As usual, someone else said it better

William Dalrymple, author of my most favorite book on Delhi, author of many other fantastic books on India and travel, doubly beloved to me because I had a brief and pleasant email exchange with him once (blessed are the validated, for they shall revalidate), says what I think should be said, except better.

A pox on both your houses

I agree with Ahmed Rashid (click on ListenNow) that it was not in the Pakistan government's interest to have been involved in the Bombay attacks (yes, to me, it will always be Bombay, meri jaan). It's also quite true that chances are better than even that the terrorists who struck in Bombay had something to do with Pakistan, in the same way some of the 9/11 pilots had something to do with Saudi Arabia. If the Indian government wants to point fingers at Pakistan, it should do so without making mealy-mouthed statements and veiled implications, and prove its case; if not, then it should find a way to work with Pakistan in an open and honest way that isolates terrorists. Why is it not obvious to the leaders of both countries, in the way that it's obvious to everyone else, that they are both in a terrible situation, security-wise, and the only way to head towards a more secure environment is to cooperate, militarily and economically?

One more reason

Part of the reason why I started getting uncomfortable with food blogging is here.
By the way, anyone else enjoying The Daily Beast? (He asks his world-wide audience.)

We have found the enemy, and he is us

We watched the Frontline on Lee Atwater yesterday. Inasmuch as it was somewhat discomfiting to see the phrase "I hope you die in pain" play out in real life, I'd like to point out an obvious fact (as is my wont; a much loved and heavily bearded schoolteacher once called me a "Master of the Obvious"): the problem with Lee Atwater scaring the public with black rapists and mental illness is not Lee Atwater, it's the public.
And while I agree that the issue is a little more complicated, in that a leader (or a TV ad, apparently), has the ability to appeal to best or worst in us, I believe that these sides of our personalities are not independent beings. We still retain the ability to consider what's being told to us, after all. It would be nice -and really different- if an otherwise great documentary series like Frontline was less coy about who bears the ultimate responsibility for letting Willie Horton in 1988, Rove's "McCain has an illegitimate black child" rumor in 2000, or "Obama is a Muslim" this year become issues, and what that really says about our society.

Something for something

Attorney Adorable and Wonder Boy treated us to lunch at the Brasserie today, capping a week in which we had a huge turn-out for Monday Night Squash (a.k.a Vilas Dads Beer Group), elected a new president on Tuesday, celebrated A's birthday on Wednesday, played squash with The Boy (as usual) on Thursday, supped with The Fam on Friday, and pretty much napped all day on Saturday, before ordering out from Bandung last night (see previous post).
We ate at Lombardino's for A's birthday. As usual, a high quality meal; I had a half-portion of the "Straw and hay" pasta, notable for the slow-cooked chicken deliciousness, followed by a "Beef and Brussels" steak on polenta which was downright sinful. I should say I actually wanted the Cobia again, but decided to work my way down the list instead - with happy results. A had the "Tortelloni ala Bolognese", which was a two-thumbs-up-way-up situation, as I understand. Now the truly pleasant surprise, in all this, was actually how good the "wine special" Chianti Classico was; I had had it last week when we had our "family date night" (also the Night of the Cobia), and it was still good.
A's Mom made a so-called "lamb o' leg" on Friday; this one was off the rack, so to speak, in that it was ready to stick into the oven from Trader Joe's. Very nice. TJ's is a place which has made its name in surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant. In that if you're out of ideas, you can get some really good stuff there; but if you're looking for something specific, you best not waste time trawling the aisles hopelessly.
Thanks, AA and WB! We enjoyed our sandwiches - and of course your company - a lot. Enough that we are eating only steamed broccoli for dinner.

I Love My Indonesia!

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, Stewy the Stewart brought this to my notice


For the cognoscenti, the frowny dude in the beginning is also the dude who played "Mogambo".
Anyway, A and I have been eating take outs from the Indonesian restaurant Bandung.... it's only been here over 15 years, why wasn't I told!