Tsunami's Legacy: Extraordinary Giving and Unending Strife - New York Times

Tsunami's Legacy: Extraordinary Giving and Unending Strife - New York Times: "In Aceh, the tsunami and aid helped quiet a 30-year-old civil war."

A pretty thorough take on what's taking place a year after the tsunami in Asia. It's interesting that Aceh is being described as peaceful. I think that during the summer, it sounded like things in Aceh were fairly stable, but I don't think that it would have been fair to characterize it as stable as the article makes it sound now. I do wonder how the housing work is going. My boss from the summer is now running the Aceh OCHA operations (lent there by UNHCR), and hopefully he's helping to get things streamlined and going over there. I have faith that he can be very effective in the field. He really does have a lot of experience...

They Walked, We Walked: Tales From the Strike (10 Letters) - New York Times

They Walked, We Walked: Tales From the Strike (10 Letters) - New York Times: "The mayor promised that he would look out for the needs of the city's workers and middle class. He can start by getting the M.T.A. to negotiate in good faith and helping everyone get back to work."

My friend Sarah's letter made it in to the New York Times on 12/20.

Ripped from Jonathan

Reply with your name and ...

1. I'll respond with something random I like about you.
2. I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I'll name something we should do together.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me (or just me).
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I'll leave you a quote that is somehow appropriate to you.
7. I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal. You MUST!

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | The Fix

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | The Fix: "Dec. 15, 2005 | Morning Briefing:
Borat fights his maker: In Kazakhstan's latest attempt to distance itself from Sacha Baron Cohen's spoofy Kazakh character, Borat, the country has shut down Cohen's official Borat Web site, borat.kz. Though the company that oversees registration of the country's domain names claims not to know where the decision to pull the site came from, a document obtained by the International Herald Tribune shows complaints lodged against the site from government and presidential security sources. The site carried Borat-ian pronouncements such as this one praising Kazakhstan's progressive policies: 'Women can now travel on inside of bus, homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hat and age of consent has been raised to 8 years old.' But Cohen, who is Jewish, isn't taking Kazakhstan's seriousness too seriously. Before the site was shut down, Borat appeared in a video clip online to claim that 'I have no connection with Mr. Cohen. I support my government's decision to sue this Jew.' The site has resurfaced under the non-Kazakh domain borat.tv. (International Herald Tribune) "

It's fascinating to me when reality and fiction get so blended that they become inseparable.

By the way, Borat is hilarious...

AlterNet: PayPal-ing International Development

AlterNet: PayPal-ing International Development: "Kiva's p2p network enables ordinary people to loan small sums of money through PayPal to needy individuals without interference from a bank or microfinance institution (MFI). For the first time, anyone can make a loan of as little at $25 to an indigent entrepreneur in East Africa."

This seems like a really interesting program. It will be interesting to see how much credit they end up acquiring for lending in Africa. Microfinance also has that tone of empowering people to help themselves that is so well-liked by many in the U.S.

I hope that people taking the loans will be able to pay back their loans... Not because I think that it's important for the money to come back but more to show the success of Kiva's model.

The Dancing Cadet

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Video Dog

If you haven't seen Salon's 2005 pick for "finest viral video," you've got to check this out. You need a good connection and sound. If you don't have access to Salon Premium, watch the ad for a free one day pass (do stuff in another window while the car ad runs through). It's worth it.

supposed freezing rain

For some reason, the NYTimes claims that it is 17 degrees F and freezing rain right now. While I admit that it doesn't look super-appealing outside, it's more like 34 and sunny. How does that kind of mistake happen?

I'm drinking "tea" made of fresh ginger and meyer lemon (yes, it really makes a difference) and honey, trying to put together this document for my urban economic development class. It's about science parks and direct community benefits (there are usually minimal results, and while Newark's project seems better, the truth is that business development always is the priority). I'm also listening to this Brahms CD that I burned from somewhere...

Anyhow, enjoy your Sunday everyone. For regular readers (hi Rachel & Tim & Mandy & anyone else[? post a comment and say hi]), you might notice that I fixed that weird bug that crunched the blogger toolbar into the lefthand corner. Something in the code of Picasa that messes with the screen.

Discovery Channel :: News :: New Mammal Discovered

Discovery Channel :: News :: New Mammal Discovered

If you haven't yet seen it, check out this cat-thing. It's pretty amazing that they can discover new mammals still today, especially something so big (and carniverous no less...)

On a random note, gmail has added this odd newsbar that I am trying to decide if I like. It's sort of fun, but it's also added distraction and mixes in sponsored links I believe...

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe": "If certain religious groups want to lay claim to compassion as a brand, that's their business. But it shouldn't interfere with anyone's pleasure in 'Narnia,' or, for that matter, in C.S. Lewis' books."

A quite positive review of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I must admit that the enthusiasm of the Christian Right has made me a bit wary of the film, but I suppose if I were basing film selection that way, March of the Penguins would have been suspect too. I don't expect to have time to see it, but it's an interesting dilemma -- the politics of consumption never seem to end...

A Ring That Says No, Not Yet - New York Times

A Ring That Says No, Not Yet - New York Times: "Ms. Kelly, who was crowned Miss Massachusetts a few weeks ago and will compete in the Miss USA pageant in April, has no intention of breaking her vow. 'I think of it as the ultimate wedding present,' she said. 'It's saying 'you're worth waiting my whole life for.' '"

Is it really saying that? Or is it saying that I've gone without sex for so long that I was willing to marry you so that I could get off? Is it a social benefit to incentivize marriage before young people really might be ready?

Having to stop sleeping around shows a serious commitment and is arguably a gift. Stopping being a virgin? Less so...

The Mendoza Line: Full of Light and Full of Fire - PopMatters Music Review

The Mendoza Line: Full of Light and Full of Fire - PopMatters Music Review: "Full of Light and Full of Fire is easily one of the best albums of the decade. Seven albums into their career, the Mendoza Line are finally making albums that sound both brilliant and focused."

Wow, what a review. Buy the album from their label's site.

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | All quiet on the gay western front

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | All quiet on the gay western front

When anything's framed as a competition, it somehow feels all the more compelling. So despite the differences in the ad budgets and number of screens, it would be pretty awesome if Brokeback beats Lion,Witch,Wardrobe this week-end. It makes a man feel like he should be having a movie marathon. (I still need to see Rent despite tepid reviews...)

The Glorius Mustache Challenge - screening invitation

The Glorius Mustache Challenge - screening invitation

This looks pretty damn funny. "Followed by 'Mustache Soiree' After-Party - All men required to have some sort of Stache!!" I'm tempted I admit...

the REAL hot 100 - Home

the REAL hot 100 - Home

Broadsheet referred me to this site. It's a great idea, and do nominate the great women you know if you're so inspired. The women and organizations driving this effort are looking for "young women who are smart, savvy, and actively trying to make the world a better place."

The Daily Princetonian - Vanilla Ice to lead Dean's Date line-up

The Daily Princetonian - Vanilla Ice to lead Dean's Date line-up: "Rapper Vanilla Ice is set to perform at Colonial Club on Dean's Date, Jan. 17, club officers announced at dinner Thursday night."

'nuff said...

Snow on New Brunswick

 


Here's a flavor of "Ward 2"/Remsen corridor in New Brunswick today. I'm also testing out the Picasa photo posting function instead of using Hello like I have in the past. 

La Sabrosa

 


La Sabrosa is our usual restaurant that we go to in the neighborhood. They do a great plate with meat, yellow rice, and salad for $5. 

 
 

firehouse

 


This is the old neighborhood firehouse. We found some interesting photos at the library where there is still a building abutting it immediately to the right. 

My Workshop in Photos

Index of /~lchyi

For anyone curious what I've been up to in Grad School, I've figured out that Picasa lets one create websites with great ease for showing pictures.

Accordingly, my photos of various things in my New Brunswick neighborhood are on display here. It's for internal use, but I think it's okay if the few of you reading my blog check them out if you're curious.

Also, there's the architecture tour of Chicago and photos of Pilsen and Little Village (and Millenium Park) for those interested in checking out those things as well.

Scarlett - New York Times

Scarlett - New York Times

Scarlett Johansson in this New York Times piece looks gorgeous and advocates for retail therapy.

South Africa's High Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage - New York Times

South Africa's High Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage - New York Times: "'We still have to wait 12 months,' Ms. Meama said in a telephone interview, 'but it's fine. We've already waited 300 years.'"

Go South Africa! This is pretty incredible, especially considering that there was unanimity among the judges, with the one exception being one who objected to the ruling not being implemented immediately.

MercuryNews.com | 11/30/2005 | Salon.com still kicking

MercuryNews.com | 11/30/2005 | Salon.com still kicking: "With both its hard-hitting, left-leaning political coverage and trendy cultural stories, Salon has cultivated a loyal readership, many of whom see the site as a hipper, Internet version of the New Yorker. A table in the lobby of its San Francisco offices in the moderne Rincon Center is full of journalism awards."

The Merc has a pretty nice summary of Salon's trajectory over the last ten years. It's worth a read if you are curious about Salon and independent press.