Poetry, pubs and pageantry
Aug. 9th, 2008 11:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkeyA review of Chinese poet Huang Ziang's work in translation.
http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs/reviews/lidian.htm
The kicker: a copy lists at $129.95
http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=5735&pc=9
The cheapest copy on Amazon.com is more than $250.
Sigh.
http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs/reviews/lidian.htm
The kicker: a copy lists at $129.95
http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=5735&pc=9
The cheapest copy on Amazon.com is more than $250.
Sigh.
Dad returned from Sacramento last night in time for us to seek out dinner at Alameda's New Zealander pub, which I suspected he might like. Some of you may remember it from previous journal entries. If not, it's in the old Croll's Hotel which dates back to 1879. The original barroom is all dark wood, high ceilings and stained glass, with a dugout canoe over the front door, Maori masks on the walls, an entire table laden with books about New Zealand and rugby on the flatscreen.
We both chose the Fox Barrel hard pear cider - pear is such a delicate flavor that some pear cider come off as wimpy, but this was not a disappointment. Much better than Wyders' Pear. He opted for one of the pub pies (mincemeat and cheese, I think) and carrot ginger soup. I've had and enjoyed their pies before and decided to have a real entree. New Zealand lamb loin cooked at a picture perfect medium rare with a blackberry demi glace sauce, crisp roasted red potatoes and mixed greens with a very light dressing. I just wish there'd been more of it!
We both chose the Fox Barrel hard pear cider - pear is such a delicate flavor that some pear cider come off as wimpy, but this was not a disappointment. Much better than Wyders' Pear. He opted for one of the pub pies (mincemeat and cheese, I think) and carrot ginger soup. I've had and enjoyed their pies before and decided to have a real entree. New Zealand lamb loin cooked at a picture perfect medium rare with a blackberry demi glace sauce, crisp roasted red potatoes and mixed greens with a very light dressing. I just wish there'd been more of it!
We got back to the apartment about 20 minutes into the Olympic opening ceremonies - happened to turn it on while the drumming sequence was in progress - WOW. And the momentum didn't let up.
I was not surprised that it was on a massive scale - they've got the bodies, they've got the resources. I was not surprised that it was beautiful - though I had to explain some of the finer aesthetic points of a couple of things to Dad. I was not surprised that they played the Cute Children card as frequently as possible. (Nor am I surprised that NBC cameras caught Dubya checking his watch during the parade of nations. It's a LONG night for anyone, particularly when jet-lagged.). No frickin' clue what the lyrics to the theme song were because the sound turned everything to mush. Some great costumes, some stunningly effective performances and effects, and what's not to love about all those young people who are so excited to be there to take their best shot and represent their respective countries.
Didn't see any "bad guest" behavior - nobody got booed or anything - and the NBC commentators were being careful about what they did and did not say about the Chinese regime. Then again, when a squad of goose stepping soldiers takes the flag from the Cute Children In Costume platoon and raises it over the stadium, you really don't need a network talking head to tell you that the future is guaranteed by the strength of The State.
I was not surprised that it was on a massive scale - they've got the bodies, they've got the resources. I was not surprised that it was beautiful - though I had to explain some of the finer aesthetic points of a couple of things to Dad. I was not surprised that they played the Cute Children card as frequently as possible. (Nor am I surprised that NBC cameras caught Dubya checking his watch during the parade of nations. It's a LONG night for anyone, particularly when jet-lagged.). No frickin' clue what the lyrics to the theme song were because the sound turned everything to mush. Some great costumes, some stunningly effective performances and effects, and what's not to love about all those young people who are so excited to be there to take their best shot and represent their respective countries.
Didn't see any "bad guest" behavior - nobody got booed or anything - and the NBC commentators were being careful about what they did and did not say about the Chinese regime. Then again, when a squad of goose stepping soldiers takes the flag from the Cute Children In Costume platoon and raises it over the stadium, you really don't need a network talking head to tell you that the future is guaranteed by the strength of The State.
Got up stupidly early to wake Dad so he could head off to SFO to make a 9 AM flight. Took 'Tite Blanche down to Bruce's Tire for a much-overdue oil change and tire check.
