Month: October 2004

Spent today at Alma Mater’s homecoming game against That School in Jersey, the rival that it is. (no link provided at this time – sorry). It’s not like I understand football very much (I can watch NFL or college ball on tv, but that’s because I’d be watching as a casual tv viewer and can tune out easily, and the commentators explain stuff), but I wasn’t surprised that the NJ team beat us – but such a narrow win in overtime (it helps that they’re (a) more patient, (b) have a better kicker, whereas Alma Mater did… ok (we need a better kicker)). It’s still a heartbreaker (they won by only one point), and more so since the school spirit was great and great turnout (likely due to Alma Mater’s big anniversary more than anything else). Oh well. Better luck next homecoming; or, at least, try better in next week’s game, Alma Mater.

(the subway ride… lord, going back and forth took as long as the games itself. Being in Brooklyn to head up to the tip of Manhattan ain’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially on the weekend schedule; have good reading material handy).

Slate.com had a good Bushism – straight from the presidential debate: “The enemy understands a free Iraq will be a major defeat in their ideology of hatred. That’s why they’re fighting so vociferously.” When I had heard the president say this line, I concede being confused; “vociferously”? Mr. President, vociferous means “loud.” Sure, bombs are loud, but I think he meant more than that. I think. His debating style more to be desired; he stayed on point (“My opponent is inconsistent…”) but it got repetitive. Kerry kept it short and to the point – while not really simple. At point, I sympathized with Jim Lehrer for being confused over the two’s contrasting views on the issue of foreign policy with North Korea. I watched mostly the PBS coverage, but switched to ABC for the split screen look and the better coloring/lighting on the tv screen (the tv reception at home isn’t terrific). I’ll keep my commentary to that.

Law.com posted an interesting Associated Press article on Ch. J. Rehnquist, as his birthday is looming but not his retirement. Hmm.

Enjoy the weekend.

Bush and Kerry faced off last night in their first debate. I saw a recorded version from PBS. While it was the least in your face of the networks, the were also the least likely to break the rules of the debate. That meant not seeing some of the touted split screens. Actually, where practicable, the entire thing should be split screened, so that we see everything the audience sees. What is interesting is that both men received the same speech training at Yale. Kerry was going for JFK, while Bush was trying to be folksy like Reagan. The former was more effective. Both side made serious gaffs, but only Kerry was able to capitalize. Advantage Kerry. Tuesday for the VPs.

—
This post was made with a trial version of BlogPlanet, a photo blog client for mobile phones. For more information visit www.blogplanet.net.

Oh, that I have wings like a dove
For then I would fly away
Then I would be at rest
Oh, that I have wings like a dove
For then I would wander far
and wait in the wilderness
Then I would wait in the wilderness

I turn my eyes now
forever the sky
To dwell one day
the whole way on high
To bathe my soul
in the sweet by and by
To live at last at home

So high the mountains
so wide are the sea
so far we travel
so far to be free
to toil and trial
and terror be
at peace
at last
at home

Oh, that I have wings like a dove
For then I would fly away
Then I would be at rest
Oh, that I have wings like a dove
For then I would wander far
and wait in the wilderness
Then I would wander far
and wait in the wilderness
…

– “Wings Like a Dove” from Making Tracks

P- didn’t want to go to the Second Generation‘s Making Tracks reading on Tuesday. She was feeling kind of wierd, it was wet, she hadn’t eaten, and being in a APA themed reading group she didn’t really want to see yet another repressed Asian American story. I had seen three previous versions of this show dating back to 1998. The first iteration pretty much was just that, a series of vignettes of APA history a la “Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk”. The second version had more of a plot, somewhat of a hybrid of “Bye Bye Birdie” with “Sunday in the Park With George”, but it was something like those educational theater groups that you had in high school. This time around, it was more a cross between Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. P- still called it a “school play”, but I thought that it was substantially better than the last time.

Most of the original songs were retained, but this time around, Act I was much more top heavy, which I think is good. The moral of the musical was that as long as we remember those that come before us, they are still alive for us today. As the players were getting accustomed to the space and there was no amplification, it was a little weak in the beginning — sometimes it was a little hard to hear over the piano.

However, as they went on, it became much stronger. By the time they get to the closing number, Wings Like a Dove, they really hit their stride. I always liked this gospel-themed song based on Psalm 55:6-7. It seemed kind of unusually matched, because the other songs were either rock ballads or Broadway show stoppers, but it was perfectly placed. It shows that praying for rescue from suffering and longing for home are universal emotions. I could not stop my eyes from welling up when the whole ensemble burst into a cappella. Powerful.

Afterwards, we went to Korean food near St. Mark’s Place. It seemed appropriate, after all it was Chusuk, the Harvest Festival, aka Mooncake day. I forgot the name of the place that we went to, but it was connected to the East group of Japanese restaurants — I think that it was called West. The food was quite tasty, and really hit the spot after all of the rain.

Then P- got a call from her sister: one of her close friends passed away from cancer that morning. We both went home in the rain with tears in our eyes that night.