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January 30, 2006
Leaving Bratislava
I'm sitting in the hostel's internet room, the drizzling rain and frigid wind having driven me out of the streets. It's hard to believe that in just a few hours I'll be leaving this charming (and cheap) city for Milan.
While I approached the whole "dorm-style" hostel with trepidation, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. After writing my last entry, I had only managed to make a grocery run to Tesco's and return to my room to drop off my purchases when I met up with the two Australian girls. We decided that a coffee was in order, and headed off to one of the coffee shops highlighted in our guidebook.
Founded in 1878, Kaffee Mayer (Hlavné nám. 4) is Bratislava's most famous café, an upscale Viennese coffee shop with gorgeous cappuccinos and "apfelstrudel mit schlag". These delights may be pricey for Slovakia but are much cheaper than you'll find at Mayer's Vienna branch.
After that, Sandi and I decided to do a bit of walking around, and took in the local castle.
Bratislava Castle (Bratislavský hrad) seems a bit boxy and Lego-like, but it's still a grand, impressive structure that dominates the skyline, and an easy walk from the center. Built in the 15th century when Bratislava was the capital of Hungary, it was remodeled by Habsburg queen Maria Theresa, only to be gutted by fire and bombed in World War II, and then rebuilt during the Communist era. The castle is now home to a branch of the Slovak National Museum (Slovenské národné múzeum) with a respectable collection of Slovak paintings through the ages and a staggering array of arms and armory; entry is 60 Sk. From the castle walls you can look over the city and see a fascinating contrast of Gothic Old Town and Communist paneláks across the river. A pleasant green park on the castle's east side is a good place to relax.
Having seen my share of "respectable collections" we decided to forego the museum and just admired the view from the top of the hill. Then we saw a couple of nice churches, along the way realizing that--after a significant amount of international travel--most tourist spots seem to blend together. Bratislava's castles, churches, and museums are undoubtedly nice, they are rather forgettable in the grander scheme of things. Even a walk through the old town section was quaint, but not thrilling.
Instead, we decided to go to the opera.
The Opera in Bratislava is popular among international visitors - for its quality as well as favourable prices. The Opera of the Slovak National Theatre is located in a Habsburg-era building right in the center of the city on Hviezdoslavovo Square.
For a mere 80 SK (about $1.50), we got seats at the top tier of the opera house, to see Verdi's Don Carlos. Unfortunately, the last-minute ticket buying adventure left us with no time to locate an English summary of the plot, so we had to guess our way through it. We looked it up later at the hostel, and were quite proud to have figured most of it out.
After the opera (well, at intermission) we went to the Jazz Cafe.
Jazz Café (Venturska 5, Old Town) Live jazz every Thursday through Saturday in an intimate cellar pub setting. Interpret intimate to mean hot, stuffy, smoky and packed. Get there before the doors open at 8pm or forget about finding a table.
Long story short, there was no jazz, but a fun local band that played an eclectic mix of rock, oldies, salsa, and undecipherable Slovak music. The drinks (oh so many of them) were also nice--at least, I have vague memories of them being nice.
A late night trip to McDonalds (the thinking was that a hamburger would soak up some of the alcohol so copiously consumed and prevent a hangover in the morning) was followed by a freezing walk back to the hostel. The next morning, it became glaringly apparent that the McDonalds had NOT done its job and we all laid low for most of the morning. In the afternoon, we walked around a bit more and then set off for the ST Arena for an ice hockey match. The home team lost, which was quite sad, but I was happy to leave because I had ceased feeling my extremities early in the first period.
We called it an early night, and this morning we packed our bags and went our separate ways after a final cup of thick, warm, pudding-like hot chocolate. The Australian girls are off to Budapest, the 2 French girls are off to Prague, and the Russian girl is staying another night. We exchanged email addresses, and I hope we get the chance to meet up again sometime.
So now, because my flight isn't until this evening, I have several hours to kill. The weather is crappy (we had beautiful--if cold--weather the rest of the weekend) and there's not much left to see. While I'm tempted to go on a crazy shopping spree (this being the last of the cheap cities for this trip), I have to admit that I'm not particularly entranced by the local fashions I see (plus there is a dangerously-low 15 kg weight limit for baggage on my flight to MIlan). Instead, I had hoped to catch up on friends' blogs, but sadly I see that January has been a slow month and the entries are few and far between.
Perhaps this is the opportunity I've been looking for to get caught up on some work. I had planned on working a couple hours each day, but sadly (or not) the pull of high adventure in Slovakia delayed that schedule. And even know, as I glance over to my laptop, so sedately resting in my bag, I'm not particularly motivated to fire it up. There will be plenty of time for that later, when I return to my humdrum life. For now, I think I'll explore the internet for places to go on my next global adventure.
Posted by madchen at 06:31 AM | Comments (1)January 28, 2006
Bratislava!
After a full day of sightseeing and an evening at the International Circus Festival on Thursday, I left Budapest yesterday by train and arrived in Bratislava (capital of the Slovak Republic) last night. I tried to follow the directions to the hostel, but my lack of Slovak coins (the lady at the deli would only give me bills) and the overall lack of a Bus No. 80 (turns out I was supposed to take Tram #1--who knew?) resulted in a quick taxi ride instead.
I'm sharing a room with two other girls, both from Australia and both traveling alone. The hostel is relatively nice with free internet and sort-of clean bathrooms. Not too shabby for $17 a night, I think.
I'm about to venture outside for some breakfast. It's just after 9 a.m. and it looks freezing outside. I hope there is a nice and cozy cafe on this block, because if I don't get some caffeine in me soon, bad things will happen.
Cheerio!
Posted by madchen at 03:14 AMJanuary 25, 2006
Numb Noses
It's day six in Budapest and I'm beginning to forget what warm weather feels like--and by "warm" I mean anything above freezing. I just returned from dinner at Mongolian Barbeque, where we had what seemed like a million courses of bizarre foods (like fried cheese with blueberry sauce, cream of potato soup, cavier, smoked goose breast, and carapaccio--and that's not even counting the main course). Looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I can definitely tell that the rich Hungarian food is not being good to my waistline (or my cheeks, which are looking particularly rosy these days).
Yesterday was definitely one of the highlights of the trip so far. A and I went to Szechenyi Baths, a landmark of the city. For a mere $13, we got full access to the mineral baths (all dozen or so of them, at various temperatures), the steam room (which was so crowded we just stood like sheep until the sweat started running down our faces), and the outdoor thermal pools--the best of them all.
Surrounded by the buildings on all sides, from the outside pools it's impossible to tell that you're in the middle of the city. Instead, everyone lolls around on the pool steps, with head and shoulders above the water (and yet somehow not cold in the below-freezing temperatures) and the rest of the body toasty warm in the geothermally heated water. Foggy steam billows, creating a haze that prevents you from seeing 6 inches in front of your face, and then suddenly clearing to reveal the entire pool, with old men playing chess and couples in various stages of copulation (they are quite free here with the PDA).
Anyway, it was a delightful experience, topped off with a 15 minute massage in a locker room that the guide book accurately called "a scene out of the hospital in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". We returned home feeling woozy and relaxed, and exhausted in the way that only results from hours spent in warm water.
And finally! I've made plans for this weekend...that's right, I'll be visiting Bratislava, the charming capital city of Slovenia. I know next-to-nothing about the city, which will make it interesting. My first solo trip!!
Posted by madchen at 04:34 PM | Comments (1)January 23, 2006
Dancing with Hungarians
Today was chock-full of Hungarian goodness. A and I spent the morning and early afternoon at the Budapest History Museum, which is a random assortment of Budapest History, from prehistoric times to after World War II. Strangely enough, there was no discernable chronology to the museum, with the prehistoric times on the 3rd floor, the 1st and 2nd floor dedicated to the Middle Ages (with a temporary exhibit on the 2nd floor dedicated to the Rennaisance era), and the Medieval Age in the basement, where we also saw the chapel and cellars of the Middle Ages palace.
Thankfully, there was a LOT of information in English, so after giggling about the statues, A and I were able to take it all in. I've decided that, overall, Budapest's history is too complex for anyone but a Budapest history buff to understand. From my 2 hours in the history museum, I'm convinced that the government completely changed every 10 years, not to mention all the invading armies, class warfare, and religious animosity. The trick to enjoying the museum was to just go with the flow and not try to understand it too much.
After that, we hopped over to the Grand Market Hall (also called the Central Market Hall) for a quick lunch of sandwiches. The marketplace isn't heated, and the bitter cold (it was about 25 degrees with a driving wind) drove us quickly out, after a brisk walk around the stalls. From there, we sought out a tea shop, where we each had a fragrant pot of tea (A had spiced apple, I had senchu citrus). It was a bizarre experience to be having tea in an asian-inspired tea house, in Budapest, with Cajun zydecco playing in the background.
Fleeing the freezing streets, we took the subway back home--or at least, I did. A got off the subway early to attend a lecture on something related to The End of American Hegemony and Its Implications for the Future of the World. I decided that, since I had been up since 4 a.m. (I blame residual jet lag AND the pizza I had for dinner), I would instead take a nap...because, the best part of the day was about to begin.
Tonight, A&N and I joined a Hungarian family (all 20 of them) to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of one of the patriarchs of the family. The couple was adorable and hilarious, and spoke fluent English (as did many of their family members). A&N knew their son and his wife from N's work, and so we met the smaller group for dinner. Over a mammoth meal of turkey and vegetables, we got to hear all about their lives. They were both refugees in the war, and met in a Yugoslavian camp. They immigrated to the United States in 1958, but still have most of their family here in Hungary. Now that their son is posted here, they've come back to visit and see all the relatives again. Somehow we were all invited to the party, at Club Kameleon.
That's right, the 70+ couple had their anniversary party at a club, where the dancing started at 10 p.m. and was still going strong by the time we bowed out at midnight. Apparently, the club's live band plays 50's rock (with a little modern country and other miscellany thrown in) every Monday night. And let me tell you, the crowd knows how to dance--and I mean full-on swing and shag and charleston and two-step. I myself was taken for a 3-song spin with one of the guys in the family. While I have no idea how to swing dance, he was an excellent lead. A said I looked like I knew what I was doing, which could NOT be farther from the truth--in fact, most of the time I was so dizzy from all the twirling that I was afraid I might fall over (or at least step on his feet). Nonetheless, I had a GREAT time--one of those experiences that you would NEVER get without knowing the locals.
Now it's almost 2 a.m. and I'm ready for bed. A has a class tomorrow morning, so I'll get to sleep in before we try out the famous Budapest baths. Then it will be time to decide how I'm going to spend my weekend, with the goal of getting to Milan on the 30th. And if that weren't enough, I got an email from my Berlin partner, who indicated that she might bail on her part of the trip too, if a workshop in Arhus pans out. Grr.
On a totally side note, I also received a notice that my paper for a conference in Graz (in April) has been accepted. Now I have to decide if it's worth paying 250 Euros for the entrance fee, plus travel and accommodations. I wonder if there's any way they will let me in for free, like last year. Fingers crossed, because I'd love to be back in Europe this spring!!
Posted by madchen at 07:17 PMJanuary 22, 2006
Budapest!
I'm here in Budapest, with the lovely A&N. They have a delightful apartment right in the heart of Old Buda, on what my guidebook refers to as "probably the most attractive street in all of Castle Hill." In fact, my guidebook even specifically references their apartment building number, as several famous Hungarian revolutionaries were held as "prisoners of status" here in the 1840s.
Aside from waking up every morning at 5 a.m., I'm having a blast. The weather was beautiful yesterday, so we did a bit of sightseeing, navigating the public transportation scene with ease (A is a pro at this sort of thing). We had a lovely lunch a new and happening place called Voros es Fehir, where I had a delcious pumpkin soup. Then we were off to Hero's Square and City Park, home of an ice rink, the famous Szechenyi Baths, and the Vajdahunyad Castle, which is really a collection of buildings, each built in a different style (Romanesque, Gothic, Rennaisance, Baroque, etc.). Quite an eclectic place.
After that, we were off to the Terror Museum. The building was used by the Nazi Party in the 1940's and after that became the headquarter of the secret service during the communist era. Today it is a memorial museum of both dictatorships and the victims. While most of the information (and all of the film) was in Hungarian, it was still a powerful place to visit, and VERY well designed.
What struck me most was one of the first rooms, which was divided into two sections, with television screens featuring scenes of the Nazi invasion of Hungary on one side, and the Soviet occupation on the other. It was shocking to see how exactly the same it looked--cheering crowds, benevolent leaders, battalions of soldiers, and pictures of the disenfranchised and persecuted. For two parties with such divergent philosophies, it was hard to tell the differences through film clips alone.
Another feature I found interesting was in the basement, next to the cells preserved from the days when they were used to house (and torture) prisoners. In a long hallway, the museum has posted 3x5 photos of all the people who actively participated in the terrors, along with their birth and death years. I looked at row upon row of these photos, trying to identify some characteristic that set them apart from the pictures of their victims posted in the cells down the hall. I was unsuccessful--in general, both sets of people looked pleasant and capable. Then I noticed that a good portion of the photos indicated that the person portrayed was still alive. It made me how they felt about the museum, and about being publicly identified as a terror perpetrator.
Afterwards, the three of us went to Gerbaud, one of the most famous cafes in town--and also on my list of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. While it was indeed delightful, I'm not sure it qualified to be on the list--I think that Nemrut Dagi would certainly trump a chocolate shop. That's not to say that our treats weren't delicious--I thoroughly enjoyed my hazlenut chocolate torte. Yummm.
After a leisurely break back at the apartment to enjoy some wine and plan our next move, we were off again--this time to Nancsi Neni for a traditional Hungarian meal. Once again, I was delighted with my food, a chicken breast with cheese and baked apple, as well as rice spiked with sweet raisins (which I didn't expect to like at all!).
We timed the bus-trolley-bus perfectly, and arrived back home just in time to enjoy a little more wine and an interesting political discussion. Then it was off to bed to prepare for another day in Budapest.
Of course, with dreary weather and a slow start, we didn't actually make it out of the house today. We decided that it was completely acceptable to "rest" on Sunday and that we would explore with renewed vigor starting tomorrow--assuming of course that the snow, which started this evening, doesn't strand us inside for the next few days. It's been known to happen, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
January 18, 2006
Personality
For Christmas, I bought the cats a carpet-covered-climbing thing, similar to the one seen below (but with more layers). Because what says "hallelujah, the baby Jesus is born" more than pet furniture?
Anyway, they are both enamoured of the top spot, which is sadly only big enough for one of them at a time--unlike when they were kittens and could snuggle up together on a since-disposed-of earlier version of the climbing-thing. Oh they were sweet. But I digress.
Along with the furniture I got a bottle of catnip spray, which is like feline ecstacy. Upon catching a whiff, my cats feel nothing but love, want to touch everything, and develop a sudden affinity to trance music. But again, I digress.
Tonight, upon coming home from seeing Jared Diamond, author of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, at Politics and Prose, I decided that the cats were in need of some fun. You know, cause I'm both brilliantly intellectual and yet also tenderhearted. So I spritzed some cat nip on the carpet-furniture-thing (what IS it called?) and sat down to watch.
Within a few minutes, both cats sidled in. Madchen, the slightly "fluffy" one (ok, the gargantuan 18-pound one), immediately scampered over to the furniture thing and started to roll all over it. In an OBSCENE sort of way, if you can sort of picture it. It seems that with some cat nip, Madchen has no need of tomcat-love, oh no.
Natasha, the skinny "evil" one (but only to people who are obnoxious--and by that, I mean everyone who isn't *me*), was not so crude. She sat 6 inches away from Madchen and looked upon her flailings with disdain. You could actually see the condescension in her posture.
After a few minutes, the potent but fast-acting cat nip had worn off of the bottom layers of the furniture thing, and Madchen wandered off. Ever so delicately, Natasha hopped up to the top level, where she preened and in an oh-so-refined manner, began to rub her whiskers along the carpet.
And then she promptly fell out of the hole in the bottom of the box.
She landed on the floor (a good 4 feet below) with a slightly alarmed, yet still rather dreamy expresssion. Apparently the joy of the cat nip, however well concealed, is enough to make even the most snooty cat lose a little control.
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On an entirely unrelated note, my new favorite DC-area blog is El Guapo. Whether its his CVS condom-purchasing activities, or his most recent mustache adventures, I *heart* El Guapo. Read him, love him.
Posted by madchen at 10:19 PM | Comments (2)January 17, 2006
Highlights from the Weekend
-- Being FROZEN while playing soccer with Janie in the front yard, where every goal was accompanied with mocking of the imaginary opponents, the dreaded "boys team".
-- Being APPALLED at the Outdoor Life Network's show "Dangerous Game" in which I witnessed two spindly white guys (with their faithful African guides) stalk and shoot an elephant. More scandalous, however, was the program's claim that shooting elephants is actually good for the elephant population (because sanctioned elephant hunters scare off poachers) AND the villagers (who get to eat the meat). While they made a pretty good case, I am loathe to see it on television.
-- Being INSPIRED by a documentary on Eleanor Roosevelt. Clearly I need to read more about this woman who stood up for civil rights from the beginning.
-- Being TRAUMATIZED by a sinus headache during Saturday's windstorm. It seems that the dreaded Headache of 2006 never really went away, but is lurking around every barometric corner.
-- Being SHAFTED on my trip to Europe, upon learning that the week in Prague is unlikely to happen, unless I want to do it alone. With only 72 hours until I leave, I have a gaping 13 days of unplanned vacation. I have a week in Budapest, two weeks as-yet-unplanned, and then 5 days in Berlin. While this might seem like a delightful opportunity to explore, I'm starting to worry about the cost of so much single accomodation. I'm just not willing to shack up on a 14-bed dorm--I'm too old for that.
Posted by madchen at 12:36 AM | Comments (1)January 13, 2006
Ex-Haus-Ted
Today has been a contrast of highs and low. Thank goodness I'm not suffering from hormonal influences, because the "normal" mood swings that today's activities have engendered is quite enough, thank you.
It all started when I left the house this morning for a 9:30 meeting with a Big Idea person. We were meeting at the local Starbucks, which made the bracingly early (at least for me) hour not so terrible. Of course when I got there I realized I didn't have my wallet.
This was disastrous for two reasons. First, it meant that I couldn't buy coffee for the guy, let alone myself. Mucho embarassing. Secondly, and most importantly, it meant that I didn't have the proper identification to get back to the house (guarded entrance and all) to get my wallet, which I needed even MORE for my lunch meeting with another Big Idea person.
Oh the woe.
I managed to finagle my way through the coffee meeting ("oh no, just water for me"), but while I was figuring out how to rescue my afternoon, I managed to get a parking ticket. Now, I had only left my car alone for 5 minutes, 7 minutes at the most. Damn you, parking gestapo! How DARE you write me a THIRTY-FIVE dollar ticket when I'm standing across the street having a nervous breakdown?
(To give them credit, there was no way to tell that the girl having a nervous breakdown was associated with that particular car, but still.)
Again, I was able to sweet talk my way past the security and dash into the house to retrieve my wallet. After a brief calculation, I realized I had plenty of time to make it back downtown for my lunch meeting and began to recover my sanity. BIG MISTAKE. Because as I took a minute to relax, I thoughtlessly opened some mail I had picked up from the Big Idea Mailbox. And I found (drumroll, please):
A CEASE AND DESIST NOTICE.
That's right. There's another organization with a vaguely similar name to one of the service names associated with the Big Idea. And because there might be the slightest, tiniest, most remote chance that an incredibly stupid person might get confused, they "respectfully request that you change the name of your company and services to eliminate the potential for confusion."
With best wishes,
Your New Nemesis
Harumph. I'm undecided about whether or not they have a case (my parents, upon my complaining, think they do NOT), but the main point is that I don't have the time or resources to engage in a legal battle (and by that I mean that even consulting a lawyer about this issue is beyond my financial capabilities). So I'm doing the "honorable" thing and giving it up without a fight. I'd like to believe that it's not costing me anything, since at this point I didn't have dedicated clients associated with that branch of the company. BUT STILL. It's the principle of the thing.
Anyway, I made a frantic call to my web-developer-extrodinaire Ms. Post No Bills, who graciously agreed to make major renovations to the website over the weekend to eliminate all references to THE DREADED AND POSSIBLY-IF-YOU'RE-STUPID INFRINGING service. (And note to Ms. PNB, if I see you posting entries that reveal you are watching HOURS of Law & Order instead of saving my infringing ass, you are in trouble!) I'll be keeping the service, just making the catchy title disappear. So if you want a last look at the catchy-yet-possibly-infringing website, check it out today for it will all be gone on Monday.
Bah humbug. It's never too early in the year to start being a grinch.
Anyway, after my call with Ms. PNB, I was late again and had to scramble downtown. Where, of course, I had a hellacious time with parking. I swear, crossing into Dupont Cirle there should be a sign that reads "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Park Here". I eventually abandoned hope for finding street parking and paid (ha, ha, with the $$ from my newly reclaimed wallet!) $11 for an hour and a half worth of valet parking. Oh, I'll be deducting that on my taxes, don't you worry, dear reader.
From there, things looked up. I had a marvelous lunch with another Big Idea person, who gave me all sorts of good advice and even solicited my help on a Big Project. Not for $$, of course, but in a role that could potentially bring in clients and will definitely get my name out there. So yay for that.
After all that, I came home and instead of collapsing into bed as planned, managed to send a bunch of emails from people I met at the Big Idea Happy Hour last night, set up a lunch meeting for next week, set up a Big Idea proposal pitch (this one might actually net us some $$) for next week, join a professional Big Idea association, buy a plane ticket from Berlin to Budapest for the trip (that starts on Thursday, ensue panicking), have dinner with the family, brush Janie's teeth, avoid having Janie brush my teeth (which is part of the standard agreement), and get started on some new work for the Big Idea.
Now I'm really ready to collapse. But I'm torn between doing just a leetle more work for the Big Idea (there's so much left to do that I'm really starting to panic over leaving in just 6 days) and calling it a night and finishing "Foucoult's Pendulum", which I've been reading for several days. It's a page turner let me tell you. In fact, I would venture to say that The DaVinci Code is a poor (and ignorant) man's Foucoult's Pendulum. Just like Heath Ledger is a poor man's Ryan Phillipe. Umm, Ryan Phillipe.
See, I ended on a happy note.
Posted by madchen at 10:10 PM | Comments (1)January 12, 2006
What *is* Stari Decisis?
Well, it's happened. Write Again Soon has become the definitive place to learn about stari decisis. Or rather, the place people mistakenly go to learn about this mysterious legal term. It started as a comment by Mr. Bad Apologies, then was revisted in my 2005 review of the website. At that time, I noted that "stari decisis" was one of the top search terms people used to get to my site--and how ironic that was, since I don't really have any specific knowlede of the subject. And yet, I am somehow the #5 option on Google when you search for stari decisis.
I have a feeling that if Mr. Samuel Alito wasn't in confirmation hearings right now, my website stats would be a lot lower. Instead, upon checking them this morning, I found that TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE people clicked on my website in search of information on stari decisis. Poor fools.
I've decided to remedy this immediately. Here is all you need to know about stari decisis. Not being a brilliant legal scholar, I will mostly direct you to other, more reputable sites.
Note: Apparently some of the confusion is coming from the fact that most legal sources refer to it as STARE DECISIS, although stari decisis is also recognized.
First off, I must recommend Wikipedia - a must link website for all things strange and wonderful. Wikipedia notes that stari decisis (or stare decisis) means "to stand by things decided" and in legal terms means that courts must recognize prior court decisions as precedents, according to case law.
Although most civil courts do not recognize stari decisis (because it would inhibit the ability of judges to interpret law and the legislatures to make law), a similar notion of jurisprudence constante exists, which argues that even though judges are independent, they should rule in a predictable and non-chaotic manner.
Again, from Wikipedia:
The principle of The principle of stare decisis can be divided into two components:The first is the rule that a decision made by a higher court is binding precedent which a lower court cannot overturn.The second is the principle that a court should not overturn its own precedents unless there is a strong reason to do so and should be guided by principles from lateral and lower courts. The second principle is an advisory one which courts can and do occasionally ignore.Still need more? Here are some other texts on the issue, although I have to say that culling them from Google was a boring labor of love...
How Stare Decisis Subverts the Law - This essay, penned by Jon Rowland of the Constitution Society (who?) is full of venn diagrams and was too boring for me to read, personally. But skimming it seemed to reveal Rowland's analysis of two types of stari decisis, the binding and the persuasive kind. Rowland appears to argue for a persuasive interpretation of stari decisis, concluding that:
Stare decisis is the way judges seek the safety of the herd. We need to demand they exhibit more courage, and return to fundamental principles, resorting to stare decisis only when the positions lie on the fuzzy boundary of the region of legitimacy.Stare Decisis and Techniques of Legal Reasoning and Legal Argument, by Paul Perell of Weir & Foulds - although originally published in 1967, this article provides a lot of information on the issue in terms that even *I* could understand. Read it (or skim it, whatever you prefer).
Alito Wrote Abortion Isn't a Protected Right, by Ari Shapiro and Robert Siegel - This story helps explain why stari decisis is such a big deal right now. (It's abortion, stupid.) You can't even begin to understand the possibilities of Alito helping to overturn Roe v. Wade without a basic understanding of stari decisis. Or so I'm told.
UPDATE!! The new count (as of 10:36 p.m. is now THREE HUNDRED AND FOURTY SIX people who clicked on my website searching for info on stari decisis...and that doesn't even count today's numbers, which will show up tomorrow.) Whew!
Posted by madchen at 12:22 PM | Comments (155)
January 09, 2006
A Week With Her Dad
Janie and her dad are staying with us this week, while he visits from California. So far, it has been a delightful time--he has a magical way of rough-housing that somehow doesn't end in tears. At least not every time--which is a far better track record than any of us have with her.
Posted by madchen at 11:43 PM | Comments (55)
Click on the picture above to see the rest of the photos in this album.
True Poverty
Janie's dad is here for another round of co-parenting. During these week-long visits, one of the highlights is the trip to Toys R Us, where Janie plays up how hard life is with a single mom. Here is an excerpt from the toy store visit, as relayed back to me by her dad.
"I want this baby carseat."
"Janie, you already have a dozen babies that look JUST like that one. And you already have a baby carseat. How about a football?"
"Nuh-uh! I don't have a carseat....that sings."
Yes, its true, this particular baby carseat (complete with drone baby) comes equipped with several buttons that make noise. Push one, and through a shrieking din of static, you can hear a tinny "Mama", or perhaps even a wailing baby. Because nothing says "fun car trip" like noisy toys.
Of course, they bought it. And the football too. I've seen her throw the ball, and if we can just get her away from all things pink and frilly, I think we might have a quarterback on our hands.
Posted by madchen at 06:34 PM
January 08, 2006
Fat Pig (the play, not me--although after this bowl of ice cream...)
Yesterday I cast off the shackles of the Big Idea and met Mr. Bad Apologies and friends for a pay-what-you-can showing of Fat Pig (by the well-regarded Neil LaBute) at the Studio Theatre.
First, I would like to reiterate my love of Studio Theatre. I love the intimacy of the black box experience...I love how you feel totally engaged with the actors...I love how the theatre takes risks with their productions. Since its renovations, I had been there only once before to see The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow. While I loved it then, having also seen Fat Pig, I love it even more. Which brings me to sudden New Year's Resolution #4:
More theatre!
I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about seeing a play called Fat Pig, especially a play whose director is billed as "the most legitimately provocative and polarizing playwright at work today" by New York Metro. Not being a size 6 myself, I was perhaps a little more sensitive to the issue than the "skinnies" in the audience. (In fact, Mr. Bad Apologies and I had a pre-play discussion about whether there should be seperate showings for fat people and skinny people, so as to remove the audience tension and distraction by wondering how the alternately-sized person in the row ahead of you is reacting to that tasteless fat joke.)
I was worried that it would be provocative in a John Waters' Pink Flamingo sort of way (which, as a result of seeing it unawares, I am still permanently scarred), instead of a thoughtful, stereotype-challenging sort of way.
The general description gave me hope:
This bitingly funny modern romance kicks off The Studio Theatre’s Neil LaBute Festival. In a culture obsessed with beauty, can love ever be blind? Tom feels a magnetic attraction for the bright and witty Helen, but his coworkers are committed to saving him from himself. Cast: Kate Debelack (Helen), Tyler Pierce (Tom), Anne Bowles (Jeannie), and Jason Odell Williams (Carter).Let me just say, I was not disappointed. The story was GREAT, the actors were superb, and we talked about it all the way home. Here were some of the reasons we thought it was so compelling:
1. The characters were believable. Each of the four characters was well-developed enough that you could honestly see them as people in real life. You might love them or hate them, but they were people you recognized. I could have sworn I worked in that office, with the "development guys" and the "accounting girls" and the inter-office dating and that one guy who always hangs out in the next-door office talking about girls.
2. The characters had chemistry. The inital scene, where Tom (the attractive guy) meets Helen (the "fat pig"), realistically set up their romance. As an audience member, you squirm as Tom makes accidental references to Helen's weight, and you cringe as Helen returns to comment that "I'd even like us to be phone friends". Even the (modest) scenes in bed had a feeling like you were looking into someone's real life.
3. The actors are brave. Kate Debelack (who plays "fat pig" Helen) does a marvelous job of being the funny-and-confident-yet-too-self-deprecating-fat-girl. In the final scene, she manages to appear on stage in a bathingsuit while credibly conveying anger, irritation, and heartbreak--while all I could manage was trying to hide my thighs. Jason Odell Williams (the office mate) does a superb job of playing a shallow jackass that's still likable and funny and a good friend. He manages to say amazingly offensive things in a way, yet I would still invite him to happy hour. Tyler Pierce (Helen's love interest) prances around in the bedroom scene like a man in the privacy of his own home instead of a stage in a packed auditorium. And Anne Bowles (Jeannie, the scored ex-girlfriend) hits just the right note in playing a bitchy office girl who nonetheless has real reason to feel abused in her relationship with Tom.
4. The story ends the way it had to--no pat endings or huge disasters. I walked out thinking this is the way real life happens.
Anyway, the play runs through February 12 and I highly recommend it. And I'd also like to apologize to the (very offended) guys to my right about coughing all the way through the play. I had a piece of pepper from lunch caught in my throat and I thought I was going to die. But geez, it wasn't like I was spewing germs all over you--you didn't need to act like I was Typhoid Mary.
Posted by madchen at 07:35 PM
January 07, 2006
Ways I Could Have Spent the Last Hour
I just spent the last 72 minutes installing a printer. Does that seem reasonable? It's not like I got a new printer, scurried around to find the box cutter, unwrapped the precious piece of technology, fiddled around with all the cords, and installed the software.
Oh no.
That 72 minutes was soley devoted to installing the software. Granted, I didn't have the CD (it was missing from every reasonable place to look) and had to resort to the Dell website, but still. Locating and downloading the appropriate driver to my computer took about 7 minutes. The remaining (quick math, please) 65 minutes was all unzipping the files and executing the relevant executable file.
I kept thinking it would be over in a second, so I just sat there, staring off into space. I briefly considered going to bed and just leaving the computer to fend for itself, but then I remembered it wasn't plugged in and in all probability would run out of batteries, crash into darkness, and lose my important documents (which I thoughtfully failed to save before embarking on this bitter, bitter journey) if left unattended.
So I waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
Lo and behold, an hour later the printer was up and running, and even printed my 1 page document. Oh precious, precious document, do you know what I went through to have you in physical form tonight? Dell All-In-One 924, I shake my fist at you!
Now I'm off to bed, but not before recounting a list of *better* ways I could have spent the last hour:
-- flying from D.C. to New York City
Posted by madchen at 01:42 AM
-- watching half of Finding Neverland, which has been sitting on the shelf for two weeks
-- blogging about the joys of Virginia Tech having finally kicked Marcus Vick to the curb
-- getting some sleep so I'm not dozing during tomorrow's showing of Fat Pig
-- sending email to Mr. Bad Apologies, reminding him that he has a blog and should use it occasionally
January 06, 2006
I'm Not Just the President
Today was a big day for the Big Idea. The website updates are finished (thanks to Ms. Post No Bills), a new partnership has gone public, and I sent out my first mass e-mailing. And although I did end up accepting the interview offer from yesterday, I'm still feeling totally energized about pursuing the Big Idea full time.
I have a dozen ideas running through my head about how to spend my time in the next few weeks, especially on projects that might actually net me some paying clients. The goal is to actually have a written contract with a paying client signed by the end of March. (The month-long trip to Europe starting January 19th makes it a little more challenging, but I think I'm up to it!!)
So how am I going to spend my evening, coming down off this Big Idea high?
I'm off to clean the bathroom.
Because, dear reader, I'm not just the President, I'm also the janitor.
Posted by madchen at 06:14 PM
January 05, 2006
Time to Choose
Only five days into the new year, and already I'm faced with a moral dilemma.
As you may recall, dear reader, my #1 New Year's Resolution was to throw myself wholeheartedly into the Big Idea. The goal was to take all the energy I had been expending in the job hunt and focus it on developing my own business. No more pouring over the daily Idealist.org job listing, no more tailoring resumes to fit obscure positions, no more writing follow-up emails after the interviews. And most of all, no more stressing over how to make myself sound like the perfect candidate for each and every one.
It seemed like a brilliant plan, until I got the following email today:
We received your application and would like to invite you to come by to meet the XXXX staff and talk about the position in more depth. Are you available to come by for an interview next week?
Do you see the dilemma, dear reader? I had sent my resume weeks ago, and--not hearing anything--had mentally written it off as a no-go. To be perfectly truthful, I think the job sounds fascinating, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't meet my needs in the long-term: 1) it's with an NGO, so the pay is going to be marginal, and 2) it would be a VERY different job than any I've had before, and I don't really see myself starting over.
On the other hand, what's one more interview?
If I do the interview, however, it's basically admitting that I'm not fully committed to the Big Idea, and even that mental admission makes it too easy to start doubting myself.
But why would I turn down something that might be fabulous and lead to a whole new life (including one where I'm guaranteed an income!)?
Well, dear readers, what do YOU think?
Posted by madchen at 04:55 PM | Comments (5)
January 04, 2006
The Edges of the Bell Curve
Moving forward with the Big Idea makes me feel brilliant, confident, and entrepreneurial. And then, without pause, it makes me feel like an incompetant idiot. Take for example, last night when I handed out my new Big Idea business cards to my book club friends--ahh, a nice moment. Then contrast that with my experiece today at the bank, trying to set up a business checking account.
I initally dropped by to ask what paperwork I would need to open an account (since I'm still in the process of registering with the state of Maryland, I though I'd make sure I had all my ducks in a row), but then got sucked into starting the paperwork right then and there. The idea was to record all my available information, and create a list of things that I still needed to obtain. All fine and good, until the "supervisor" came over after 20 minutes and said very sweetly, "where is your XXXX form?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, and she noted with her oh-so-saccharine voice that "we can't do anything without the XXXX form". I felt like an idiot for not having the form, even though my sole purpose in coming to the bank was to get a list of forms I would need. Somehow, my initiative was turned on its head and I left with my cheeks flushed with shame. Only later did that flush turn to indignation, and then resolve to take my business elsewhere.
So how do I reclaim that bubbly, giddy feeling at being a new business owner? Well, I like to surround myself (even if only virtually) with other brilliant, confident, entrepreneurial people. So I looked to the Edge Foundation.
Every year, the Edge Foundation asks an enormous array of smart people (scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, intellectuals of every stripe) a single question and publishes the results. This year's question: WHAT IS YOUR DANGEROUS IDEA?
The history of science is replete with discoveries that were considered socially, morally, or emotionally dangerous in their time; the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions are the most obvious. What is your dangerous idea? An idea you think about (not necessarily one you originated) that is dangerous not because it is assumed to be false, but because it might be true?My favorite so far:
LEO CHALUPA - Ophthalmologist and Neurobiologist, University of California, Davis - My dangerous idea is that what's needed to attain optimal brain performance — with or without prior brain exercise — is a 24-hour period of absolute solitude. By absolute solitude I mean no verbal interactions of any kind (written or spoken, live or recorded) with another human being. I would venture that a significantly higher proportion of people reading these words have tried skydiving than experienced one day of absolute solitude.What to do to fill the waking hours? That's a question that each person would need to answer for him/herself. Unless you've spent time in a monastery or in solitary confinement it's unlikely that you've had to deal with this issue. The only activity not proscribed is thinking. Imagine if everyone in this country had the opportunity to do nothing but engage in uninterrupted thought for one full day a year!A national day of absolute solitude would do more to improve the brains of all Americans than any other one-day program. (I leave it to the lawmakers to figure out a plan for implementing this proposal.)The danger stems from the fact that a 24 period for uninterrupted thinking could cause irrevocable upheavals in much of what our society currently holds sacred.But whether that would improve our present state of affairs cannot be guaranteed.As the BBC Radio 4 put it: "Fantastically stimulating...It's like the crack cocaine of the thinking world.... Once you start, you can't stop thinking about that question."
But lest you get carried away with brilliance and need a little down-to-earth news, did you know that mooning is legal in Maryland?
Acquitting a Germantown man who exposed his buttocks during an argument with a neighbor, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge ruled yesterday that mooning, while distasteful, is not illegal in Maryland.[The judge] made clear his disdain for the defendant, calling the alleged act "disgusting" and "demeaning." The outcome could have been different, he suggested, if the man had been on trial for "being a jerk."I wish I'd known this when dealing with the snooty bank lady this afternoon.
Posted by madchen at 10:15 PM
January 03, 2006
Places to Spend Your Money
Now that I'm officially the President of the Big Idea, I have to face a hard truth: there is no guaranteed income. At this very moment I have $6,000 in my checking account and no expectations for additional deposits. The year of frugal living starts here.
On the other hand, I've been meaning to post information about some of the supercool socially and environmentally friendly products that I saw at the Green Festival back in September and today is the day. Why now, you might ask? Well, as part of my recent spate of productivity, I have cleaned out my physical inbox and, lo and behold, I found a pile of business cards and flyers from the Green Festival. In order to properly dispose of them, I will now transfer all that knowledge to Write Again Soon. Enjoy!
You would never know from the delicious, melt in your mouth, scrumptious sticky buns that this bakery offers a full line of vegan sweets...so irresistable, you can't keep your paws off 'em! Located at the very convenient 1904 18th St., it makes me sad that I don't work downtown. Sticky Fingers Bakery offers walk-in treats, and also does catering.
I must have walked by the Gecko Traders stall at the Green Festival a dozen times. Their handbags, wallets, and accessories kept catching my eye, and I just HAD to have something from them. And when I found out their story, I was even more enthusiastic:
Gecko Traders, Inc., a small Arlington, Virginia business, works with Cambodian women to produce their hand-dyed and hand-woven silk handbags and accessories.What began as a small group of Cambodian seamstresses hired by Gecko in 1999 has grown to over 150 women—many of them polio-afflicted or land-mine victims, and nearly all are their families’ sole breadwinners.Plus, they are located in Arlington, which means a visit to Gecko Traders doesn't have to happen only at next year's Green Festival. While they don't do direct retailing, they have several trunk shows a year--I'll definitely be at the next one! (I mean, after I have an income again.)
I purchased a little notebook from the Nepalese Paper stall, and was amazed to talk to the sellers and learn about the completely sustainable method of paper production this organization uses.
Nepali handmade paper is made from the inner bark of a wild shrub locally known as "Lokta," which is found at altitudes of 7,000 to 9,000 feet. The "Lokta Bush" has characteristics of re-growing again and again after pruning. The long fibrous handmade paper is prized for its attractive texture, its durability, strength and its resistance to insects.NepalesePaper.com was established in 1995 with the main objective of supporting the developing Nepalese traditional craft industry, thereby improving a family's standard of living in the rural and urban areas. All of thehand made paper items are entirely tree free and Fair Trade.
Sustainable Energy in Motion Tour
This bike tour sounds AMAZING...although I'm a little hesitant to commit. (again, I'm broke--plus I'm not exactly an avid biker.) But just reading about it, don't you want to sign up?
Oregon Coast Sustainability
Oregon's world-renowned Coastal Scenic Bike Route follows legendary Route 101's twists and turns along the rustic bluffs of the Oregon Coast. Along the way, we will visit organic farms, a land trust, a visionary community school, and more. (one week tour)Permaculture & Sustainability Tour Ride through the lush Willamette River Valley, home to innumerable wineries, fruit orchards, and beautiful scenery. Many, however, are not aware of the presence of the many progressive organizations with truly international repute, with whom we will be working and learning. (two week tour)Columbia River Gorge Tour The Columbia Gorge is home to hundreds of waterfalls, including the second largest year-round waterfall in the US. This tour will ride through the Gorge along the beautiful scenic route, all the way to eastern Oregon to visit with the very unique Umatilla Indian Reservation. (two week tour)Posted by madchen at 11:58 PM
January 02, 2006
Books I Read in November - December 2005
72 Hour Hold
by Bebe Moore CampbellPublishers Weekly: Starred Review. This powerful story of a mother trying to cope with her daughter's bipolar disorder reads at times like a heightened procedural. Keri, the owner of an upscale L.A. resale clothing shop, is hopeful as daughter Trina celebrates her 18th birthday and begins a successful-seeming new treatment. But as Trina relapses into mania, both their worlds spiral out of control. An ex-husband who refuses to believe their daughter is really sick, the stigmas of mental illness in the black community, a byzantine medico-insurance system—all make Keri increasingly desperate as Trina deteriorates (requiring, repeatedly, a "72 hour hold" in the hospital against her will). The ins and outs of working the mental health system take up a lot of space, but Moore Campbell is terrific at describing the different emotional gradations produced by each new circle of hell. There's a lesbian subplot, and a radical (and expensive) group that offers treatment off the grid may hold promise. The author of a well-reviewed children's book on how to cope with a parent's mental illness, Moore Campbell (What You Owe Me) is on familiar ground; she gives Keri's actions and decisions compelling depth and detail, and makes Trina's illness palpable. While this feels at times like a mission-driven book, it draws on all of Moore Campbell's nuance and style.
My Review: This was my December book club selection, and I read it in a single 5-hour sitting during the Great Sinus Headache of 2005. While the prose was different than most of our other selections (because the author and main characters are black?), I loved the rhythm of the book. I found the journey-to-the-woods diversion to be a little weird, but I enjoyed how the plot resolved itself in a happy-but-not-perfect sort of way. Highly recommended.
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Serpent on the Crown
by Elizabeth PetersPublishers Weekly: Starred Review. MWA Grand Master Peters delivers another winner that you can't put down and yet don't want to see end, the 17th entry in her bestselling series to feature Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson and her extended family (after 2004's Guardian of the Horizon). Early in 1922, novelist Magda Petherick, the widow of noted collector Pringle Petherick, interrupts the tea that the Emerson clan are enjoying on the veranda of their house by the Nile. Mrs. Petherick wants Emerson, Amelia's eminent archeologist husband, to dispose of a beautiful golden statuette that Pringle acquired shortly before his death because she believes it carries a curse. All are intrigued. News travels fast, and such a magnificent artifact soon attracts all manner of collectors, museum authorities, journalists and evildoers. Emerson's illegitimate half-brother, Sethos, formerly a dealer in illegal antiquities, arrives in disguise, but unfortunately he's followed by the gentleman he's impersonating. Tomb excavations, mountain treks, brutal attacks, an abduction, an exorcism and murder keep the plot hopping. The author's droll sense of humor and picture of a leisurely and less complicated age add to the appeal.
My Review: Has my love affair with Amelia Peabody And Family ended? Somehow, this installment seemed a little forced. As one Amazon reviewer pointed out, the characters seem to have run the gamut and now need to be left in peace. Nonetheless, I'll give the next book (to be released in March 2006) a try.
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Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail or Succeed
by Jared DiamondPublishers Weekly: Starred Review. In his Pulitzer Prize–winning bestseller Guns, Germs, and Steel, geographer Diamond laid out a grand view of the organic roots of human civilizations in flora, fauna, climate and geology. That vision takes on apocalyptic overtones in this fascinating comparative study of societies that have, sometimes fatally, undermined their own ecological foundations. Diamond examines storied examples of human economic and social collapse, and even extinction, including Easter Island, classical Mayan civilization and the Greenland Norse. He explores patterns of population growth, overfarming, overgrazing and overhunting, often abetted by drought, cold, rigid social mores and warfare, that lead inexorably to vicious circles of deforestation, erosion and starvation prompted by the disappearance of plant and animal food sources. Extending his treatment to contemporary environmental trouble spots, from Montana to China to Australia, he finds today's global, technologically advanced civilization very far from solving the problems that plagued primitive, isolated communities in the remote past. At times Diamond comes close to a counsel of despair when contemplating the environmental havoc engulfing our rapidly industrializing planet, but he holds out hope at examples of sustainability from highland New Guinea's age-old but highly diverse and efficient agriculture to Japan's rigorous program of forest protection and, less convincingly, in recent green consumerism initiatives. Diamond is a brilliant expositor of everything from anthropology to zoology, providing a lucid background of scientific lore to support a stimulating, incisive historical account of these many declines and falls. Readers will find his book an enthralling, and disturbing, reminder of the indissoluble links that bind humans to nature.
My Review: When I could stay awake, I found this book to be thoughtful, exacting, and redundant. Obviously, Mr. Diamond has done his homework (or had a bevy of grad students doing the research for him), but it made for very dry reading. I ended up doing a LOT of skimming, but ultimately agreed with his conclusions.
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GraceLand
by Chris AbaniPublishers Weekly: Abani's debut novel offers a searing chronicle of a young man's coming of age in Nigeria during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The vulnerable, wide-eyed protagonist is Elvis Oke, a young Nigerian with a penchant for dancing and impersonating the American rock-and-roll singer he is named after. The story alternates between Elvis's early years in the 1970s, when his mother dies of cancer and leaves him with a disapproving father, and his life as a teenager in the Lago ghetto, a place one character calls "a pus-ridden eyesore on de face of de nation's capital." Relating how an innocent child grows into a hardened young man, the novel also gives a glimpse into a world foreign to most readers-a brutal Third World country permeated by the excesses and wonders of American popular culture. Sprinkled throughout the book are recipes and entries from Elvis's mother's journal, as well as descriptions of the kola nut ceremony through which an Igbo boy becomes a man. These sections at first seem showy and tacked on, but by the end of the book their significance becomes clearer. The book is most powerful when it refrains from polemic and didacticism and simply follows its protagonist on his daily journey through the violent, harsh Nigerian landscape. Elvis must also negotiate troubles closer to home, including a drunk and ruined father and friends who cannot always be trusted. In this book, names are destiny, "selected with care by your family and given to you as a talisman." One of Elvis's friends is named Redemption, but in the end it is Elvis who claims this moniker, both literally and symbolically.
My Review: I can't remember why I chose this audiobook, but its been an intriguing glimpse of life in Nigeria. As I listened to the lilting accent of the narrator, I kept thinking back to the two Nigerian students I knew in Sweden, and wondering if their lives bore any resemblance to the ghetto living in Lagos described in the novel. The novel was powerful, on multiple levels--highly recommended.
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Gilgamesh
by Joan LondonBook Description: Gilgamesh is a rich, spare, and evocative novel of encounters and escapes, of friendship and love, of loss and acceptance, a debut that marks the emergence of a world-class talent. It is 1937, and the modern world is waiting to erupt. On a farm in rural Australia, seventeen-year-old Edith lives with her mother and her sister, Frances. One afternoon two men, her English cousin Leopold and his Armenian friend Aram, arrive-taking the long way home from an archaeological dig in Iraq-to captivate Edith with tales of a world far beyond the narrow horizon of her small town of Nunderup. One such story is the epic of Gilgamesh, the ancient Mesopotamian king who traveled the world in search of eternal life. Two years later, in 1939, Edith and her young son, Jim, set off on their own journey, to Soviet Armenia, where they are trapped by the outbreak of war. Rich, spare, and evocative, Gilgamesh won The Age Book of the Year Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
My Review: Again, I have no recollection of why I choose this audiobook. When I started listening to it, I had no idea of what the main plot was about--I didn't know it was Australian, set between the World Wars, or about traveling the world in search of an ideal. It was a strange, haunting book, but the narration kept the story together. Recommended for a dreary winter day, when far-off places have special appeal.
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Memories of My Melancholy Whores
by Gabriel Garcia MarquezPublishers Weekly: García Márquez's slim, reflective contribution to the romance of the brothel, his first book-length fiction in a decade, is narrated by perhaps the greatest connoisseur ever of girls for hire. After a lifetime spent in the arms of prostitutes (514 when he loses count at age 50), the unnamed journalist protagonist decides that his gift to himself on his 90th birthday will be a night with an adolescent virgin. But age, followed by the unexpected blossoming of love, disrupts his plans, and he finds himself wooing the allotted 14-year-old in silence for a year, sitting beside her as she sleeps and contemplating a life idly spent. Flashes of García Márquez's brilliant imagery—the sleeping girl is "drenched in phosphorescent perspiration"—illuminate the novella, and there are striking insights into the euphoria that is the flip side of the fear of death. The narrator's wit and charm, however, are not enough to counterbalance the monotony of his aimlessness. Though enough grace notes are struck to produce echoes of eloquence, this flatness keeps the memories as melancholy as the women themselves.
My Review: Whew--Publishers Weekly gave this book a rather harsh review, I think. Garcia Marquez is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I have loved both his fiction and non-fiction. In my opinion, one of the best aspects of his writing is how it has evolved over time. While his earlier novels had innovative prose (I still remember my frustration with Autumn of the Patriarch), his introduction of magical realism, dosed with his journalism expertise, makes a unique reading experience. This novella, while admittedly sparse, does a remarkably job of mixing Garcia Marquez's standard South American ambiance with an almost Satre-like existentialism. Publishers Weekly is just flat wrong on this one...
Posted by madchen at 10:50 PM
A High Note
I'm starting off the year on a high note, at least in terms of the Big Idea. This morning, I started working at 10 a.m. and--with the exception of a wasted hour in which I attempted to see a sold-out Syriana with my parents, who decided they were unable to enjoy Silver Spring in a non-movie capacity and instead returned home--I'm still working at 9 p.m.
The key to my productivity has been the creation of an excel spreadsheet that charts my hours spent on the Big Idea. I have it broken down into categories, with a column for each day of the month. With any luck, in a few months I'll begin to see which areas are providing income, and which can be scrapped. In the meantime, I'm eager to log in some hours--and thus my late-night scurrying.
Incidentally, I am apprarently the ONLY one in the house who finds the 43 degree weather intolerable. I'm dressed from ankle to wrist in fleece, with wool socks to cover my shivering toes. I even considered wearing gloves, but decided that the mittens in my closet were not condusive to typing.
Posted by madchen at 09:04 PM
January 01, 2006
How Bloggy Is It?
As part of my 2005 year in review, I looked at the statistics for Write Again Soon. Although I've been blogging since July 2004, I only have statistics since March 2005, when I changed my blog host to LivingDot (who I love, love, love).
From March 2005 - December 2005:
-- Write Again Soon had 5,772 unique visitors, who read the site 19,318 times and viewed 53,277 pages.
-- The number of visitors grew each month, meaning that a) the writing is improving or b) people are wasting more time than ever.
-- My far-and-away best referrer is Mr. Bad Apologies, whose blog was the referring site to Write Again Soon a whopping 660 times. Ms. Post No Bills comes in second with 161 referrals.
And now, the best part: a review of the top Google search terms that brought people to Write Again Soon.
-- schlagerbaren karlskrona (26) - a bar in Karlskrona that I read about before leaving for Sweden, but never managed to go in.
--betwixt my nethers (18) - a quotation from the Serenity movie, which I attended as a special "blogger" press person (and was none too impressed with the event's PR).
-- write again soon (13) - duh.
-- dragso (13) - One of the islands in the Karlskrona archipelago, where I went camping in May.
-- stari decisis (13) - I don't think I ever typed the phrase "stari decisis" but must instead credit Mr. Bad Apologies for writing it in a comment somewhere.
-- nemrut malatya kemal (12) - ah, the crazy tour guide Kemal, who gave us a shoddy tour of Nemrut Dagi in June.
-- jaron olevsky (11) - Geez, I go to ONE Capitals hockey game and Olevsky tops my google search list.
-- blg (9) - I have no idea.
-- wayne s coffee karlskrona (9) - My "happy place" in times of emotional angst.
-- nemrut malatya kemal turkey (9) I'm SO curious to know exactly who is searching for information on Kemal, especially so many times.
-- hemmoraging (8) - I believe I was referring to hemmoraging $$.
-- silifke (8) - One of the very fun places in Turkey we visiting in June.
-- i am boring (8) - Again, WHO is searching for these terms?
-- kungsmarksvagen (6) - my ghetto apartment building in Sweden, home of laundry disasters, screaming neighbors, and dramatic rescues of children threatened by fire.
-- simrisham (6) A place in southern Sweden we stopped by on our weekend trip to Ystad.
-- i hate my thesis (6) - Actually, I'm surprised there aren't more searches for this term.
-- schonnbron (6) - The Schonnbron palace, my favorite place in Vienna.
-- kungsmarken picture (6) - Because who doesn't want a photo of the ghetto?And that, dear readers, brings you up to date with the inner machinations of Write Again Soon. May 2006 be more witty, more incisive, and more controversial than last year. And may there be more fun comments, with fewer spammers--may they burn in hell forever.
Posted by madchen at 07:08 PM | Comments (3)
2006 New Year's Resolutions
1. I will devote myself to the Big Idea for the first six months of 2006. I will cultivate networks, clients, and projects—always looking for ways to be financially self-sufficient. I will make a point of attending relevant conferences, meeting with local organizational allies, and following up on all new contacts. In July 2006, I will reevaluate this decision; at that time I may choose to re-engage in a search for regular full-time employment.
2. I will practice mindful eating, seeking to appreciate food for its true purpose rather than as a response to boredom or stress. I will not eat in front of the television or the computer. In the coming months, I will explore the CAMP system as a way to improve my eating experience.
3. I will travel as much as possible in 2006, seeking out new experiences whenever possible. I will create a mix of indoor and outdoor travel opportunities, and balance group trips with solo journeys. The goals for 2006 are to visit three continents, sleep under the stars, and spend an entire day where I use no English whatsoever.
Posted by madchen at 02:13 PM
New Years Eve
The new year is a ripe 1 hour and 13 minutes old, and already I'm in my pajamas and ready for bed. At least I outlasted the only single guy in our group, who--rather than face kissing me at midnight--decided to hop on the subway towards home at 11 p.m. Ah well, I did get some nice three-way action with Ms. Wish to See and our non-blogging friend Signe.
Actually, the night was very nice, with a fancy dinner at Clyde's, followed by a showing of King Kong--which really merits its own entry. But since I'm sleepy and will probably never get around to it, here is my brief commentary:
-- First of all, the Kong v. dinosaur fight scenes were straight out of professional wrestling. And lest you think that I've got WWE on the brain, others in the group commented on the very Rock-like headlock in which Kong ended the T-rex's life.
-- Second, could the movie have been any longer? They should have altered the movie to end on the island, because everything after they arrived in New York was very, very sad. I mean, seriously, Kong and Ann ice skating in Central Park?
-- Third, I almost shrieked myself silly during the island bug scenes. I was NOT prepared for the worm-with-teeth-things-sucking-up-the-ship's-crew scene. And then, after the shrieking, I wanted to vomit. I believe I speak for the whole group when I say, had we been stuck on the island, we would rather have faced the dinosaurs than the bugs.
But getting back to the evening's plans, after the movie let out and Signe and I experienced the jet-engine-powered hand dryers in the ladies bathroom, we meandered over to some random bar where we spent the last hour of 2005 surrounded by 23-year-old people who had started their party HOURS earlier. Aside from some very amusing dancing from the crowd, I was happy to leave after the ball dropped.
On the way home, Jess engaged us in a conversation about "who is your favorite president and why?" And with that, I capped off a wild and crazy year.
Next entry, new year's resolutions!!!
Posted by madchen at 01:14 AM | Comments (1)
