making it difficult for us to maintain good relations with oil-rich friends like Saudi Arabia.

They both seem to have foreign policy upsides and downsides. Of course, in one scenario many US servicemen lose their lives, and in the other they don't -- and that for me is the deciding factor. Also note that Weinberger was not a 'dove' by any measure; in fact he was quite hawkish. We can largely thank him for the massive defense buildup of the 80's, including the Star Wars program.

I'll close this retrospective by noting that after the Beirut bombings, Caspar Weinberger distributed internally a set of 6 guidelines for committing US troops abroad. Decades later, a man who had risen many levels since that date resuscitated that list from the mists of time in analyzing another war. That man is Colin Powell.

(l) Commit only if our or our allies' vital interests are at stake.

(2) If we commit, do so with all the resources necessary to win.

(3) Go in only with clear political and military objectives.

(4) Be ready to change the commitment if the objectives change, since wars rarely stand still.

(5) Only take on commitments that can gain the support of the American people and the Congress.

(6) Commit U.S. forces only as a last resort.

2006-10-11T19:16:00.000-04:00

Legal Food for Thought

I have begun to start developing my thoughts on how the law should be practiced, although I clearly do not yet have a legal philosophy that is grounded in anything other than a vague idea of the law. It is a topic that has become very politically charged with the recent US Supreme Court appointments by Bush, but I have tried my best to withold judgement until I can see what formalism vs functionalism really means within the scope of American jurisprudence, and how that difference in interpretation and application plays out in various court decisions.

In this blog I will chronicle some thoughts on the subject.

There are two quotes below...perhaps I'll give some thoughts on how I interpret them in, and what I think their significance is, in later posts. But I think you should read them if you find this topic fascinating as I do (or even, really, if you're only mildly interested in said subject) as they are great food for thought. I myself have been chewing on them for a little while now. The first quote is short, the other lengthier.

"I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible ye might be mistaken"
-Oliver Cromwell

The next quote comes from A Man For All Seasons, a play by Robert Bolt, based on the life of Sir Thomas More.

Alice: Arrest him!

More: Why, what has he done?

Margaret: He's bad!

More: There is no law against that.

Roper: There is! God's law!

More: Then God can arrest him.

Roper: Sophistication upon sophistication.

More: No, sheer simplicity. The law, Roper, the law. I know what's legal, not what's right. And I'll stick to what's legal.

Roper: Then you set man's law above God's!

More: No, far below; but let me draw your attention to a fact -- I'm not God. The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can't navigate. I'm no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I'm a forrester.I doubt if there's a man alive who could follow me there, thank God.

Alice: While you talk, he's gone!

More: And go he should, if he was the Devil himself, until he broke the law!

Roper: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!

More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

Roper: I'd cut down every law in England to do that!

More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast -- man's laws, not God's -- and if you cut them down -- and you're just the man to do it -- do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.

2006-10-02T23:19:00.000-04:00

Television

I've never been a big television viewer - I always left it to those around me. Occasionally I'd get caught up in a show or two (24 and Hell's Kitchen come to mind), but the vast majority of the time I'd flip on the tube only to pass the time between various tasks, while waiting for food to cook, or perhaps while sipping a scotch before bed. I would venture to guess that my average television consumption was, at most 30 minutes a day.

Not anymore.

Over the past month I'd say my average has increased to about 2.5 hours a day. That's a 400% increase folks - and it's getting worse. I'm worried.

I've identified the reasons for this, but the problem is the solution. Yesterday I tried to tell myself that I would not turn on the television before 10pm. You know what happened? I broke down. And why? Why did I end up bowing to this dynamic pixelated god? Because I was bored. The sheer prospect of time floating in front of me did not goad me to do something useful with my life, but instead forced me into the semi-dream state of television from which one can emerge hours later and have no sense of the passage of time.

If you started reading this expecting some sort of conclusion or resolution, I'm sorry to dissapoint you. It's just something that was on my mind, and so I'd thought I'd share. My friend Rob has pointed out in recent blog posts that there is actually some quality programming on television, and of course it's football season, so my time in front of the tube is not all completely wasted time.

However, I'm not convinced that rationale can be stretched to 2.5 hours a day. Oh well.

2006-09-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

Let the posting resume.

I'm sure many of you caught Bill Clinton's explosive interview on Fox News sunday, or have heard about it. I applaud Clinton's candor and his anger, and the subsequent coverage this interview has been getting on Fox, CNN, or other news outlets is annoying me.

The dialogue in this country surrounding the "war on terrorism" has been farcical. I am constantly surprised and angered at the simple inability of our current adminstration to make good decisions or to admit to mistakes, while at the same time they continue to have an uncanny dexterity at shifting the course of public dialogue.

First, it's not a "war on terrorism". It should be called a "fight against violent extremism". I know that's not as catchy of a phrase, but the whole idea of a war on terrorism is completely bogus - a political fiction derived from focus groups and used to create an embattled mental state of US citizens in which they must stand by the President. There is no 'war on terrorism' because you cannot fight a war against terrorism. Wars are fought against other countries or within a country, with opposing armies, battle lines, etc. You don't fight wars against transnational organizations with little to no cohesion - and this is for a very good reason. You will lose.

This not a war - it's a massive law enforcement operation on an interational scale, and that difference is crucial. Wars are fought with overwhlming force, shock and awe, and almost always a territorial target. Law enforcement, on the other hand, is done through intelligence gathering and sharing, surgical strikes, and almost always a personell or infrastructure target. By turning this into a war the adminstration has made the world less safe.

Okay, sorry for the tangent. My other point here is that Clinton gave most Americans who watch the whole interview a good wake up call. He clearly and candidly points out how much harder he tried to safeguard the American public from Osama and other related threats to our national security, and how clearly Bush brushed these aside as irrelevant. His points are supported by authorities too numerous to count, from fomer Bush cabinet ministers to 4 star generals and even, most recently, Bob Woodward's new book (conveniently called "State of Denial").

I'm annoyed that Rumsfeld is still in office even after the debacle he's presided over. I'm annoyed that Bush, despite having what I'm sure are great intentions, continues to decieve the American public in the political interests of his party, and I'm annoyed that nobody is pushing back hard against all of this because they fear the Republican attack machine.

Which is why I very much enjoyed seeing Clinton do what he did. Good for him.

2006-09-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

The Emperor Has No Clothes

A recent secret report from the Marine Corp Chief of Intelligence, issued last month, states that the Anbar province in Iraq is facing almost insurmountable trouble and that the US has politically lost the war in that region. In other words, it's lost the battle for hearts and minds.

This report has apparently made the rounds in the Pentagon, Army, and National Security circles. While it's impossible to say without seeing the report, it appears that it has credibility because it takes a very balanced look at the situation and comes to some very bleak conclusions. As a result, there is evidence that it might be serving as a needed wake up call to the 'powers that be' that simply staying the course is insufficient to winning the war. If this is simply a war of attrition, the US will lose. We have to make it something more, and so far we've failed at that.

Of course, anyone who saw Dick Cheney on Meet the Press the other day has no doubt that whatever changes, if any, are happening behind the scene, the word from the top is to toe the party line. Stay the course. I wonder when somebody will hit upon the just the right argument and phrasing that will strike home with the American people, and let them know the Emperor has no clothes.

2006-09-01T16:43:00.000-04:00

One Class Down

Well, just hours ago I finished my first Law School class - Legal Methods. The course purports to teach us, well, legal methods. How to read a case, how to determine what facts apply, the basics of reading and applying statutes, precedents, etc. Although I did enjoy it, I'm looking forward to learning some substantive law, although not so excited about the actual laws (torts and contracts).

My teacher for the past 3 weeks, incidentally, was Jane Ginsburg. Her mother happens to be Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I have to admit that if I was the progeny of a USSC justice, I'd probably choose another field of study. Talk about living in a shadow - it takes guts to do that. But hey, who knows, maybe the daughter will make it there one day too. She's clearly very smart and knows her shit. I liked her class.

So what're y'all doing for the long weekend? I have no real plans, except doing a ton of homework for Tuesday's classes and getting settled into my new place. I'm hoping to go see the US Open on Monday, which would be amazing. I caught last night's match on television (Agassi v Baghdatis) - it was a classic match. An amazing feat of endurance and tennis skill on both sides....today some news stories are calling it one of the best matches in years.

2006-08-28T22:28:00.000-04:00

CLS update

Well, it's been a little over two weeks, and I'm still here at Columbia Law School.

I've got a studio apartment in Lenfest, a high rise building right outside the Columbia campus and about 5 blocks from the law school. The building populated exclusively by law students, and since only 1L (that's first year students) are here now it's a little empty. Classes start officially after labor day, which I'm looking forward to immensly.

Right now the 1L's are taking a "Legal Methods" class, which is designed to give us an introduction to interpreting case law and evaluating statutes. It's really cool stuff so far, and I'm looking forward to starting real classes next week. The first semester all of the courses are mandatory so I have no choice in the matter. I'll be taking Torts, Contracts, and Civil Procedure whether I like it or not. The first two I'm looking forward to, the last one is just going to give me headache (i can already tell - the prof has assigned us work already and our first class isn't for another week. ugh.)

So what about the horror stories about the first year of law school? The mountains of work, the insane late nights, the tons of reading bearing down like a mammoth wave on a poor defensless sand crab? Actually, it's been very manageable. I'm assuming the real work will start later on next week when the real classes start, but rumors say this is about average for 1L. If that's the case, then the entire thing is a myth and the whole idea of a joint degree is going to be a lot easier than anticipated. It's also going to give me a chance to do a lot of work outside the classroom, which is great.

Finally, I have not had a chance to really get out and explore NYC, but I plan on doing so soon. I went out this weekend with a good friend and got to experience some of NYC's nightlife. Overall I'd say, based on my limited and completey subjective opinion, that the restaurants can be great, the lounges are very cool, and the clubs are crowded and suck. I recommend the Spice Market (asian food) in the Meatpacking district - very good food, although be sure to make reservations. I'd also recommend, in good weather, a lounge called 230 Fifth on fifth avenue, which has a great rooftop open patio with a gorgeous view of the Empire State Building and surrounding skyline.

2006-08-19T20:00:00.000-04:00

One tooth later

On Friday I made a trip to midtown in quest of an oral surgeon who would extract an infected wisdom tooth. Hours later I had succeeded in defeating the stupid situation which made my life annoyingly difficult the past week, and emerged free! Free! The tooth is out, and I'm slowly making my way back to eating solid foods. The side of my mouth looks like I have cotton balls stuffed in there (it's swollen from the surgery), but that should subside soon. My speech is a little slurred -- it sounds kinda like the Godfather....I just walk around all day saying "I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse".

The process has really been pretty straightforward and painless. I have not even had to resort to the Vicadin - simple Ibuprofen has been enough to keep me feeling normal. My eating capabilities have slowly progressed to now eating soft foods and being able to chew. I hope to be in full form by Monday, excepting a little swelling and some sensitivity to hot/cold foods and drink. Oh man I can't wait. I 've been on a liquid diet for 5 days now....and let me tell you, it's amazing what you can make into juice form with a blender (I was on the Weekly World News Garth Brooks Juice Diet! - for those random movie fans out there)

As for law school, to be honest the reading is not nearly as bad as I'd heard. It could be this introductory course that we're all taking for a few weeks called Legal Methods, but I only have about 2hours a night. I'm expecting it to pick up once real classes start after Labor Day. I do find reading cases pretty interesting stuff....but I am concerned that my entire grade depends on the final exam. Kinda arbitrary, if you ask me.

Anyway, more later. Peace out for now.

2006-08-17T16:27:00.001-04:00

Dork-dom here i come

It's amazing what even just a few days of law school will do to you -- especially if like me you find the subject matter really interesting. I saw this article just now about a US District Judge in Detroit striking down the NSA wiretapping program as unconstitutional, and suddenly I really want to read her entire 48 page opinion and contrast it against others that arrive at different conclusions.

Beware ye all. Law school is bringing out my inner dork.

2006-08-15T21:48:00.000-04:00

Tests (of pain)

Welcome one and all to the trials of a law student at Columbia. That's a pun, folks.

I have encountered my first real test at law school. Through some sick and twisted turn of fate, I have fallen somewhat ill today. Of course, the first day of class is tomorrow, so clearly God has it in for me. Or maybe I'm paying for sins in a past life. Either way it does nothing for me right now -- not only do I have an infection, but it happens to be in my teeth. Yes, that's right, my teeth. Ugh. Probably one of the worst places to get an infection. Not only do I have fever, have to take antibiotics, and have to go the dentist for oral surgery, but I also cannot eat anything solid. Seriously, is this karma? Did I royally screw someone over that i don't know about?

The somewhat short version: I have impacted wisdom teeth which were scheduled for extraction in just a few months. However last night I woke up with a toothache of monumental dimensions; even an extra strong dose of Advil did nothing. So today in between my orientation events, dodging herds of recent undergrads, I went to the dental clinic. Turns out my gums are inflamed because one of these wisdom teeth is infected, and needs to come out "immediately". However, it also happens that their one and only oral surgeon (and incidentally, the only one around who takes the student health insurance plan) is on vacation for a couple of weeks. So instead I received a course of antibiotics for the infection, and instructions to wait for a couple weeks. Or else just go to the Columbia Hospital (located nearby, thank god) and get them taken out at close to full price - which I expect to be utterly exorbitant and ridiculous.

Now, if you think that all of the above happened in one simple visit to the dental clinic, then you are sadly naive and will surely be taken advantage of several times in the next week. No, in fact it took me about 3 hours to figure all of this out. All the while my tooth was hurting more and more, the infection was starting to give me a fever, and I was stressing out about the orientation events I was missing and worrying even more about all the homework I had to do for my first day of class tomorrow. I could not imagine sitting down and doing hours of legalese reading. Which, of course, I just finished. Amazing what you can do when you have no choice.

What a day.

Anyway, I'm now praying (literally) that the antibiotics will kick in and kill off the infection very quickly, and that I'll be able to eat again tomorrow and won't have to suffer through class with a fever. I'll probably go the hospital tomorrow just to see how much this extraction would cost. If it's not too bad, I'll just get it taken care of on Friday and get it over with. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

And for those of you hoping to get stories about law school.....don't worry. I'm sure there are plenty of those to come.

2006-08-09T23:08:00.000-04:00

Brief Hiatus

After quitting my job at the prestigious technology company, I have been busy packing all my stuff in boxes, shipping it to the east coast, and then relocating there myself. I have also been madly studying for the GMAT this past week, which I took today (and I'm glad to report that I won't have to re-take it, thank god). Tomorrow I will drive from my parents house in Washington DC to New York City, and Friday I will be moving into my new studio apartment on the campus of Columbia Law School.

Needless to say, it looks like things will be busy for another week or so. As soon as I get my new computer (i want to get the new macbook) and get it all set up with internet connection in my new place, I will begin to chronicle the life and times of a first year law student from California in the big apple.

Hope all is well with those I have not talked to in a while. I'll be back in touch soon.

2006-07-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

Thoughts of Terror (part 2)

Bombing public transportation is one of the most heinous and unpredictable forms of terrorism. I guess that's what makes it so effective. From the constant bus bombings in Israel to the hijacking of airplanes in the US and subway bombings in Europe, public transportation seems to be the new target du jour among the fashionable terrorists. And the more frequently they occur the more sophisticated they get. Witness the seven timed and remotely detonated bombs that shook Bombay trains on 11 July, 2006, killing hundreds and wounding thousands.

Although no single group has taken credit for these bombings, and no proof has been disclosed that points to any one organization, this does not (and should not) preclude the world from tackling the larger issue. In fact, it's almost a good thing, in the sense that we cannot blame one group but must instead examine the entire terrorist edifice in all its horror, with all it's linkages between different groups and causes.

The are two possible reasons for these Bombay bombings, assuming that these are Islamic terrorists who perpetrated this crime (given the history, not a bad assumption i think). The first is clearly the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir. It's caused 2 wars, brought us to the brink several other times, and has resulted in thousands of deaths. At this point it's impossible to say that either side is completely in the right -- both have committed atrocities. The only innocents are the Kashmiris who suffer the consequences. As a result of this conflict, Kashmiri Islamic terrorists (or separatists, depending on your view) have periodically carried out terrorist attacks such as this one in India. The second possible reason is the religious tension in India between Hindus and Muslims. While the vast, vast majority of Indians that I know living in India don't really care if their friends are Muslim or Hindu, the minority that screams the loudest gets heard. Especially when they tear down mosques/temples, or incite riots as we witnessed a few years ago in Bombay.

As a result, the terrorist attacks probably had one of two purposes -- to either derail the slowly emerging peace talks between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, or to incite Hindu/Muslim violence in Bombay. Thankfully neither of these seems to have happened, largely due to a levelheaded and responsible approach to this crisis by Manmohan Singh, a man who I increasingly respect.

Now it's possible, even probable, that Lakshar-e-Taiba or a related Kashmiri group is to blame. But it's not too early nor is it reasonable to rule out other groups such as al-Qaeda. And although the differences between these groups are certainly not insignificant, the similarities in their terrorist tactics and militant religious fervor are striking. This is what ties these groups together with Hizbollah and Hamas, even though their causes and leaders can be very different. They represent the next great challenge for our times.

India is in a difficult position here. It can't really respond the way that Israel responded -- by trying to dismantle Hizbollah using brute force and decimating Lebanon in the process. There's no way that India wants to risk war with Pakistan over this. And yet there are few other options.....what other pressure can India put on Musharraf to put the brakes on these groups? Can Musharraf, given his precarious position straddling the West and hardline Islamists, even do that? Does he have the power? There really seems to be a very limited set of options except to continue the talks and try to resolve the Kashmir dispute as quickly as possible......but I wouldn't hold your breath.

2006-07-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

Thoughts of Terror

This past week has seen some very scary developments in the Middle East and South Asia, and the recent historical trends all point to even more frightening possibilities. I'm focusing here on the Middle East, but South Asia is on my mind and will probably be the subject of another post.

In the Middle East the unexcusable kidnapping of a young Israeli soldier by Hamas set tensions aflame. Ehud Olmert does not have the hardline credentials of someone like Ariel Sharon, and thus really had no political choice other than to strike hard and fast. That's not to say he did not do the right thing or something that Sharon would not have done; but his options were limited in a time when limited options are not a good thing. The Israeli incursions into Gaza in fact were probably a bit premature -- I still believe that Hamas can be talked out of increasing hostilities, or at least that Israel should have tried. Isolating Hamas economically and politically, as the US and Israel have done since it came to power, has done almost nothing constructive. In fact, it's led to increased Palestinian poverty overall, increased anti-Israel and anti-US sentiment on the Gaza streets, and a near complete collapse of the PA. All of these things actually serve to strengthen the one element that we want to see die off -- the viscious and militant extremist groups in Gaza and the West Bank.

Of course, this was all compounded by the horrible killing and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah. The timing of this attack is pretty significant, as well as the act itself. The kidnapping is somewhat unusual. It has been done in the past, and Israel has set a rationally dubious precedent by agreeing to free hundreds of prisoners in exchange for 1 or 2 captured soldiers. But there has not been a kidnapping for a while, in fact Hizbullah's activity in recent years has been toned down signficantly after the Israeli pullout, and it appears to be focusing more on integrating with the Lebanese government. This is also partly due to the "Cedar revolution" and the Lebanese backlash against the Syrian instigated assasination of their former leader, since it's well knows that Hizbullah is Syria's (and Iran's) proxy in Lebanon. As a result, it's been much quieter on the southern front. But not anymore. So why now? And why such a provacative move?

It can't be a coincidence that this occured so soon after Hamas kidnapped an Israeli soldier. It's also not an easy thing to do -- sources have confirmed that this has been planned for months (clearly with Iran/Syria's tacit, if not explicit, approval). The need to plan this months in advance, and the timing directly after Hamas, speaks to a level of coordination between Hamas, Hizbullah, Syria, and Iran that has got to be very scary for Israel. The problem, of course, is what to do about it.

Israel is currently engaged in very heavy attacks against Lebanon. They are bombing the heck out of that country, destroying everything from bridges and buildings to major airports. This is silliness. The Israeli calculation is basically the following: they can't get Hizbullah very easily, since they are so integrated into Lebanon as a whole. If Israel could simply target the Hizbullah bombers and fighters and take them out, along with their amazing stockpile of missles, I have no doubt they'd do just that. But they can't. And so they do the next best thing -- they punish the country and people that harbors and protects Hizbullah in order to send a clear message that this will not stand. They are clearly going after military installations which Hizbullah uses, but the bottome line is that they are hurting/killing ordinary civilians to a greater degree than they are hurting/killing Hizbullah fighers. But this is strategy of punishing the country is based on two problematic assumptions.

First, it assumes that if the Lebanese government wanted to do get rid of Hizbullah, it could do so. This is not a matter of willpower - Hizbullah is better armed, organized, and funded than the Lebanese government or their military. They would win, and that would not be good. Second, it assumes that making the population pay a heavy price will act as a deterrent against future attacks. This very well might happen, but it could just as easily go the other way and radicalize the population against Israel. We've seen both in the Middle East, and I really don't think anyone has a clear idea of how the Lebanese people will react to this (other than just praying for some peace and quiet. i can imagine most people would be happy with that.) The leader of Hizbullah in Damascus, Mr. Nasrallah, declared "open war" against Israel. Why is he doing this? To what point and purpose? I don't think he wants open war, and neither do Syria/Iran, as that would cause them more harm than good. But he wants to bait Israel into more useless incursions into Lebanon.

Also, veering further into speculation, I do think that to some degree these attacks are messages from Iran and Syria to the United States. They are basically saying "Don't threaten us. We know you can't do anything to us while mired in Iraq. But we can do something to you. So back off." Clearly that's not the only reason this is all going on, but I do think to some extent that they are both getting a chuckle at Israel's inability to get to Hizbullah and the US's inability to do anything at all except issue strong language.

Of course, in the face of hundreds of innocents on both sides dying, this is a reprehensible position to take. Iran and Syria need to be reigned in. I just don't know how to do it.

2006-07-11T23:46:00.000-04:00

Movin' on...

Well, that time has come. As pretty much everyone who reads this blog already knows, I have decided to quit my job with a prestigious internet company and return to school. It's an odd decision for some, but to me it makes a lot of sense, although I do feel like I'm leaving a lot of great relationships behind. Hopefully they'll survive the distance.

The Big Apple is my destination, specifically the upper westside which is home to Columbia. To be completely honest I have no idea whether I'll enjoy life in NYC, but I'd like to try it out and see. My wanderlust has never really left me, and it's just itching to get out. I imagine my life in NYC will consist of a lot of studying and a lot of travelling, now that I don't have to take time off work or get permission from my boss. Plus, NYC is one of those cities that I just have to try on. It's like seeing a really nice jacket in a store, or new guitar, or whatever. You know you'll probably never end up together, but you still have to try it on, or pick it up and strum out a few chords. Otherwise there'd always be that twinge of regret....and I don't do regret anymore.

I have had tons of folks asking for my blog address, which I'll probably give out in a mass email soon. I'm sure that I'll be posting much more in the future as most ppl who read this are out in California, and as some friends have demonstrated, keeping a journal of the travails of going back to school in a new environment can be quite entertaining if done well. I'll do my best.

For the near future though, I'll be trying to tie up all the loose ends here in SF and say goodbye to this fair city. It'll probably keep me quite busy. I really do enjoy SF -- in fact, I'd venture to guess right now that I'll probably end up in either the SF Bay area or in the Washington DC area when all is said and done. SF is just so beautiful at night. Right now I'm looking out over the SF skyline at dusk, in a dark room with a glass of whisky listening to Tom Waits. Definitely a moody and somewhat reflective evening.

2006-06-30T17:43:00.000-04:00

What's hot in the news

Wow, so there have been a lot of very interesting news items recently. It seems like there was a sort of lull, and then all of a sudden we get hit with tons of stories. Sort of a 'shock and awe' strategy from the newsroom? Perhaps this is what they mean by the news cycle.

Anyway, a lot of my friends like to rate movies, which I appreciate since it helps me decide when it's worth shelling out 10 bucks to go see something. Since I've recently been doing a lot of news reading and research, I've decided return the favor and rate a random collection of news stories from recent days below. Plus, I'm bored, and it seems like a good way to pass some time.

This follows the typical 5 star rating system, slightly modified:

* = Stay away. It actually makes you dumber to know this.
** = Not really newsworthy. It's either common sense, or filler because they could not find ads.
*** = Newsworthy, but not very interesting. Good for a skim if you're bored at work, or interested in this particular niche topic.
****= Good story. Interesting and informative. Worth your attention, but not worth extra research on your own.
***** = The gold standard. Great story, interesting, and definitely should concern you.

(note: i know this might seem kind of an odd grading system. it's also completley subjective - i'm aware of that. but hey, it's my blog. so there.)

***** Supreme Court rules in the Hamdan case (not exactly a landmark decision, but quite important)

*** Britney Spears poses nude while pregnant (extra star for comedic value)

*** The US tracking financial transactions internationally (duh)

**** Israel invades Gaza looking for kidnapped soldier (could turn very serious. keep watching)

** Bin Laden releases another tape (minus one star for crying wolf)

** Bush takes Koizumi to Graceland (add one star for randomness factor)

* Jones Reynolds leaves 'The View' (the details of network TV infighting are kinda disgusting)

*** African Union rejects democracy charter (this is really just sad)

....and there you have it folks. My take on the news. In another installment perhaps I'll make it more like movie reviews and add a little editorial piece after each headline. Tune in next week to find out.

2006-06-26T18:29:00.000-04:00

Olbermann beats down Bill O

Thanks to a friend's post, I have been made aware of this beautiful video, in which Olbermann takes O'Reilly to task in an eloquent and articulate manner, reminiscent of the late great Ed Murrow. Enjoy.

2006-06-23T12:16:00.000-04:00

I get knocked down, but I get up again....

In an often tense yet ultimately disappointing and frustrating match, the Ghana beat the USA 2-1 yesterday. It was enough to guarantee the elimination of the USA from the World Cup, and so these players, who were for a brief moment the center of attention from a soccer starved nation, will go home today.

The frustrating part of this is that, despite what most of the world thinks, I think the FIFA rankings (which placed the US among the top 10 teams in the world) were pretty accurate. When we played well, our team was really darn good. But something about the pressure, the tension and the glare of playing on the world stage proved too much. First against the Czechs, and then against Ghana, the US team demonstrated uninspired and unimaginative play.

The first goal was completely unecessary. You never let yourself get challenged with the ball in your own third of the field. A basic rule which Reyna violated, and as a result he was summarily stripped of the ball and we went down 1-0. Reyna also went down, and had to be carried out of the game on a stretcher. He's never going to play an international match again (or so he claims). Not to belittle his career -- he's a formidable player and has been a great addition to US soccer. But during the WC he has not played up to his potential.

The US equalized on a wonderful goal, but then we immediately went down again on a dubious penalty call inside the box. A very dubious call. I'll leave it at that.

But when it comes down to it, a championship team needs to be able to pull themselves out of situations like that. The US team needed to get aggressive in the second half and score some goals, at least get a lot of shots on goal. But our passing was lackluster, and although we came tantalizingly close a couple of times (gotta love McBride), there is no escaping the ultimate conclusion that we just couldn't score.

As to the larger issue of soccer in the USA, perhaps I'll post another time on that. Suffice it to say that although we have millions of little kids playing in youth soccer leagues, all of our good athletes go to basketball, baseball, etc instead of soccer. And who can blame them? Their salary, fame, and influence extend so much farther with these other sports than soccer. We're on the right track, but it's going to be another 8 years at least before we can field a championship worthy team. But I have hope! We shall get up again.

.....you ain't never gonna keep me down.

2006-06-18T04:34:00.000-04:00

Alive, and still kicking

It wasn't pretty out there today. It was bloody, tiring, and at times comically tragic. And in the end the US and Italy emerged exhausted. The final score: 1-1.

USA started out the game playing aggressively. They played hungry, with a gleam in their eyes that we did not see in the earlier match against the Czechs. And so they set a good tempo for the first 20 minutes, with strong passing in midfield and they began to put the pressure on the Italians. But Italy is not a championship team for nothing. Solid defense and stellar ball control allowed them to mount several crisp counter-attacks. They soon took the lead off a very nicely executed free kick in the first half. Soon afterwards, however, that same stellar defense made a critical error as they accidentally scored on themselves. The game was destined to remain tied.

There were no more goals, but there were several more penalties. An amazing three red cards were issued in this game. The first one came soon after the Italian goal, when an elbow caught McBride on the cheek and cut him open. For a brief moment it seemed that the US would have a good chance of winning this game. But soon Maestroni was ejected for a late tackle. The game was now 10 on 10. But soon after the start of the second half the USA was dealt a tragic blow, as Eddie Pope received his second yellow card and was also ejected.

Side note: The refs have been way too strict this entire tournament. They need to let up a little bit. Some of this stuff was really not red card violation worthy.

It was now 9 on 10. The US team still managed to get a few shots on goal, but more importantly they were able to hold the championship caliber Italian team to zero points in the second half, despite being a man down. By the end everyone on both teams was just plain exhausted -- you could see it in their play, and in the way they limped off the field. Still, for the US it was worth it. This tie, added the the Ghana upset over the Czechs, means the US is still alive. If we win against Ghana, and the Italians beat the Czechs, I think we're golden.

Next game: 7am on Thursday (PST). USA vs. Ghana. Interestingly, I think the Czech vs. Italy game happens simultaneously. Should be a fun morning to watch soccer.

2006-06-12T21:16:00.000-04:00

3-0

The US defeat to Czechoslovakia should come as no real surprise to anyone. While the US has tried to position itself as a strong team that's clearly among the best in the world, the truth is that it's not. The Czech team has an all-star cast featuring some of Europe's best players (even if they are a tad old), and is currently ranked #2 in the world behind Brazil. Were people seriously expecting the US to come out and beat down these guys? Now, that's not to say that the thrashing we received today was a reflection of skill -- I'd venture to say that if we'd lost by 1 point, it would have been a more accurate reflection of reality. Going down by 3 points was the result of shoddy play by USA. There was a distinct lack of hustle, some really bad passing, and a number of lost opportunities for shots on goal.

You see, I think US soccer fans (i will not call it football) are trying to prove something. They know that soccer is the one sport where they routinely get trounced by those decadent European powers whom they disdain so much. It's the one sport where you can't buy a winning team (although that's changing)......unlike the Olympics, you can't just invest in individual athletes and have the Gold medals that are doled out reflect your power standing in the world. Yes, US soccer has something to prove. But they aren't there yet. All they proved today is that they have a long way to go.

But I'm a soccer fan, and I'm rooting for USA. I'd love to see us beat Italy and Ghana and proceed out of our Group. And hey, it's possible, after all I'd say both of those teams are easier to beat that the Czechs. But even if we do that, we still might not move out of our group with the 3 point deficit we earned today.

Next game is this Saturday. I'll be watching somewhere in SF. Let me know if you'd like to join.

2006-06-05T17:03:00.000-04:00

Randomness

Has it really been so long? My my, how the time flies.

Recent events include a random throat illness, a weeklong trip to Washington DC, a cousin's wedding, and a very big decision. The weather has been stellar, and I'm sampling a new whisky these days (Clynlish - a highland coastal. I kinda like it.)

But what has inspired me to return to the blogosphere? Quite simple. I'm bored. And as such, I believe I shall enter a period of posting. Currently I'm trying to figure out if I should get a website for myself (seems like a good idea), and what that would be. Any ideas out there? (and yes, i checked: kabir.com is taken). I'm thinking, in all modesty, of kabiriscool.com -- it's got a nice ring to it. I was also considering notallthosewhowanderarelost.com .....seems appropriate, but it's taken. Damn.

If you have ideas, let me know.

2006-05-21T13:54:00.000-04:00

The Code Reviewed

Before I begin, the obligatory warning. Beware: spoilers follow. Of course, this applies only if you're one of the 10 people left on earth who has not read the 'Da Vinci Code'. Did you know that there are tours of Rome, and even special viewings of Leonardo's works such as the Last Supper, based solely upon this book? I don't know whether to applaud the interest it has generated in great works of art, or to bemoan the inaccuracies and falsehoods that it promotes. I guess now I know how the Church and Opus Dei feel....hehe....

I was skeptical going into this flick. Really, I probably would not have bothered to purchase tickets on my own, but my company was generous enough to provide free viewings for its employees. The movie reviews have all been mediocre at best (some were downright scathing), and the prospect of Tom Hanks running around in a mullet for 2.5 hours was less than appealing. But, having missed the last cultural event of our time (the Harry Potter phenomenon), I was determined not to lose touch with pop culture entirely. My subscription to Newsweek has ended, and somehow I don't think the Economist cuts it.

But enought dithering. In short: the movie was somewhat entertaining. Yes, I know that "somewhat entertaining" is not a glowing review, but it's not let down either, especially considering expectations were set so low. There were definitely a few good action sequences, one or two surprises, and of course a pretty girl. Let me point out the good and the bad, starting with the good (always start on a high note).

The Good:
1 - Ian McKellen as a crippled old geezer with a mean streak. Great acting as always, and you even get a slight hint that he knows he's acting in a sub-par movie. It's fun to watch him.
2 - Jean Reno as Captain Fache. A friend told me that when he read the book, he pictured Jean Reno playing Captain Fache, and I concur. It was perfectly cast. Plus, he's also just a fun actor.
3 - Audrey Tautou. She was much better in Amelie, but she's not bad in this role. Plus, I do think she's quite cute.

The Bad:
1 - Tom Hanks. Oh Tom, how thou hast fallen from the heights of Forrest Gump. That was good acting, this is like watching a block of wood. He could have done much better.
2 - The Direction. The movie is just plain patchy -- it does not hold together. The only reason it was palatable was because the audience had read the book, and thus could follow along. Picture Mission Impossible without the cool action sequences, and you'll get what I mean here.
3 - The anticlimax. It's not so bad in the book, but here it's just plain silly. At the end there is the final revelation (spoiler warning) when Tom Hanks looks at her and says "you are the last descendent of Jesus Christ", and I swear the audience just burst out laughing. Even I did. We all knew it was coming, but it was just so preposterous to hear, and the direction did not give it nearly enough gravity. Levity was the natural reaction. Talk about an anticlimax.

Should you go out and see it? If you liked the book, I can think of better things to spend 10 bucks on. If you really liked the book, then it's not a bad way to kill a rainy afternoon. If you LOVED the book, go see it. Actually, if you liked it that much, odds are you've probably seen it already anyway.

Let's just hope that if they make a movie of Angels and Demons, they keep Tom Hanks out of it.