picking cichorium

As every little baby knows, many people with Harvard MBAs and other fancy degrees have a deep understanding of the financial crisis; they will gladly share their conflicting opinions as saliva  bubbles up in the corners of their mouths – just ask. Sadly, I am not one of them. But I can read.  Apparently there was something about the airplanes at Davos. I surely can response to that – discover alternative modes of transportation!

Hanging around NYPL, which was conveniently closed

Proof that ghost taxis exist

There is nothing lovelier than to wait for a train late at night

I have also read some gossip on parties at Davos – apparently Goldman and several others got caught up in the state of general depression as well. What can I say, I am so sad! Some unverified sources quote a minimum entry fee to the forum to equal to $85,000 –  looks like somebody is saving this year.  I wonder why. 

Some under-developed in the mind person has tagged me to do this. 

*Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures
*Pick the 4th picture in that folder
*Explain the picture
*List 5 of your addictions
*Tag 4 people to do the same. 

So I went to the fourth folder and picked the fourth picture. It’s a sleeping Sikh man at Boryspil Airport in Ukraine. Unless you have been to Ukraine, you cannot fathom what a weird sight this is.

Sikh man sleeping through the horrors of Boryspil airport in Kiev, Ukraine

Five obsessions: forth comes the bitter truth – I am not a woman of fine tastes. 

1. Idiotic things that people do/say

 I am a hater of stupid people, and yet I love the display of human stupidity, including my own.  I am an active reader of the Darwin Awards and I love Paris Hilton. Maybe she will make an appearance there one day.  

2. Madness, mischief, misconduct.

Shortly, all sorts of demented behavior are attractive to me.  I also love display of madness in art, lit, music or wherever else. I gloat over things like Lolita, Doors of Perception, Der Tod in Venedig, etc etc. 

I mean, what could be more brilliant than rolling models in a speacially designed blue paint and then smearing them over large pieces of canvas? I love you, Yves Klein.

3. Barbie, Barbie looking women

Unfortunately, the only real Barbie I have ever owned was a Mattel one, given to me by my friends when I lived in Germany 2 years ago. My friends are no different from me. See point one and two for clarifications. 

Furthermore, a dedicated feminist, I have spent hours with my guy friends checking out unbelievable Barbie-looking Slavic women who you can get online and have them shipped to your doorstep within days. If you are about to accuse me of being a chauvinistic male, take that back right now!  First of all, I read Esther Boserup, have you? Secondly, see point one and two. 

P.S. it’s Mattel’s 50 year bday on March 6th. And no, I am not checking out Barbies online all day long. I just read the Economist. 

4. Kerala food: I think that is the real reason why I am so diligintly working on moving to India. This post is a vivid example of this diligence. 

That’s fish moilee. If you want a receip, give me a shout. 

5. My blackberry.

This blog is a living proof of it. 

I tag…

uhm… i have no friends. i need to dwell on this one.  

“One’s art goes as far and as deep as one’s love goes.”

Andrew Wyeth

Today Internet is full of announcements about Andrew Wyeth’s death. 

He was one of my favorite artists and thought provokers. I have posted before on how much Wyeth’s art impresses me. I am thankful for his unintrusive but deep perception of human emotions and phenomenal story-telling on each separate canvas. 

Wind from the Sea

I should be writing something completely different right now, but some of the current events have sent me to straight to the blog. Since soon I might get arrested for, I don’t know, making fun of the brilliance of the US financial system or something and then get convicted as a terrorist, here is my farewell to privacy and freedom.

The following have been found in Manhattan. Weirdos and no-English speakers of New York, I love you. Keep speaking up!

I am not in the business of making fun of the sick people, but after a friend who saw this asked me whether there is People without AIDS Plaza in New York, I had to post the pic online.

As many of you know, I am a dedicated follower of the kidney and love markets…

Clearly the economic slump is hitting even the most ancient of the professions.

Reading news headlines this morning and then locating this sign on one of the sidewalks of East Village I wondered if they might be related.

Now, happy living to all!

Fine, fine, here is a silver and gold lining.

I like politics and econ news because it is good gossip. Rolling out of bed, I check my blackberry for relevant facebook activity (gossip), weather updates (aka what to wear) and read WSJ mobile reader (BIG gossip). I recommend WSJ and this lovely reader to all who want to elevate rumors in their life to a new level  – I am getting at that “people familiar with the situation said” business in every other WSJ article. TheSuperficial.com, on the other hand, would never allow itself to publish unverified information. You can read it via your berry Internet browser while brushing your teeth since coffee time is reserved for those 70 emails, half of which are from Born and Sephora.
Blackberry is also a very useful tool for live shopping and spying – you can take a picture of the object of interest and send the image to any of your gossip girl friends. Here is what my berry saw on a mini shopping spree in New York City today.

Chinatown fish shops are awesome!

UniQlo is addictive for those who are obsessive (i.e. me)

I don't buy Indian fastfood, but this shelf was prettier than the one with the spices

I promise more pictures next time my berry wanders around SoHo. Here are two pics of wintry NYC since the eternal wisdom of Alice calls for them: “What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?”

I grew towards loving the Piano Building

A rare moment of snowed in benches near the City Hall