Author: F C

The Supreme Court reopens for business today. The major item on the docket is about sentencing guidelines this time around, but the major issue of import to me is about eminent domain. The decision may decide what happens to Brooklyn over the next 20 years. The media is interested as it had not been before in the Supreme Court, from who is going to retire, to where exactly is the highest court in the land (it’s not the velvet curtained courtroom – it’s the basketball court on the fourth floor). They even recapped how it ruled in the past that a tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit (for the purposes of an import duty).

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.

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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

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.

Sometimes it takes a lot of thought to figure out the best mode of transport to get from one part of the city to another. For example, to get from downtown Brooklyn to 220 St. Manhattan: which is the best route? A train to 207 then a bus, or to 168th St. for the 1? Or is the 2 train to 68th St., followed by the 1? My destination is equidistant from the 215th and 225th stations: which one is better? Of course the answer is “it depends”. During midday, the answer is the A to the bus. At rush hours, its the A to the 1 at 168th. At night, the 2/3 to the 1 is best. 225th St. is the preferable stop, because it’s much more inhabited, but it is only served by the 9 during the day. So confusing!

P- and her friend A-, who have the same birthday, celebrated together on Saturday. Mooncake Foods — good, cheap food. Just it’s in the middle of nowhere. Bar party at Apple Restaurant , an old standby — so many people! Beforehand, saw Shawn of the Dead — very funny if you appreciate British wit. Before that, we drove my mom back to the hospital and got my brother to Court Street’s Barnes and Noble. Found him still there 3 hours later.

Chip and Kim win the Amazing Race! Best Outcome Ever! But Colin and Cristie steal the show the next day by getting engaged on the CBS morning show. Amazing Race wins the Emmy; round 6 begins sometime in late October.

This is also the one year anniversary of starting the blog. What were you doing last summer? I’m quite happy about how it has come out so far. What do you think?

I’m trying out this mobile blogging software that works on my phone. On the good side, I can accumulate stuff and send it all at once. The bad thing is that it limits me to 1000 characters.

In other news, my dad’s out of icu and in a regular room. However, he’ll probably be in for another week at least.

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

Update: my dad is off of the respirator, but still in guarded shapein the ICU. I tried to call YC, but didn’t get through. Anyway, thanks for all of the kind thoughts… Spent the day with P- catching up with everything.

I don’t know how Brooklyn people handle going to Columbia. I’ve been doing the trek up to 220th street pretty much daily, and it is boooring. Had a rare pow-wow with both my brother and my sister, at the same time.

Last night I was coming from a meeting in midtown, and stupidly got on the D, thinking it was old style and was going to Sheepshead Bay. No, now it goes through New Utrecht to Coney Island. No matter, took the Q back up. However, I missed The Amazing Race (watched it this morning on the computer recording). They were in Manila this week. The funiest line: “My ox is broken!”

Have to finish up on that travelogue, but it’s been busy. Maybe I can do it tomorrow.

Happy Bday to P– (I have to say that ’cause she reads this) and also to my mom. Yes, they share the same birthday….

Lots of stuff today:

Lost my cell phone on Sunday on the train. Insurance got me a referbished one today. The sound quality is not as good as my original one, but I really need the phone right now, so I’ll deal.

My dad is still in the hospital, and he’s not doing so hot. It also happens to be 1.5 hours away, so it cuts it real close getting out of work and making it there before visiting hours end.

Oprah gives away 278 Pontiac G6 cars to the studio audience worth US $7.7 million. OK, that was a commercial/pr calculation, but it’s compelling.

Greg Pak, subject of my Robot Stories stalking in Boston, New Y ork, San Francisco, and San Diego, has come out with a Marvel Comics series, a reiimaging of the Warlock character. There is a preview of issue 1 on the web (authorized). Looks really good, especially the AA character behind the scenes, Janie Chin.

Today is primary election day, not that anybody cares. I actually went to vote, and there was only one selection for civil court judge. Kind of pointless.

Minjung‘s roommate Jane Kim is running for San Francisco School Board. Being someone’s friend’s roommate is as good a reason to support someone as any, but she’s qualified, too. If all of the Asian candidates win, Asians would compose a majority of the board.

The Hong Kong elections have learnt too much from US style elections. Bad polling, check. Sex scandals, check. Candidates shooting themselves in the foot, check. Hmmm.