#chinese restaurant in mount washington

[allindiacuisine]

A Gastronomic Journey: Exploring Culinary Delights at All India Authentic Cuisine

Nestled in the heart of Mount Washington, amidst the picturesque landscapes of Pittsburgh, All India Authentic Cuisine stands as a beacon of diverse flavors and culinary excellence. In this immersive blog, we embark on a gastronomic journey, discovering the fusion of Chinese and authentic indian cuisine restaurant pittsburgh that defines this renowned restaurant.

All India Authentic Cuisine: A Culinary Oasis in Mount Washington

Celebrating Tradition, Embracing Innovation

All India Authentic Cuisine has carved a niche for itself in the culinary landscape of Mount Washington, offering a harmonious blend of traditional Indian dishes and the vibrant flavors of Chinese cuisine. The restaurant, with its commitment to authenticity and innovation, has become a go-to destination for food enthusiasts seeking a distinctive dining experience.

The Charm of Mount Washington: All India Authentic Cuisine's Home

An Idyllic Setting for Culinary Exploration

Nestled atop Mount Washington, the restaurant provides not only a feast for the palate but also breathtaking views of Pittsburgh's skyline. The fusion of serene surroundings and culinary indulgence creates an ambiance that elevates the dining experience to a sensory delight.

Diverse Culinary Offerings: The Fusion of Chinese and Indian Delicacies

An Exquisite Melange of Flavors

All India Authentic Cuisine takes pride in its diverse menu, offering an expansive array of dishes that reflect the richness of indian cuisine restaurant pittsburgh and Chinese culinary traditions. Let's delve into the key elements that make this fusion of flavors a true gastronomic adventure:

Signature Dishes: A Symphony of Flavors on Every Plate

Elevatindish blends India n spices with Chinese cooking techniques, resulting in a delectable medley of flavors and textures. The dish captures the essence of both culinary traditions in each bite.

Tandoori Dim Sum Platter:g the Culinary Experience

All India Authentic Cuisine takes pride in its signature dishes, each carefully curated to tantalize the taste buds and leave a lasting impression on diners. Let's explore a few standout creations that embody the essence of the restaurant's culinary prowess:

Indo-Chinese Manchurian Fusion:

The restaurant's take on the classic Manchurian 

The fusion of tandoori-style cooking with the delicate flavors of dim sum creates a gastronomic masterpiece. The Tandoori Dim Sum Platter showcases the culinary team's ingenuity in seamlessly blending two distinct culinary worlds.

Peking Biryani Extravaganza:

A marriage of the iconic Peking duck and the fragrant biryani, this dish is a celebration of flavors. Tender duck, marinated with Indian spices, is layered with aromatic biryani rice, creating a symphony of tastes that dance on the palate.

Kolkata Noodle Nest:

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant street food culture of Kolkata, this dish features crispy noodles shaped into a nest and topped with a medley of vegetables and savory sauces. It's a visual and flavorful delight that pays homage to Indian street food.

The All India Authentic Experience: Beyond Food

Creating Memories, One Visit at a Time

All India Authentic Cuisine is not merely a restaurant; it's an experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional dining. Beyond the culinary offerings, the restaurant curates an atmosphere that reflects warmth, hospitality, and a commitment to creating lasting memories for its patrons.

Culinary Events and Celebrations:

All India Authentic Cuisine hosts themed culinary events and celebrations, allowing patrons to immerse themselves in the festive spirit of Indian and Chinese traditions. From Diwali feasts to Chinese New Year celebrations, each event is a culinary journey.

Cooking Classes and Workshops:

Embracing its role as a culinary ambassador, the restaurant offers cooking classes and workshops. Patrons have the opportunity to learn the art of creating signature dishes under the guidance of the talented chefs.

Private Dining Experiences:

For those seeking an intimate dining experience, All India Authentic Cuisine provides private dining options. Whether celebrating milestones or hosting corporate events, patrons can tailor their dining experience to suit their preferences.

Community Engagement and Cultural Exchange:

The restaurant actively engages with the local community, fostering cultural exchange through food. From food festivals to collaborations with local artists, All India Authentic Cuisine contributes to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Mount Washington.

Sustainability Initiatives:

All India Authentic Cuisine is committed to sustainable practices, sourcing ingredients responsibly and minimizing its environmental footprint. The restaurant's initiatives contribute to a dining experience that aligns with contemporary values of eco-consciousness.

Conclusion: Savoring Every Bite, Creating Lasting Memories

All India Authentic Cuisine emerges not just as a restaurant but as a destination where culinary artistry meets cultural celebration. As patrons savor every bite of the exquisite fusion dishes, they partake in an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. In the heart of Mount Washington, All India Authentic Cuisine beckons diners to embark on a culinary journey where flavors dance, traditions meld, and each visit becomes a cherished memory.

[citylightsbooks]

A Women’s History of City Lights: Interview with Nancy J. Peters

We'll be celebrating Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s 102nd birthday on March 24, and what better way to remember his legacy AND to mark Women’s History Month, than to honor Nancy J. Peters, Lawrence’s business partner, friend, and longtime comrade at City Lights Books. While Ferlinghetti certainly deserves all of the accolades he’s received, the fact of the matter is there would literally be no City Lights without Nancy Peters. Beyond shepherding City Lights through various fiscal crises and providing the steady anchor that allowed Ferlinghetti to travel the world as a poet and activist, Nancy's vision as an editor and acumen as a publisher were a vital key to the success and longevity of City Lights Publishers.

 ***

City Lights: How did you come to know what City Lights was? How did you meet Lawrence Ferlinghetti?

Nancy Peters: In Greece in the early 1960s, I became friends with Nanos Valaoritis and Marie Wilson who were at the center of an international bohemian/surrealist community. They had a large home which was always full of traveling writers and artists whom they made welcome. The Beat writers were among their guests, and City Lights was frequently talked about as a place everyone would meet up someday. I met Philip Lamantia there and in 1965 he introduced me to Lawrence in Paris at one of Jean-Jacque Lebel’s anarcho-surrealist festivals of free expression.  Before a riotous crowd Lawrence gave a show-stopping rendition of his “Lord’s Prayer.” I was impressed by his powerful stage presence. Later that year, when Philip and I were living in Andalusia, Lawrence wrote Philip, asking for a selection of poems for a Pocket Poets Series volume. We corresponded some while we were putting the book together, but I didn’t see him again until 1971 when I moved to San Francisco.

I’d been working as an executive-trainee librarian at the Library of Congress in the fall of 1968. In April, Martin Luther King was assassinated and the impassioned protests that ensued left Washington neighborhoods in ruins. There was shockingly little assistance to residents from the government and my part of the city was under military surveillance, helicopters hovering over my apartment through the night. A Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam took place in Washington the following year. Over 750,000 people peacefully demonstrated. In a small way, I was involved in the planning and, during the protests, my apartment was crammed with fellow activists.

The Library of Congress was an amazing, fascinating place with compatible co-workers from all over the world—thousands of book people all in one place. However, the mission of the Library is to serve Congress, and the institution was a huge conservative bureaucracy serving a conservative and ineffective Congress as I saw it. I believed that if I stayed there I would have little contact with actual books or opportunities for civic activism.

So I moved to San Francisco, where Philip was living and urging me to come, and spent an enormous amount of time at City Lights while I was job hunting. It seemed like paradise, such a stimulating atmosphere where people could sit down to read, share ideas, and have conversations about books, politics, art. One day in early 1971 when I was walking down the street in North Beach, Lawrence hailed me and asked if I would like to help him with a bibliography of Allen Ginsberg’s writings.  After just a brief meeting at the publishing office, Lawrence went to Europe and his editorial assistant Jan Herman suddenly decided to move to Germany. Jan showed me how all the editorial work was done in the office, told me Lawrence “wouldn’t mind,” and so I found myself beginning an exciting new career in publishing.

 What was your experience taking over as executive director and co-owner in 1984?

The store back then employed seven people: six men at the bookstore and one (me) at the publishing branch. So “executive director” is far too grand a title. City Lights was a small, failing organization by 1982. The store was not founded to make profits for the owners and it never did make a profit. Breaking even was the goal. But every year the losses mounted and there came a time when there were very few books left on the shelves. No one had seen a customer venture downstairs to the lower part of the store for many months.  

At the time, Lawrence was immensely popular and in great demand as a performer and a speaker, so he was traveling much of the time, visiting foreign colleagues, living abroad, finding new writers to translate. At this low point in the store’s history Lawrence told me in a frustrated moment that if I’d like to own City Lights, he would give it to me outright if I would run the business, freeing him to do all the other things he wanted to do. I declined, but told him I would be honored to be his partner. Theft was seriously addressed, and a protracted payment plan was agreed to by Book People, the East Bay employee-owned distributors who extended us credit for a generous period. Savvy booksellers Richard Berman and Paul Yamazaki headed the re-stocking plan. The three of us would go every week to Book People and Lou Swift Distributors to collect enough books to sell the following week. As time went on, everybody at the store consulted book catalogs and took on the responsibility for buying subject sections. I envisioned a participatory structure. If not a co-op, I wanted a bookstore where all the staff had responsibilities and power.

Why the decision not to have multiple bookstore locations around SF?

At one time we seriously considered additional locations. We explored sites in San Francisco’s Mission district and visited city officials in San Jose to talk about a second store there. But our resources were limited, and we were concerned about the time and money that would be required to create a sister store that would embody the same spirit and ethic as the original. During my time as director, the evolving challenges from chain stores and especially Amazon made beginning a new store a very risky enterprise. In retrospect, so many independents were closing that we decided to invest in our present, iconic location. In retrospect I think it was a good decision after watching attempts by other stores fail to duplicate their success elsewhere.

How has North Beach changed, how has it stayed the same? With the exodus of Big Tech and falling rents, how do you think that will affect North Beach and San Francisco in general in the future? Will there be “a rebirth of wonder”?

North Beach when I came to SF was a small bohemian village, where neighbors shared meals on their flat rooftops watching the sun set over the Bay. My rent was $125 a month, cheap even then. City Lights and the Discovery Bookstore (used books) next door to Vesuvio were key places to spend an evening. Two large Italian grocers delivered (no charge) bags of groceries up four flights of stairs to my apartment. The neighborhood was full of inexpensive Basque, Italian, and Chinese restaurants, and many cafes, many of which seemed unchanged since the 19th century. Change happens, and City Lights is well prepared for the future. It’s never easy to predict how things will develop, but the feeling of a lovely Mediterranean town persists, with the wooden buildings painted pastel colors, and the shimmering sea light on misty days. I feel certain that the light of City Lights will prevail for a long time to come.

 Do you feel that your gender had any impact on your experience during your 23 years as director? Do you have any comments about women in bookselling or publishing in general?

Gender always has an impact. The Beat movement was certainly male focused. Even though the undaunted Diane di Prima was recognized, she was never enthusiastically supported by the inner nucleus of Beat poets. It was a long time before the Beat women came into their own. From the start, Lawrence, who insisted he wasn’t a Beat, had eclectic tastes and was open to women’s poetry. He admired Marianne Moore and Edna St. Vincent Millay as much as he did T.S. Eliot, Jacques Prévert, and Allen Ginsberg. In the Pocket Poets Series, he’d published di Prima and, very early in the series, both Marie Ponsot and Denise Levertov.

Women’s rights and opportunities are always vulnerable and cyclic. The Women’s Movement of the 1970s was very powerful and widespread, its impact on women’s lives enormous. At City Lights we hired more women; we published more women. There have always been outstanding women in publishing and bookselling, and during that time increasingly more women writers were published, reviewed, and were given accolades and awards. Women opened general bookstores and women’s bookstores, founded feminist and lesbian presses. It was a thrilling development, to see so many marginalized writers, and not just women, finding established publishers or creating their own presses. Together they created a larger, much more diverse national literature.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented women at the bookstore. And in the publishing branch: Stella Levy, Kim McCloud, and Patricia Fujii. Gail Chiarello collected and edited our bestselling Bukowski stories. Annie Janowitz proposed the timely Unamerican Activities, and Amy Scholder brought us classics by Karen Finley, Rebecca Brown, and others. I’m happy to say that Amy Scholder is again working with City Lights as an editor.

When did you meet the now current publisher and executive director Elaine Katzenberger? What was her position at the bookstore? When did you know that she was the right person to take over as director?

Ah, Elaine, the woman who can do everything! Elaine began at the bookstore sales counter, then reorganized files and the store accounts, and very soon excelled as a book buyer. She had a great feeling for good writing, so I asked her to become an editor and she immediately began adding excellent books to City Lights’ list. She’s smart, witty, multitalented, and politically astute. We are very lucky to have her at the helm.

What is your understanding or vision of what of City Lights is and what it could be? How has Lawrence’s passing impacted this?

Lawrence’s democratic inclusiveness made him the best-selling poet in the U.S. His moral principles, his courage and resilience are a model to be emulated. He conceived City Lights as an educational institution that would open minds to explore and relate to the world through books. “One guy told me he’d got the equivalent of a Ph. D just sitting in the basement reading all our great books,” he often reminded us.

His “literary gathering place” was to be a fulcrum of San Francisco cultural experience, where our bookselling and publishing could amplify the voices of diverse experiences, connect with other creative communities, and serve as a center of dissent and, at the same time, a force for creating a better society.

Lawrence’s vision will continue to be our guiding light. An optimistic realist, he believed that City Lights would long endure as the co-creation of all the dedicated people who work here and make it what it is.

[newstfionline]

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Student loan debts (WSJ) U.S. taxpayers could ultimately be on the hook for roughly a third of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. This could amount to more than $500 billion, exceeding what taxpayers lost on the saving-and-loan crisis 30 years ago. While defaulted student loans can’t cause the federal government to go bankrupt the way bad mortgage lending upended banks during the financial crisis, they expose a similar problem: Billions of dollars lent based on flawed assumptions about whether the money can be repaid.

Costa Rica to close non-essential businesses next week over COVID-19 (Reuters) Costa Rica will for the next week close non-essential businesses, including restaurants and bars, across the center of the country due to a sharp increase in new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, the government said on Thursday. From May 3-9, restaurants, bars, department stores, beauty salons, gyms and churches must close in 45 municipalities in central Costa Rica, where almost half the population lives and over two-thirds of new cases have been registered. The government will also impose travel restrictions during the week.

After a Year of Loss, South America Suffers Worst Death Tolls Yet (NYT) In the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, the mayor is warning residents to brace for “the worst two weeks of our lives.” Uruguay, once lauded as a model for keeping the coronavirus under control, now has one of the highest death rates in the world, while the grim daily tallies of the dead have hit records in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Peru in recent days. Even Venezuela, where the authoritarian government is notorious for hiding health statistics and any suggestion of disarray, says that coronavirus deaths are up 86 percent since January. As vaccinations mount in some of the world’s wealthiest countries and people cautiously envision life after the pandemic, the crisis in Latin America—and in South America in particular—is taking an alarming turn for the worse, potentially threatening the progress made well beyond its borders. Last week, Latin America accounted for 35 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the world, despite having just 8 percent of the global population, according to data compiled by The New York Times.

France Proposes More Surveillance to Hunt for Potential Terrorists (NYT) The French government, responding to several attacks over the past seven months, presented a new anti-terrorism bill on Wednesday that would allow intense algorithmic surveillance of phone and internet communications and tighten restrictions on convicted terrorists emerging from prison. “There have been nine attacks in a row that we could not detect through current means,” Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister, told France Inter radio. “We continue to be blind, doing surveillance on normal phone lines that nobody uses any longer.” The draft bill, prepared by Mr. Darmanin, came in a political and social climate envenomed by Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, who applauded a letter published this month by 20 retired generals that described France as being in a state of “disintegration” and warned of a possible coup in thinly veiled terms. Published in a right-wing magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, the generals’ letter portrayed a country ravaged by violence, swept by hatred and prey to subversive ideologies bent on stirring a racial war. “If nothing is done,” they said, “laxity will spread inexorably across society, provoking in the end an explosion and the intervention of our active-service comrades in the perilous protection of our civilization’s values.”

Toll of Afghan ‘forever war’ (AP) After 20 years, America is ending its “forever war” in Afghanistan. Announcing a firm withdrawal deadline, President Joe Biden cut through the long debate, even within the U.S. military, over whether the time was right. Starting Saturday, the last remaining 2,500 to 3,500 American troops will begin leaving, to be fully out by Sept. 11 at the latest. Another debate will likely go on far longer: Was it worth it? Since 2001, tens of thousands of Afghans and 2,442 American soldiers have been killed, millions of Afghans driven from their homes, and billions of dollars spent on war and reconstruction. The U.S. and NATO leave behind an Afghanistan that is at least half run directly or indirectly by the Taliban—despite billions poured into training and arming Afghan forces to fight them. Riddled with corruption and tied to regional warlords, the U.S.-backed government is widely distrusted by many Afghans.

In India’s devastating coronavirus surge, anger at Modi grows (Washington Post) As he surveyed the thousands of people gathered at an election rally in eastern India on April 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared jubilant. “Everywhere I look, as far as I can see, there are crowds,” he said, his arms spread wide. “You have done an extraordinary thing.” At the time, India was recording more than 200,000 coronavirus cases a day. In the western state of Maharashtra, oxygen was running short, and people were dying at home because of a shortage of hospital beds. In Modi’s home state of Gujarat, crematoriums were being overwhelmed by the dead. For Modi, the most powerful Indian prime minister in five decades, it is a moment of reckoning. He is facing what appears to be the country’s biggest crisis since independence. Modi’s own lapses and missteps are an increasing source of anger. As coronavirus cases skyrocketed, Modi continued to hold huge election rallies and declined to cancel a Hindu religious festival that drew millions to the banks of the Ganges River. Modi swept to a landslide reelection victory in 2019, offering Indians a muscular brand of nationalism that views India as a fundamentally Hindu country rather than the secular republic envisioned by its founders. He has cultivated an image as a singular leader capable of bold decisions to protect and transform the country. Now that image is “in tatters,” said Vinay Sitapati, a political scientist at Ashoka University in the northern Indian state of Haryana. Modi and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) built a formidable machine for winning elections, Sitapati said, but their mind-set of continuous campaigning has come “at the cost of governance.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia Edge Toward Détente (Foreign Policy) Iran’s relationship with Saudi Arabia could be entering “a new chapter of interaction and cooperation,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Thursday, as the two countries signal a rapid mending of diplomatic ties. Khatibzadeh’s comments came in response to an interview Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave to state television this week, when he said that problems between the regional rivals could be overcome and “good relations” could soon prevail. His recent comments offer a stark contrast with ones he made in 2018 when he compared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler and described Iran as part of a “triangle of evil.” Behind the scenes, the two countries have also been busy. Earlier this month, the Financial Times broke news of direct talks, held in Baghdad, with a primary focus on ending the war in Yemen.

Chloe Zhao's challenge to Chinese Beauty standards (Quartz) Although Chloé Zhao’s Oscars win has largely been censored in China, her chill, no-makeup look at the awards ceremony has become a hit among many Chinese women, who say Zhao made them feel they can also ditch cosmetics and stop appealing to mainstream beauty standards in the country. China has a set of rigid standards for women’s appearance, prompting online slimming challenges that encourage young girls to pursue body shapes that allow them to wear children’s clothes, or have waists with a width similar to the shorter side of a piece of A4 paper (around 21 cm). As such, Zhao’s no-makeup look is a much-needed endorsement for women in China, where few public figures dare to break away from traditional beauty requirements.

Hong Kong’s latest star TV host? City leader Carrie Lam. (Washington Post) In a city known for producing action-packed martial arts movies, there’s a gripping new TV show on the block. The title promises to captivate viewers: “Get to Know the Election Committee Subsectors.” The star? Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, not as a guest but as the host. The show, which premiered Wednesday on public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong, gives Lam a platform to promote electoral changes introduced by Beijing that further tilt the system against pro-democracy voices, add weight to industry-sector representatives and ensure only “patriots” loyal to the Communist Party can govern Hong Kong. People in mainland China have long been accustomed to state propaganda broadcasts. Hong Kong, however, traditionally had a freewheeling media environment. But almost a year after China imposed a security law that curtailed freedom of speech there, the public broadcaster has become a vital instrument of Beijing’s efforts to control the narrative. Wednesday night’s double-episode premiere featured furious agreement on the merit of Beijing’s electoral changes. The episodes scored only a few thousand views and mostly “thumbs-down” responses on YouTube. One user drew comparisons to George Orwell’s “1984.” If you missed the show, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch it again; episodes will air four times a day, every day.

Cambodians complain of lockdown hunger as outbreak takes toll on poor (Reuters) Residents in Cambodia’s capital gathered on Friday to demand food from the government, outraged at what they called inadequate aid distribution during a tough COVID-19 lockdown that bars people from leaving their homes. Authorities put Phnom Penh and a nearby town under a hard lockdown on April 19 to quell a surge in coronavirus infections that has seen Cambodia’s case total balloon from about 500 to 12,641 since late February, including all 91 of its deaths. Though private food deliveries are operating, markets and street food services are closed, making it difficult for poorer families to get supplies, with many without income because of the stay-home order. Amnesty International on Friday called Cambodia’s lockdown an emerging humanitarian and human rights crisis, with nearly 294,000 people in Phnom Penh at risk of going hungry.

Palestinian election delay (Reuters) It could have marked a political turning point. Palestinians were slated to go to the polls starting next month for the first time in 15 years—but on Thursday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced he will indefinitely postpone the elections. He blamed Israel, accusing authorities of stonewalling efforts to let Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem cast their ballots. But Israeli officials suggested Abbas was using Israel as a pretext to cancel a vote his faction might lose. Hamas, his party’s rival, has rejected the move, and some Palestinians took to the streets to protest.

The real threat to Chad’s military rulers: unemployed youth (Reuters) When Neldjibaye Madjissem graduated with a mathematics degree in 2015, he began searching for work as a school teacher. Six years on, he is still looking—and is angry. The 31-year-old blames Chad's government for lack of work, mismanagement of oil revenues and corruption. No wonder people are protesting on the streets in their thousands, he says. The battlefield death of President Idriss Deby last week, after 30 years of autocratic rule, sent the Central African country into a tailspin. But perhaps the greater threat for Chad’s rulers comes from the mass of unemployed young people tired of the Deby family and its international allies, particularly former colonial ruler France. At least six people died in violent protests this week. "The lack of jobs risks creating a great problem. The people are angry," said Madjissem, as he prepared a private lesson to a high school student in the living room of a tiny house in N'Djamena. His infrequent wage: $3 an hour.

Famine looms in southern Madagascar, U.N.’s food agency says (Reuters) Famine is looming in southern Madagascar, where children are “starving” after drought and sandstorms ruined harvests, the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. Amer Daoudi, senior director of WFP operations globally, speaking from Antananarivo, Madagascar, said he had visited villages where people had resorted to eating locusts and leaves. “I witnessed horrific images of starving children, malnourished, and not only the children—mothers, parents and the populations in villages we visited,” Daoudi told a United Nations briefing in Geneva. Malnutrition has almost doubled to 16% from 9% in March 2020 following five consecutive years of drought, exacerbated this year by sandstorms and late rains, he said.

[broaku-blog]

The Golden Goal returns this weekend

But with benefits come risks. This type of exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight and keeps illness and disease at bay. Hockey is a form of cardiovascular exercise, and whether you skating or running, your body benefits from the activity.

Cheap Jerseys free shipping Every camper knows what a chore it can be getting into and out of some tents. Our combat personal know this too. Having to move large gear securely and easily through any opening. Office workers in ball caps and button down business attire cheap nfl jerseys. There were full tables and empty beer glasses and half cocked debates about the season ending shutdown of Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg.Replace baseball with hockey or basketball, and the entire scene could have been Chinatown cluster of bars and restaurants on a Washington Capitals game night with one important difference.have been awesome, and we the busiest we ever been, said Joseph Gonzalez, the assistant general manager of Justin Cafe. We surprised that we are basically the only operation down here in terms of a bar, restaurant, gathering type place.  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

"He is six people behind Bill Belichick, walking in well before the rest of the media," Glazer said. The jersey was in that black bag under his arm. CT. Certainly not alone or at night wholesale nfl jerseys. And who could blame them once one has learned of the history of the land upon which the halls stand. "Oak and Laurel were supposedly built on an Indian burial ground."[1].

Cheap Jerseys china Farcy. In May, Jakub Maly, an Olympic swimmer from Austria was nearly crushed to death after he jumped into a sand pit at a beach in Pompano Beach, Florida. It took rescuers two hours to pull him from the sand's grip. 4. Sexual Assault Is A Result Of Taking The Bible Out Of Schools:Jody Hice, the GOP nominee for Georgia 10th congressional district,which is currently represented by extremistRep. Paul Broun (R GA), warned that if we don stop taking prayer out of public school,we see more of the kind of sexual assault that took place at Penn State..  Cheap Jerseys china

wholesale nfl jerseys Another thing that bothered me a little was the reaction during the singing of Canada. Not only did a number of people stay seated for the anthem cheap jerseys, but even more left their hats on. I sure we have more than a few of those back here, but it really seemed to stick out in Montreal.  wholesale nfl jerseys

Cheap Jerseys from china No. 5 Wichita State became the second team in 106 years of Missouri Valley Conference basketball to start a season with 20 straight wins, rallying in the second half Wednesday night to post a 70 55 decision over Illinois State at Redbird Arena. It joined Bird's 1978 79 Sycamores, who won 33 in a row before losing in the NCAA championship game to Magic Johnson's Michigan State 75 64.  Cheap Jerseys from china

wholesale jerseys Entry is 10. The Golden Goal returns this weekend. Tickets are 2 and the proceeds of both ventures are in aid of the Juvenile games fund. Over time, www.cheapjerseyschinatrade.com clothing can fall victim to shrinking due to wash and wear. In other cases, the dress you bought looked good in the store but fits a little too tight when you get it home. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to stretch out your dress and get it fitting comfortably..  wholesale jerseys

wholesale jerseys from china You can have it mounted on a canvas with no frame for a modern look, or visit one of many custom wallpaper websites to have it printed as a mural that partially or entirely fills a wall. A 5 foot square mural costs about $150 with shipping costs included. They have an in house designer who can help you plan the project, and they offer samples of your custom order ($9.99 each) so you can be sure you like it..  wholesale jerseys from china

Cheap Jerseys from china If you want something light and super comfortable, try the Green bay packers ladies "Swagger" tshirt, available in plus sizes. Made of a cotton www.cheapjerseyschina8.com and polyester blend for durability and comfort, this simple scoop neck football tee will go perfectly with your favorite pair of jeans. Keep it simple and elegant and show your football team pride with this swagger T shirt.  Cheap Jerseys from china

Cheap Jerseys free shipping Oz, a heart surgeon and the star of the Dr. Oz Show stated if you want to live to be 100, study Qigong. Qigong (pronounced Chee Kung) is an ancient Chinese mind/body/breath coordination exercise. Use a caddie. A superb substitute for retain match up and enjoy the atmosphere of one system. This will turn into a financial pressure in case you accomplish extremely usually.3.  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys from china Very slim leggings can also be worn simply in place of pants, worn with a jacket or again, with an oversized knit sweater. Using the basic colors of red, white and black that are popular during Christmas and the holidays, www.cheapjerseysfromchinasale.com colored leggings will definitely add a nice touch of style to outfits and make them seem perfect for the Christmas and holiday season. It is also good that dresses are once more welcomed among the fashionable.  Cheap Jerseys from china

wholesale jerseys A hemangioma that grows along the lower spine can injure or irritate nerves in the spinal column. Nerve irritation can interfere with the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body. If this occurs, patients with a lumbar hemangioma can experience sensations of tingling or numbness in their limbs, particularly the legs or feet wholesale jerseys.

[brutalwashington]

Jackson Graham Building (aka WMATA HQ)

View & Download the Brutal Washington Ebook

Known as the headquarters of Metro, this building sits in the vibrant neighborhood of Chinatown.

The Jackson Graham Building rests on the edge of the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Just down the street from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and across from the National Building Museum, it is fairly well trafficked but easy to miss among the more vibrant attractions. The color of the concrete is very warm, almost pink in some light, and looks best in the glowing summer sun. The building itself is quite unique, in the classic Brutalist fashion, it has structural support columns on the outside of the walls. These act as a protective exoskeleton to the window banks behind them, dark-tinted glass making the Washington Metro Transit Authority housed within seem as mysterious as the seemingly impenetrable FBI Headquarters.

The JGB takes up an entire block, and with the landscaping this creates a shaded plaza on the front side of the building. To get there one descends a short flight of stairs to arrive at a brick-paved expanse with benches and greenery contained in brick planters. By design, this plaza puts the Metro logo on display, subtly mounted on a fair-face concrete wall, as if shy to admit its presence. Looking back, it is possible to get a peek across the street and see the upper levels of the red painted building museum mixed with the smell of sesame seed oil from the Chinese restaurant on the next corner. From here, it’s hard to believe that the agency that keeps D.C. from coming to a standstill is housed in this very building.

Recently, the WMATA has been seeking proposals for the potential leasing the property its headquarters is sitting on to developers looking to build in the hot Chinatown neighborhood. Nothing has come of this yet, but it’s likely that this and other WMATA properties will be leased to developers bringing in cash to continue normal operations.

[demospectator]

“No. 145. Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco. Cal.” c. 1875.  Stereograph by J.J. Reilly (from the collection of the Oakland Museum of California).

A Long-forgotten Jackson Street Restaurant

The albumen stereograph card by pioneer photographer John James Reilly held by the Oakland Museum of California (“OMCA”) depicts the exterior of a three-story building in San Francisco’s Chinatown.  Taken from an elevated position across the street and at a diagonal to the building, Reilly captured two façades visible from the street.  The exterior balcony of the third floor shows at least ten statues of venerated deities placed just outside the balcony’s railing across the entire width of the building’s frontage on Jackson Street.  Numerous potted plants wrap around the front and half of the balcony’s length along the side of the building facing out onto Washington Place (also known as “Fish Alley” to non-Chinese).  Two different pairs of lanterns are suspended from under the portion of roof overhanging the balcony.  Elaborately carved wooden floral pieces frame the center pair of doors opening to the balcony.  A common form of pennant can be seen hanging from an iron cross-mast mounting to one of the narrow columns supporting the cantilevered portion of the roof, probably advertising a tearoom at the topmost floor.

At the second floor’s balcony, English language signage appears above a circular, center window which the OMCA curator has erroneously discerned as “Chin Ying Low” over the word “Restaurant."  The barely discernible Chinese characters on the glass lanterns of the second floor balcony further attest to the restaurant’s name as 聚英楼 or, Cantonese pronunciation, “Jeuih Ying Lauh”). 

The Bishop directory of 1875 confirms, however, that the name of the restaurant’s name was “Choy Yan Low,” and its address listing read as follows:  “restaurant SE cor [sic] Washington alley and Jackson.”  According to the maps of that era, the southeast corner of the intersection corresponded to 633 Jackson St.  

The OMCA’s estimate about the year during which Reilly took his fascinating stereograph of the Chinese restaurant proved remarkably accurate – to the precise year.  As the 1876 Langley directory discloses, the restaurant had moved and reestablished itself one block away as the “Choy Yan Lou, 2 Washington Alley.”

The Wells Fargo Chinese business directory of 1878 confirmed its ongoing operation with a listing in Chinese as follows:  聚英樓號酒晏茶居德和街享, literally “Choy Ying Low, wine, quiet tea house – Tuck Wo Street [i.e., Washington Place]” (canto: “Jeuih Ying Lauh houh jau nan cha geui Duck Wo gaai heung;” pinyin: “Jùyīng lóu hào jiǔ yàn chá jū dé hé jiē xiǎng”).  

A portion of “No. 145. Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco. Cal.” c. 1875. Stereograph by J.J. Reilly (from the collection of the Oakland Museum of California).

Another restaurant was located next door to the Choy Yan Low on the 600-block of Jackson Street.  In the far left of the Reilly photo, the frontage of the “Yen Nem & Co Restaurant” (燕南樓; canto: “Yeen Nahm Lauh”) can be seen on the easterly adjacent side of the building in which Choy Yan Low was located.   For a half dozen years, the Yen Nem restaurant would continue to appear in listings variously and at alternate addresses as the “Yennem Low (Chinese) restaurant,” at 629 Jackson or “Yen Nam Low & Co.” and the “Yen Nem Low restaurant” at 627 Jackson.  The vertical signage along the left border of the photo is barely visible.  However, other photos of this block (notably by Carleton Watkins), show that the sign advertised arrangements for literally “Manchurian meat and vegetarian banquets” or follows: “燕南樓包辦滿漢葷素歌筳酒席”(pinyin: Yàn nán lóu bāobàn mǎn hàn hūn sù gē tíng jiǔxí; canto: “Yeen Nahm Lauh bau baan wuhn hon fun soe gaw ting jauh jik”).  With the presence of two major restaurants, ground floor retail stores, and the New Chinese Theater at 623 Jackson Street, this block of old Chinatown must have constituted a vibrant, commercial entertainment strip.

A detail from the 1885 map prepared for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the Cooper Chow collection (at the Chinese Historical Society of America).

Reilly’s inclusion in his photograph of the western frontage of the Choy Ying Low building on Washington Place (now known as Wentworth), provides an intriguing hint about the three men seen to the right of the photo. Two individuals are standing outside the doorways to the ground floor spaces on Washington Place; a third man stands closer to the curb. All three men appear to be doing nothing except observing the street. Based on the detail of the 1885 map for this corner, their positioning coincides with the presence of gambling establishments and a pawnshop -- around the corner from the restaurant’s entrance and a couple of doors south on Washington Place, as would be shown a decade later on the city’s 1885 vice map. Thus, it would not be unreasonable to infer that Reilly’s photo captured two to three “look-see” men standing guard for the alleyway’s gambling operators .

With the presence of two major restaurants at 633 and 631 Jackson, ground floor retail stores, and the Cantonese opera offered by the New Chinese Theater at 623 Jackson Street, this block of old Chinatown must have constituted a vibrant, commercial entertainment strip during the late 1870′s.

“Chinese restaurant, Jackson St., S.F. 3753″ c. 1875. Stereograph by Carleton Watkins (from the public domain collection of the Getty Museum).  Judging from the angle of the sunlight along the length of Washington Place at the right of the frames, the photo was taken around mid-day.

Choy Ying Low, c. 1875. Photograph by Carleton Watkins (from the collection of the California State Library).  This print captures a wider angle view of the restaurant than the ones used for the stereograph.

Sometime in 1880, the Choy Ying Low apparently ceased operations.  By the following year, the Sing Sing poultry store occupied the 2 Washington Alley address, and another legendary Chinese restaurant had passed into history.

[updated: 2022-9-23]

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“BAGLEY HUNT HAS SHIFTED ACROSS LINE,” The Province (Vancouver). January 9, 1932. Page 1.  ---- Burlington Physician Saw Jail-breaker in Cafe Friday Night. ---- WAS CERTAIN OF IDENTITY ---- Apparently Separated From Companions Guards Are Exonerated. ---- VICTORIA. Jan. 9 - Guards of Oakalla prison have been exonerated of all blame in connection with the recent escape of William Bagley and four other prisoners, it was announced at the Legislative Buildings today. 

Attorney-General R. H. Pooley has reinstated P. I. G. Cunningham and Douglas Campbell, two guards who were suspended after the escape pending an official investigation. Mr. Pooley’s action Is based on the findings of Colonel J. R. McMullin, commissioner of provincial police, who made a full enquiry.

Extensive improvements to the Jail to make other escapes Impossible are under way now. A special wing, with only one exit and all windows guarded by chilled bars, will be installed. 

WORKING, on what they believed is a definite identification William Bagley, the fugitive Oakalla convict, Skagit County, Washington, police are carrying on intensive search of the country around Burlington. 

Search for Bagley, who with four companions escaped from Oakalla jail Sunday, took a new turn on Friday night when Dr. V. H. McKinley of Burlington reported to Mount Vernon police that he had recognized the fugitive in a restaurant. He said that he had treated Baglev several years ego mid was certain of his identity. B.C. POLICE CONFIRM STORY. After recognizing Bagley he tried, with the help of a waitress, to notify authorities without arousing the man's suspicions. He believes that the suspect recognized him, for he left the restaurant a few minutes later. 

Provincial police officers, Staff-Sergeant W. C. Kier and Corp. J. Kelly, who went to Mount Vernon Friday evening to Investigate, reported by wire this morning that there is no doubt of the identification of Bagley. 

Provincial police, headed by Sub-Inspector John Shirras. conducted a search along Marine drive, Fraser river, this morning, in response to information that Fawcett and Bagley may have been in the locality. No sign of the fugitives was discovered. 

An automobile stolen from J. J. McPherson at Bellingham was found four miles south of Everett late Friday night by King County deputy sheriffs. They said Bagley may have stolen it and abandoned it there in his flight south.  HAD PLANS FOR QUICK GET AWAY. Presence of Bagley in Washington fails in with the theory that the man hatched a planned avenue of escape and separated from the four others after having the Jail. Prisoners at Oakalla are said to have told officers that Bagley confided his plans for escape before he made the break and said that he had a plan for a quick get-away to United States. He did not say whether he proposed to escape by water. 

The fact, that the stolen car In which the convicts are believed to have driven was found near the river and that Sorge got clothing in that vicinity show that, Bagley may have gone to the river to meet friends with a boat. SEEN ON STREET CAR IN VANCOUVER On Friday it was established that, Frank Sorge, who was captured Thursday, got his change of clothes from the back of Wong Guey at Marine drive and Fraser  avenue. The Chinese has identified the clothing as that stolen from his shack Monday.

City police were Informed Friday by Don McGaw, 1228 West Twenty-seventh avenue, that at 7:30 pm. Thursday, he. saw two men, wet, bedraggled and unshaven, enter a north-bound street car at Oak street and Twenty-seventh avenue and transfer at Broadway to a belt, line car. he Identified a picture of Fawcett.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.4

AD 23 – Rebels sack the Chinese capital Chang'an during a peasant rebellion. 1302 – The Byzantine–Venetian War comes to an end. 1363 – Battle of Lake Poyang: In one of the largest naval battles in history, Zhu Yuanzhang's rebels defeat rival Chen Youliang. 1511 – Formation of the Holy League of Aragon, the Papal States and Venice against France. 1535 – The Coverdale Bible is printed, with translations into English by William Tyndale and Myles Coverdale. 1582 – The Gregorian Calendar is introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. 1597 – Governor Gonzalo Méndez de Canço begins to suppress a native uprising against his rule in what is now the state of Georgia. 1602 – Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War: A fleet of Spanish galleys are defeated by English and Dutch galleons in the English Channel. 1636 – Thirty Years' War: The Swedish Army defeats the armies of Saxony and the Holy Roman Empire at the Battle of Wittstock. 1693 – Nine Years' War: Piedmontese troops are defeated by the French. 1777 – American Revolutionary War: Troops under George Washington are repelled by British troops under William Howe. 1795 – Napoleon first rises to prominence by suppressing counter-revolutionary rioters threatening the National Convention. 1824 – Mexico adopts a new constitution and becomes a federal republic. 1830 – The Belgian Revolution takes legal form when the provisional government secedes from the Netherlands. 1853 – The Crimean War begins when the Ottoman Empire declares war on the Russian Empire. 1876 – The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas opens as the first public college in Texas. 1883 – First run of the Orient Express. 1883 – First meeting of the Boys' Brigade in Glasgow, Scotland. 1895 – Horace Rawlins wins the first U.S. Open Men's Golf Championship. 1917 – World War I: The Battle of Broodseinde is fought between the British and German armies in Flanders. 1918 – World War I: An explosion kills more than 100 people and destroys a Shell Loading Plant in New Jersey. 1920 – The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, a Finnish non-governmental organization, was founded on the initiative of Sophie Mannerheim. 1925 – Great Syrian Revolt: Rebels led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji captured Hama from the French Mandate of Syria. 1925 – S2, a Finnish Sokol class torpedo boat, sinks during a fierce storm near the coast of Pori in the Gulf of Bothnia, taking with it the whole crew of 53. 1927 – Gutzon Borglum begins sculpting Mount Rushmore. 1936 – The Metropolitan Police and various anti-fascist organizations violently clash in the Battle of Cable Street. 1941 – Norman Rockwell's Willie Gillis character debuts on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. 1957 – Sputnik 1 becomes the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. 1958 – The current constitution of France is adopted. 1960 – An airliner crashes on takeoff from Boston's Logan International Airport, killing 62 people. 1963 – Hurricane Flora kills 6,000 in Cuba and Haiti. 1965 – Pope Paul VI begins the first papal visit to the Americas. 1966 – Basutoland becomes independent from the United Kingdom and is renamed Lesotho. 1967 – Omar Ali Saifuddien III of Brunei abdicates in favour of his son. 1983 – Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 miles per hour (1,019.468 km/h) at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. 1985 – The Free Software Foundation is founded. 1991 – The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty is opened for signature. 1992 – The Rome General Peace Accords end a 16-year civil war in Mozambique. 1992 – El Al Flight 1862 crashes into two apartment buildings in Amsterdam, killing 43 including 39 on the ground. 1993 – Battle of Mogadishu occurs killing 18 U.S. Special Forces, two UN Peacekeepers and at least 600 Somalian militia men and civilians. 1993 – Tanks bombard the Russian parliament, while demonstrators against President Yeltsin rally outside. 1997 – The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurs in North Carolina 2001 – Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 crashes after being struck by an errant Ukrainian missile. Seventy-eight people are killed. 2003 – The Maxim restaurant suicide bombing in Israel kills twenty-one Israelis, both Jews and Arabs. 2004 – SpaceShipOne wins the Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight. 2006 – WikiLeaks is launched. 2010 – The Ajka plant accident in Hungary releases a million cubic metres of liquid alumina sludge, killing nine, injuring 122, and severely contaminating two major rivers. 2017 – Joint Nigerian-American Special Forces are ambushed by Islamic State militants outside the village of Tongo Tongo.

[freakypanther]

Normal is dead but I am not.

Picture this. It’s a Monday night in the liminal space between normalcy and aftermath. It shouldn’t matter what day it is but somehow you just know that it is in fact— Monday. Years of life in the agrarian calendar die hard, and now your body can sense the beginning of a work week despite the lack of actual work, or restaurants, or movie theaters, or anything normal. You climb a rust-colored fire escape (that would certainly not pass a New York City fire inspection) to the top of your friend David’s tar-slicked roof. By normal neighborhood standards you are absolutely being too loud— but most people welcome the racket these days, if only for the comfort and thrill of white noise that doesn’t come from a television. The air begins to chill as the sun bleeds out of frame and succumbs to the ink-soaked sky that is south Brooklyn from below. You shiver from lack of layering, but push through the numbness for a few laughs and puffs of a joint with another human. You’re in the liminal space between winter and spring— the transitional weeks that no one quite knows how to prepare or dress for. A hoodie is too hot by noon, but a tee shirt is too cold by 6. 

Ambulance sirens drone in sonic slow motion in the background and feel almost angelic— like renaissance church bells, but sped up a few hundred years. Like a seraphim singing in autotune— electric, eerie, lemon-scented and sad. You twirl your hot pink hair and wonder if there are always this many sirens in a day, or if you just notice them now that there’s something significant about them...

The winterness of the springtime starts to get the better of you and your nose begins to run, so you rub away your goosebumps and noodle your way backward down a metal ladder with the grace of a gangly grandpa on a tightrope. You mount your trusty bike in the queer silence and pop your earbuds in to drown out the other worldly oddness of the evening. You wonder what your ex boyfriend is doing but become distracted by the unmistakable THC tingle in the soft tissues and sponge cartilage of your face. “This must be what a soul feels like on it’s own” you think, as you motorcycle-kick your bike pedal into the remarkably empty street. And in the silence, you nearly hear an engine turn over on your Bianchi as the wheels begin to pick up momentum. Uphill, counter-interia, almost achey. Careening toward the inevitable glide with every single pedal. 

You feel energy begin to fill your body in a way that lifts your breast bone, expands your lungs, elevates both eyebrows, and turns the corners of your lips upward involuntary as a random but strangely appropriate song comes on your playlist. 

The wind picks up and so do you, the early April air blasts against your wide open eyeballs like a hair dryer on two peeled grapes. And then your wide open grapes start to pool speed-tears at the corners like a downhill skier. You make your way to Washington street, past the projects, then the townhouses, the poor people, and the working people, and the neon-lit bodegas— that are occasionally still open. You stop at a red light and watch a woman swap a cigarette with a homeless man for cash and wonder how bad either of them needed it. The landscape levels, stills, and jumps tax brackets and the architecture starts to look like home again. 

Now you’re riding so fast you think you must look like one long hot pink blur- a viscous gradient, smeared to the wind from Flatbush to Bergen- living in liquid, both somewhere, nowhere, everywhere at once. Both at home- and still on that roof with David and that lit joint. And you feel it true— that you are both here and there. That you are both then and now. You are the past and present and the same time. You are everything and nothing, living entirely within context, and entirely without it.  You are nobody and everybody at the same time. You are everything.

I am the homeless man and I am the Crown Heights library, and I am the teacup blossoms and the Hasidic family on 4th ave, and I am the night and the hairdryer and the skinless grapes that’s it’s blasting as I speed-bike down the hill. I am China and the town of Wuhan, the bat that started the virus, and the Chinese doctor that warned the world about it. I am the virus, and I am the daytime— I’m Jay with the big dick that curves perfectly upward, and his dead dad, and the tractor trailer that killed him when he was only sixteen. “Oh yeah” I think as lick my lips for moisture- I am also my mouth. 

I am the crimson red lipstick that bleeds across the edges of my smile, and I am also the calcium hinge that drops it wide like elastic clown pants to make noise. And I am the sound it makes when it laughs out loud, and also when it cries out in anguish. And when you feel that you are all of those things at once and can no longer contain them to a single body—you scream. You scream right into the empty night, right at the sky and right at the city. You scream at yourself and also at everyone you have ever known. Not from the belly, but deeper. From the cunt to the crown of your head and out the spout of the space right above you. You rage volume at the sleeping goliath for everything it ought to be and isn’t. For everything you wish you were but aren’t, For all the things that should be able to happen but for whatever reason don’t. You scream for everything and everyone that needs but lacks. For the mother wondering where her next meal is coming from. For the man who sleeps on the steps of the bar two blocks from your house. For the babies in cages at the border. For the fear in the hearts of little black boys who walk to the store for a Gatorade, just hoping not to get shot. For the fear in the hearts of the cops that will murder them, and the apathy of everythign surrounding it. You scream for all those things and think that maybe nobody hears it, except maybe the people in the million fucking dollar townhouses on the tree-lined streets of Dutch-architecture Brooklyn. Hiding quietly in their mid century modern bed frames from all the chaos, from all the death, from all the pain, from all the truth. Numbly nodding off through the queer silence, wondering if there are more blood curdling screams on the street than usual- or do we just notice them now that they seem significant? Then you dismount your little blue Bianchi, throw it over your shoulder, and open the strange little side door to your apartment like a choreographed dance, one you have danced so many times before. You drunkenly climb the creaky old stairs of your hundred year old Brooklyn building, collapse on your 3 year old leather couch, and wonder if this tiny apocalypse will ever mean anything to anybody but you. So you just write it all fucking down- and suspect it might be useful to somebody at some point later. Maybe when this shit is all over.

[chsamuseum]

Feather Duster Memories: A Boomer’s Look-Back at Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown, CHSA Collection

Are you working from home today? Due to COVID-19 a lot of people are. My parents worked from home during the 1950s. Ok, that’s a bit of a stretch. Back then, home and work were not typically one and the same. My parents worked 10-12 hours a day, sometimes on Sundays. The work they did was not like being in a tech start-up. There were no snacks or free meals. They owned a hand laundry in San Francisco and running it was exhausting work; skin burns were often the reward. It was hard physical labor. They started their business in 1954 in what is now known as Cole Valley, a San Francisco neighborhood about three miles west of Chinatown. Our living situation was very humble. The entire place was about 600 square feet. We had less living space than a two-car garage. I slept with my parents in a double bed, while my sister slept in a baby’s crib. We took baths on Saturdays in a blue-trimmed enamel pan-the same pan mom used to dye our customers’ clothes. Every evening, after closing, we dropped down sheets to cover the storefront windows and pulled down roller shades to cover the doors. How’s that for privacy? We lived with the sounds of a streetcar passing by our laundry every day. 

Mom insisted on only eating Chinese food and our small refrigerator could only store a couple of days’ worth of groceries; going to Chinatown twice a week was a necessity. My dad went by himself on Wednesdays and on Sundays, we went as a family. The trip was a drive across town that took about 30 minutes. My dad drove a two-tone Pontiac Sedan from Carl to Clayton to Frederick to Masonic to Bush to Kearny to Pacific to Grant. We took those streets so often that they are coded in my memory, like a routine in a computer software program.

Grant Ave was our main shopping street for groceries. We did most of that shopping between Pacific and Broadway. At the North end of Grant Ave was the sausage shop. I loved the dried meats and the fat in the sausage, not to mention the BBQ pork. Mid-block there were two fresh chicken shops where you could select the chicken from a cage; a man would pull out the chicken, slit its throat, throw it into a garbage can, and then tell you to come back in a half-hour to pick it up. It was also the best place to buy fresh chicken wings and gizzards! Next door was a dried goods store that sold everything from canned goods to dried squid and 50 pound bags of rice. It was also where they sold my favorite jelly candy that came wrapped in rice paper and in two flavors, orange and banana. Banana was my favorite. On the corner of Grant and Pacific was a fresh fish store. It was always cold inside from all that ice to keep the fish on display fresh. I loved it because the window height of the fish tank was mounted perfectly for a little kid like me to watch them swim. Tommy’s Jewelry store was on the opposite corner where my mom took her watch for repairs and where she admired the gold and jade jewelry. Nearby was an electronics shop, Mee Shing, where they sold TV’s and Radios. Mom shopped for her Chinese opera records there. She listened to these operas during her long work hours of ironing laundry while my sister and I painfully endured the clanging sounds of the cymbals. Next to the electronics shop was Kaye’s Shoe store that carried Florsheim brand shoes in smaller shoe sizes to suit the Chinese foot. Does anyone remember the golden goose eggs in the windows? But what I wanted most, was to weigh myself on the weight machine sitting out in front by the entrance, where for a penny, I could get my weight printed on a ticket with a fortune on the back. Every Sunday, I begged my parents to let me weigh myself wondering when I would weigh 50 pounds. Across the street on Grant was a kitchen hardware store, Ginn Wall, that sold woks, wooden and plastic chopsticks, bowls, and more. It was also where they also sold the dreaded feather dusters with the bamboo stick handle - the ‘weapon’ of choice for Chinese families to mete out corporal punishment. I can attest to their painfulness. 

Map of Chinatown Streets with local shops, created by Will Lee

The Mandarin Theater, later Sun Sing, was further south on the same block, and next to it was an alley. The alleys always lead to a building with single resident occupancy units, better known as SROs. Most of the alleys wafted of urine, but some had the smell of cooked foods-rice, chicken, vegetables-from the adjoining restaurants. Add in the sounds of children playing, laundry hanging on a line ruffling in the wind, the sounds of shuffling mahjong tiles, elderly men spitting, and you get a more complete picture of the alleys.

On the next block was a herb shop where my mom bought ingredients to make a ‘special’ soup. It was special all right, and as I remember it, the bitterness was so awful that I had to choke it down while my mom would say Ay-geet, which loosely translated means “to be well, be healthy.” Then at the corners of Washington and Grant were wooden trinket stands where my sister and I would eye the toys we couldn’t afford. We did buy the wax candies with liquid juice inside. Does anyone remember those? Further on Grant was the Eastern Bakery, which is known for their moon cakes, but I loved their cow ear snack, Gnow Gknee, which was shaped like a potato chip that had alternating bands, colored in tan and brown. My mom always bought a Sunday newspaper from the newsstand guy in a wooden shack on Jackson. Even though we subscribed to the Chinese Times, it only came six days a week. 

The Buddhist church on Washington was under construction in the late 1950s. I recall going through the building during a Chinese New Year celebration and the street fairs that were held across the street in Portsmouth Square. I won a goldfish by tossing a ping pong ball into a bowl and the fish became our first pet. Other games at the bazaar were the metal horse races where you shot water guns to move the horses, throwing pointed metal darts at hanging balloons, and pitching coins onto a large board to try and land them on a small dot. But as fun as all of that was, who could forget the pink cotton candy!

Back in the 50s, Stockton street only had a few shops. On the corner of Pacific was the El Dorado Meat Market. It was the place to buy fresh meat. Who came up with the name El Dorado for a meat market in Chinatown? It had racks of meat hanging in the back and a display case full of fresh-cut meats in the front. I can still hear the band saw cutting the bone and the opening and closing of the walk-in freezer door. They sold ground pork to make Gee Knook Beng, a steamed pork patty cooked with salted fish on top, a peasant comfort food my parents brought over from their village. Everyone went to buy their oranges at Orangeland on the corner of Washington. My dad would drive up to the man, hand him a buck, and a brown paper bag of oranges was passed in through the window. Yup, that was how it was done.

Will with his younger sister, Courtesy of Will Lee

Going to Chinatown was like going to a foreign land. My mom would have liked for my sister and me to have grown up in Chinatown. She wanted us to identify as Chinese, for us to retain our culture and heritage. However, I am glad we missed that boat of growing up in Chinatown. Our laundry was small and had similar conditions to any place in Chinatown. If we had grown up there, I believe my experiences would have been far less diverse. I might have missed being fully immersed in American culture. So what-if? I’ll never know, there is only what is. I do know I speak Chinglish. My hillbilly Toishanese is badass. As challenging as it was to only speak Toishanese to my parents, not growing up in Chinatown forced me to figure it out. I am enriched to be at ease with both American and Chinese cultures, and I am so thankful to be able to embrace both. And a shout out to the N-Judah streetcar - no noise is too loud for me to sleep through.

Will Lee is a CHSA supporter. He was born in Oak Town (Oakland, CA), but grew up in San Francisco. He writes to share his American stories of growing up in a Chinese household with customs and traditions he didn’t understand, of living in a diverse neighborhood, and of finding his way between cultures. 

[allindiacuisine]

Exploring the Authentic Flavors of Chinese Cuisine in Mount Washington

Mount Washington, a picturesque neighborhood known for its stunning views and vibrant community, is also home to a hidden gem—the Chinese restaurant that tantalizes taste buds and transports diners to the heart of China. Offering a delectable fusion of traditional and modern flavors, this establishment is a culinary haven for those seeking an authentic Chinese dining experience. In this blog, we will delve into the captivating world of Mount Washington's Chinese restaurant, exploring its rich history, diverse menu, and the delightful ambiance that keeps patrons coming back for more.

A Journey through Chinese Gastronomy :

Embarking on a culinary journey at the Chinese restaurant in Mount Washington is akin to immersing oneself in the depths of Chinese gastronomy. Each dish on the menu is meticulously crafted, showcasing a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and aromas that reflect the diverse regional cuisines of China.

From the fiery spices of Sichuan cuisine to the delicate flavors of Cantonese delicacies, this restaurant caters to a wide range of palates. The extensive menu boasts an array of mouthwatering options, including classic favorites like General Tso's chicken, sweet and sour pork, and Peking duck. For the more adventurous diners, there are unique dishes like mapo tofu, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and hot pot, which offer a truly immersive culinary experience.

A Feast for the Senses :

Beyond the exceptional flavors, the Chinese restaurant in Mount Washington takes great pride in creating an ambiance that complements the dining experience. The interior is tastefully decorated, combining traditional Chinese elements with a modern twist. Soft lighting, elegant furnishings, and soothing music create an atmosphere that is both inviting and relaxing, making it the perfect place to savor a meal with friends, family, or even for a romantic dinner.

Moreover, the restaurant's attentive staff adds a personal touch to the dining experience. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are more than willing to provide recommendations and guide guests through their culinary exploration. The warm hospitality and friendly service further enhance the overall experience, leaving visitors with a lasting impression and a desire to return.

A Culinary Destination Worth Exploring :

Whether you are a resident of Mount Washington or a visitor to the area, this Chinese restaurant is a culinary destination that should not be missed. Its dedication to preserving the authenticity of Chinese cuisine while infusing it with modern elements sets it apart from the rest.

In addition to the exquisite dining experience, the restaurant also offers takeout and delivery services, ensuring that the flavors of China can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. This versatility and commitment to customer satisfaction have earned the restaurant a loyal following within the local community.

Conclusion :

The Chinese restaurant in Mount Washington offers a remarkable dining experience that captures the essence of Chinese gastronomy. Its diverse menu, attention to detail, and inviting ambiance make it a true gem within the neighborhood. Whether you are seeking a memorable culinary adventure or simply craving authentic Chinese flavors, this restaurant promises to satisfy your palate and leave you yearning for more. So, make it a point to indulge in the flavors of China in the heart of Mount Washington and embark on a culinary journey like no other.

[newstfionline]

Friday, January 29, 2021

Seafarers stuck at sea ‘a humanitarian crisis’ (BBC) The fate of more than 200,000 seafarers who play a crucial role in keeping global trade flowing is being labelled a “humanitarian crisis at sea”. More than 300 firms and organisations are urging for them to be treated as “key workers”, so they can return home without risking public health. More than 90% of global trade—from household goods to medical supplies—is moved by sea. But governments have banned crew from coming ashore amid Covid-19 fears. Shipping firms are warning global leaders that ignoring the risk to crews’ mental and physical wellbeing threatens global supply chains, which are crucial to vaccinating the world from coronavirus. Seafarers usually work 10-12 hours shifts, seven days a week to man ships, on four or six-month-long contracts, followed by a period of leave. But due to the coronavirus crisis and travel bans brought in by many governments to combat new variants of Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of crew are spending extended periods at sea, far beyond the expiry of their contracts.

US terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence (AP) The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the lingering potential for violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Biden’s election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol may embolden extremists and set the stage for additional attacks. The department did not cite any specific plots, but pointed to “a heightened threat environment across the United States” that it believes “will persist” for weeks after Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins about the prospect for violence tied to a particular event or date, such as July 4. But this particular bulletin, issued through the department’s National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism.

Biden embraces order and routine in his first week (Washington Post) Almost every day of his young tenure, President Biden has entered the State Dining Room, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln looking down and wood burning in the fireplace. He speaks on the planned topic of the day. He sits at an undersized desk and searches for a pen to sign his latest stack of executive orders. Within 30 minutes of entering the camera’s frame, he has left it. It is all plotted and planned. Little room is left for the unscripted or the unusual. Biden’s first full week in office has showcased an almost jarring departure from his predecessor’s chaotic style. The result so far is a 9-to-5 presidency—a tightly scripted burst of activity that was charted over the past few months, as Biden seeks to avoid heated conflict and stick to his plan of lowering the political temperature to a level that many Americans can tune out. The question to be answered in coming weeks, however, is whether Biden’s orderly presidency matches this moment of national urgency, and whether it’s sustainable in the face of multiple crises. Biden himself said last week that the government was on a “wartime” footing—then took the weekend off from public appearances. While former president Donald Trump’s chaotic presidency was unsettling for many Americans, it is unclear for now whether Biden’s more restrained style is an antidote or an overcorrection—and whether he can protect his agenda from being engulfed by the political wars raging around him.

Biden Re-Examining U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. (WSJ) The Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and is scrutinizing purchases by the United Arab Emirates as it reviews billions of dollars in weapons transactions approved by former President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials. The review, the officials said, includes the sale of precision-guided munitions to Riyadh, as well as top-line F-35 fighters to Abu Dhabi, a deal that Washington approved as part of the Abraham Accords, in which the Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel. U.S. officials said it isn’t unusual for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor, and that despite the pause, many of the transactions are likely to ultimately go forward. But in line with campaign pledges made by President Biden, Washington is seeking to ensure that American weapons aren’t used to further the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where its conflict with the Iranian-aligned Houthis has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread hunger.

Congress and social media use (Pew Research Center) Though not especially productive in passing bills, the 116th Congress set new marks for social media use. Voting members of the 116th Congress collectively produced more than 2.2 million tweets and Facebook posts in 2019 and 2020. That means the median member of Congress produced more than 3,000 posts across their profiles on the two social media platforms during this span. In total, the 116th Congress produced roughly 738,000 more social media posts than the 114th Congress of 2015-2016, the first one for which the Center has data.

Battling COVID-19 proving deadly for Peru’s doctor corps (AP) Black-and-white pictures of dozens of men and women, some in their 30s and others much older, line the perimeter of a bright yellow building overlooking the Pacific, a two-story-tall black ribbon covering part of the facade and a Peruvian flag at a half-staff near the door. The makeshift memorial is for fallen “pandemic soldiers”—doctors who have died since the coronavirus struck this South American nation last year and unraveled the public health care system. More than 260 doctors have died from the virus in Peru. Their colleagues blame the deaths on a lack of proper personal protective equipment and what they say is the government’s abandonment of the health care system. The Andean country was one of the worst-hit in the region by the pandemic during 2020 and is now experiencing a resurgence in cases. A revolving door of patients, long work shifts, shortage of medical supplies, including oxygen, and lack of protective equipment at hospitals across the country has affected the mental health of doctors. Doctors now warn that Peru could face a crisis of physicians if the government does not take the appropriate steps. Health care professionals have been mounting an open-ended national protest for weeks to press their complaints about inadequate salaries, poor benefits and other working conditions.

English lockdown set to last until at least March, Johnson indicates (Reuters) Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated on Wednesday the COVID-19 lockdown in England would last until March 8 when schools could start to reopen as the government announced new measures to clamp down on travel to and from Britain. A highly contagious new variant of the virus, which emerged in southeast England at the end of last year, has led to a soaring number of infections across Britain with cases and deaths reaching record levels. England has been in lockdown since the start of January with schools, pubs and restaurants closed and people told to stay home as much as possible. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose governments decide on their own measures, are also under various restrictions.

Portugal is in ‘terrible’ phase of pandemic, PM Costa says (Reuters) Portugal is in a terrible phase of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said, warning that it would be some weeks before things might start to improve and only limited help could be expected from abroad. With a total of 668,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,305 deaths, including a record 293 dead on Wednesday, Portugal has the world’s highest seven-day average of new daily cases and deaths per million inhabitants. The situation was not “bad”, it was “terrible”, Costa told the TVI broadcaster overnight. “There is no point in feeding the illusion that we are not facing the worst moment,” he said. “And we’ll face this worst moment for a few more weeks, that is for sure.” More than 20 ambulances with COVID-19 patients queued outside Portugal’s largest hospital on Wednesday evening as they waited for beds to become available, while doctors in other hospitals warned of a risk of the oxygen support system collapsing.

China sharpens language, warns Taiwan that independence ‘means war’ (Reuters) China toughened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference. China believes that Taiwan’s democratically-elected government is moving the island towards a declaration of formal independence, though Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said it is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name. Asked at a monthly news briefing about the air force’s recent activities, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. “The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said.

Unrest grows in crisis-hit Lebanon amid coronavirus lockdown (AP) Lebanese security forces fired volleys of tear gas at rock-throwing youth in the northern city of Tripoli on Thursday amid outrage over the country’s coronavirus lockdown and inaction of the political class in the face of economic collapse. The unrelenting protests in Tripoli, now in their fourth day, came as Lebanon grapples with both the pandemic and the worst economic crisis in its history, with only a caretaker government in charge. The protests resumed shortly after Omar Taibi, a 30-year-old who was shot by security forces during protests on Wednesday night, was laid to rest in Tripoli. More than 220 others were injured in the overnight clashes as frustrations boiled over. The demonstrators denounced Lebanon’s extended shutdown that has exacerbated already dire conditions. The confluence of the crises has posed the biggest threat to Lebanon’s stability since the end of its civil war in 1990.

Ultra-Orthodox unrest threatens Netanyahu re-election hopes (AP) As he seeks reelection, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned to a straightforward strategy: Count on the rock-solid support of his ultra-Orthodox political allies and stamp out the coronavirus pandemic with one of the world’s most aggressive vaccination campaigns. But with ultra-Orthodox communities openly flouting safety guidelines and violently clashing with police trying to enforce them, this marriage of convenience is turning into a burden. Netanyahu has watched his political partners undermine the country’s war against the virus and spark a public backlash that threatens him at the ballot box. “Netanyahu’s hope is that Israel will be the first country in the world to be vaccinated, that he will be able to open the economy to everyone, ultra-Orthodox and secular, and then the problem will be forgotten,” said Moshe Klughaft, a campaign strategist who has advised Netanyahu in the past. If the current troubles persist, he said, “Netanyahu will be in big trouble.” “Israel’s facing a Haredi insurrection that’s making it impossible to fight COVID,” wrote Yaakov Katz, editor of the Jerusalem Post, using the Hebrew word for the ultra-Orthodox.

How far from GameStop to game over? (Reuters) The battle between small-time traders and hedge funds that has shaken U.S. and European stock markets moved into Asia, with surges in several Australian companies squeezing another batch of financial institutions that have bet on the stocks falling. The war began last week when famed short seller Andrew Left of Citron Capital bet against GameStop and was met with a barrage of retail traders [egged on by Reddit users angry at hedge fund profiteering] betting the other way. Consequently, the video game chain rallied as much as 1,700% in two weeks, costing some large short hedge funds billions. The squeeze has made Reddit required reading on Wall Street. Discussions on the social media forum fueled the action around individual stocks. Wall Street saw its worst sell-off since October as funds scrambled to sell their positions in stock market darlings, such as Facebook, Apple and Microsoft, to make up for surging losses from bets made against struggling smaller companies.

[yessadirichards]

Anxiety grips companies across the world as virus spreads WASHINGTON Since breaking out of China, the coronavirus has breached the walls of the Vatican. It's struck the Iranian holy city of Qom and contaminated a nursing home in Seattle. And around the world, it's carrying not just sickness and death but also the anxiety and paralysis that can smother economic growth. From Florida, where the CEO of a toy maker who can't get products from Chinese factories is preparing layoffs, to Hong Kong, where the palatial Jumbo Kingdom restaurant is closed, businesses are struggling. The virus has grounded a British airline, and it's sunk a Japanese cruise-ship company. The cumulative damage is mounting. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development this week slashed its forecast for global growth for this year to 2.4% from 2.9%. It warned that Japan and the 19 European countries that share the euro currency are in danger of recession. Italy may already be there. Capital Economics expects the Chinese economy to shrink 2% in the January-March quarter and to grow as little as 2% for the year. That would be a disastrous and humiliating comedown for an economy that delivered a sizzling 9% average annual growth rate from 2000 through last year. The bleak outlook and nagging uncertainties about how severe the damage will be have shaken financial markets. The Dow Jones industrial average, gyrating wildly from day to day, has plummeted nearly 12% over the past month. “The virus is going to go on, and it’s going to impact a lot of countries and economies,’’ said Sondra Mansfield, who owners Chalk of the Town in New York City, which makes T-shirts and tote bags that children can write on with chalk. With global supply chains disrupted by quarantines and travel restrictions, Mansfield worries about maintaining access to the supplies she needs — T shirts from India and Honduras and markers from Japan. “I think it will get worse before it gets better,’’ she said. When COVID-19 emerged in China a few weeks ago, many economists envisioned something like what happened when SARS hit China and Hong Kong in 2003: A short-lived interruption of Chinese economic growth, one that left the global economy largely unscathed. Yet the new virus has spread far faster and more widely than expected. Between November 2002 and early August 2003, SARS infected 7,400 people in 32 countries and territories and killed 916. By contrast, COVID-19 has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,400 in 90 countries. And the toll is growing. “This is not a China issue anymore,’’ said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Business travel in the United States has slowed sharply in the face of the outbreak. Numerous large companies, including Amazon and Google, are restricting non-essential travel. The result is a dire financial blow for the travel and tourism industries — from airlines and hotels and restaurants to cruise ship companies and conference centers. Some airlines, including United, have cut back on flights both within the United States and internationally. The industry, already reeling from the grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max, stands to be severely damaged by the viral outbreak, especially if travelers stay away for months to come. In Europe, Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, says it will cut up to 50% of its flights in the next few weeks, having suffered a drastic drop in reservations. The struggling British airline Flybe collapsed last week as the outbreak quashed ticket sales. Air France and Scandinavian Airlines are freezing hiring and offering unpaid leave and shorter work hours as they endure a drop in passengers and cargo. The pullback in air travel has led to the cancellations of high-profile conferences, from the Geneva auto show to a global health conference in Orlando, Florida, to South by Southwest, the annual festival of music, film and technology in Austin, Texas. Those cancellations, in turn, are dealing financial setbacks to the cities that normally host them and count on the financial windfalls they bring. Amusement parks are being hurt by the sudden reluctance of people to travel and mingle with crowds. Disney’s Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland remain closed. Other theme park companies, like Six Flags and SeaWorld Entertainment, will likely suffer, too. As more people stay home, some small pockets of the U.S. economy could benefit, including food delivery outfits, video conference companies and entertainment streaming services. Most of corporate America, though, is vulnerable, and earnings growth is likely weakening. Oxford Economics, noting the “darkening outlook," puts the odds of a U.S. recession at 40%. Last week, the Federal Reserve announced a surprise half-point cut in its key interest rate to try to aid the economy in the face of the coronavirus. The Fed is expected to cut rates further in coming weeks, though economists question whether that will do much to bolster investor or consumer confidence. Central banks in Australia, Canada, China and Japan have also acted to support their economies. The European Central Bank is expected to announce its next steps this week. The virus and the measures meant to contain it have choked the supply chains that companies around the world had come to rely on. Chinese authorities locked down Wuhan, the industrial hub at the center of the outbreak, as well as surrounding cities. Stranded by travel restrictions, millions of migrant factory workers who had returned to their home villages for the Lunar New Year couldn’t get back to work. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said last week that a shortage of industrial parts from China, caused by the coronavirus outbreak, has triggered a “ripple effect” that sent exports from other countries tumbling last month. The Yayuan Toy Factory, which makes plastic cars in the southeastern Chinese city of Yiwu, remains shut down. The factory’s 12 workers had gone to Shanxi province in western China and Guizhou in the southeast for the New Year holiday — and haven’t made it back. Executives of Salus Brands, a company in Tempe, Arizona, that sells swimming-pool floats and bottles of slime, fear that deliveries from its Chinese factories won’t arrive in time for summer vacation. "If we can’t get product in stores by Memorial Day week or shortly after, we lose our season,” said Dave Balkaran, the company president. “Sadly, it’s the small and medium-sized enterprise that will get hurt the most and the soonest,’’ said Andrew Shoyer, a former U.S. trade official who is a partner at the law firm Sidley Austin. Larger companies, he noted, are more likely to have other suppliers to draw upon if some factories are disrupted. Jay Foreman, CEO of the toy company Basic Fun in Boca Raton, Florida, said he is being forced to lay off 10% of his 175-person global staff. That's because factories in China can’t deliver enough of his products, which include Tonka Toys and Care Bears. China's factories are allocating most of their reduced production to giant toy companies and squeezing out the little players like him, Foreman said. “I am getting vendors who are actually encouraging me to (make smaller) orders because they’re trying to spread out the capacity,’’ Foreman said. “I don’t want lower orders. I want higher orders.” In Hong Kong, downtown streets that are usually jammed on weekdays are eerily empty and homeowners are unloading property at steep losses. Some hotels say they are 90% empty. The virus is depressing tourism in South Korea and Japan, which have been severely hit by the outbreak. Fujimisou, a traditional Japanese inn in central Japan, had managed to fend off bankruptcy by catering to Chinese tour groups — until they stopped coming. Also filing for bankruptcy was a famous maker of potato croquettes in Hokkaido and the Luminous Cruising Co. It was crushed by cancellations after an outbreak of virus cases aboard the Diamond Princess, a Carnival Corp. ship that was quarantined for weeks offshore from Yokohama.

[newstfionline]

Headlines: Friday, September 25, 2020

Tea prices (WSJ) The price of wholesale tea is up 50 percent since March, hitting $3.16 per kilogram, up from $2.13 per kilogram back in March. We’re still not at the $3.29 per kilogram demanded in October 2017, but the price hike is showing little sign of stopping. Every day 3.7 billion cups of tea are consumed, with half the U.S. population consuming tea daily, most of whom like it iced. Tea production is down in major producers like Sri Lanka and India.

California Plans to Ban Sales of New Gas-Powered Cars in 15 Years (NYT) California plans to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars statewide by 2035, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, in a sweeping move aimed at accelerating the state’s efforts to combat global warming amid a deadly and record-breaking wildfire season. In an executive order, Governor Newsom directed California’s regulators to develop a plan that would require automakers to sell steadily more zero-emissions passenger vehicles in the state, such as battery-powered or hydrogen-powered cars and pickup trucks, until they make up 100 percent of new auto sales in just 15 years. Ramping up sales of emissions-free vehicles in California will be an enormous challenge over a relatively short period of time, experts said. Last year, only 8 percent of the nearly two million passenger vehicles sold statewide were battery-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. The order would affect only new-vehicle sales, the governor’s office said. It would not prevent Californians from owning cars with internal combustion engines past 2035 or selling them on the used-vehicle market.

Venezuela’s broken oil industry is spewing crude into the Caribbean Sea (Washington Post) The sun had risen over the Caribbean Sea when Frank González spotted “the stain”—an oil slick on the water that stretched for miles. “The sea looked like butter, because of the thickness of the water,” said González, a fisherman who saw the spill this month while working off the coast of Venezuela’s Falcón state. “It was painful to see.” Venezuela’s once powerful oil industry is literally falling apart, with years of mismanagement, corruption, falling prices and a U.S. embargo imposed last year bringing aging infrastructure to the brink of collapse. As the government scrambles to repair and restart its fuel-processing capacity, analysts are warning that ruptured pipelines, rusting tankers and rickety refineries are contributing to a mounting ecological disaster in this failing socialist state. Oil workers say the gushing crude soiling the coast of Falcón state this month came from a cracked underwater pipeline linked to attempts to restart fuel production at the aging Cardón refinery. Not far from the oil slick, fishermen say, is a jetting geyser of natural gas from a second broken pipeline.

France tightens virus measures, unveils new ‘danger zones’ map (Reuters) France’s health minister unveiled a map of coronavirus “danger zones” around the country on Wednesday and gave the hardest-hit local authorities, including that of Marseille, days to tighten restrictions or risk having a state of health emergency declared there. Olivier Veran told a news conference the country would be divided into zones by alert level with Marseille, the second-largest city, and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for now the only two areas put on the “maximum” alert level. Like other European countries where the infection rate has soared in the past month, France has been gradually tightening limits on public and private gatherings locally, hoping it will be enough to contain the disease and avoid a second national lockdown. Among other measures, there will be a ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people and, in “maximum” alert level areas like Marseille, bars and restaurants will be closed from Saturday.

Protests Reignite After News of Secret Belarus Inauguration (Foreign Policy) Longtime Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko was sworn in to extend his 26-year rule at a secret ceremony in Minsk on Wednesday, emphasizing the embattled leader’s shrinking authority and increasingly precarious hold on power. No prior announcement was made regarding the ceremony, prompting thousands of protesters to flood the streets of Minsk to rally against Lukashenko once the news broke. Opposition leaders, who have put immense pressure on Lukashenko since he claimed victory in a landslide on Aug. 9 amid widespread accusations of voter fraud, called the inaugural ceremony a “thieves’ meeting” and a “farce.” In a statement, a spokesperson of the U.S. State Department said that “the United States cannot consider [Lukashenko] the legitimately elected leader of Belarus.” The European Union has already said it doesn’t recognize Lukashenko as president.

In India, engineers and MBAs are turning to manual labor to survive the economic crash (Washington Post) On a recent muggy afternoon in southern India, Earappa Bawge hacked at the ground with a pickax, his white shirt pasted to his back. Each dull thud reminded him of how far his hopes had fallen. Just months ago, the 27-year-old engineer was poring over project files in an air-conditioned room at a factory hundreds of miles away. The job was a ticket out of rural poverty for Bawge’s entire family, who had sacrificed for years so he could complete his studies. Now he was back in the village where he was born, propelled by a wave of economic destruction rolling across India during the pandemic. To survive, Bawge began digging ditches under a public works program. Alongside him were a former bank employee, a veterinarian and three MBA students. At the end of the day, each received $3.70. “If I don’t work, we don’t get to eat,” said Bawge, flicking beads of sweat from his brow. “Hunger trumps any aspiration.” As India’s economy reels in the aftermath of one of the world’s strictest lockdowns, a rural employment program has emerged as a lifeline for some of the tens of millions left jobless. The government program—which aims to guarantee 100 days of unskilled work in rural areas—was intended to combat poverty and reduce the volatility of agricultural wages. Now it is a potent symbol of how the middle-class dreams of millions of Indians are unraveling.

China to let in more foreigners as virus recedes (AP) Foreigners holding certain types of visas and residence permits will be permitted to return to China starting next week as the threat of the coronavirus continues to recede. The new regulation lifts a monthslong blanket suspension covering most foreigners apart from diplomats and those in special circumstances. Beginning Monday, foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas and residence permits for work, personal matters and family reunions will be permitted to enter China without needing to apply for new visas, according to the regulation. Those whose permits have expired can reapply. Returnees must undergo two weeks of quarantine and follow other anti-epidemic measures, the regulation said.

Xinjiang crackdown continues (The Guardian) China has built nearly 400 internment camps in Xinjiang region, with construction on dozens continuing over the last two years, even as Chinese authorities said their “re-education” system was winding down, an Australian think tank has found. The network of camps in China’s far west, used to detain Uighurs and people from other Muslim minorities, include 14 that are still under construction, according to the latest satellite imaging obtained by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. In total ASPI identified 380 detention centers established across the region since 2017, ranging from lowest security re-education camps to fortified prisons.

Grand Theft Ayatollah (Foreign Policy) Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is investing in a new video game in which Iranian paramilitaries rescue George Floyd from U.S. police, according to Khosro Kalbasi, a reporter for Iran’s independent Financial Tribune. It’s not the first time Middle Eastern powers have used video games and cartoons to make foreign-policy commentary: In 2018, a pro-Saudi group produced an animated video depicting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman commanding a successful invasion of Iran.

Lebanon asks world’s help ‘trying to rise from its rubble’ (AP) Facing an economic meltdown and other crises, Lebanon’s president on Wednesday asked for the world’s help to rebuild the capital’s main port and neighborhoods that were blown away in last month’s catastrophic explosion. President Michel Aoun made the plea in a prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly’s virtual summit, telling world leaders that Lebanon’s many challenges are posing an unprecedented threat to its very existence. Most urgently, the country needs the international community’s support to rebuild its economy and its destroyed port. Aoun suggested breaking up the damaged parts of the city into separate areas and so that countries that wish to help can each commit to rebuilding one. Earlier Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for swift formation of a government to be followed by tangible steps to implement economic, social and political reforms. Lebanon’s government resigned under pressure in the wake of the port explosion, and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib has been unable to form a new government amid a political impasse over which faction gets to have the Finance Ministry, as well as other disputes. “Without such action, the country’s ability to recover and rebuild will be jeopardized, adding to the turmoil and hardship of the Lebanese people,” Guterres added.

Israel’s Netanyahu brings his dirty laundry to Washington. Literally. (Washington Post) Most politicians go to great lengths to conceal their dirty laundry. And then there’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Over the years, the Israeli leader has developed a reputation among the staff at the U.S. president’s guesthouse for bringing special cargo on his trips to Washington: bags and suitcases full of dirty laundry, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The clothes are cleaned for the prime minister free of charge by the U.S. staff, a perk that is available to all foreign leaders but sparingly taken advantage of given the short stays of busy heads of state. “The Netanyahus are the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean,” said one U.S. official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the details of a foreign leader’s visits. “After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional.” Israeli officials denied that Netanyahu overuses his American hosts’ laundry services, calling the allegations “absurd,” but they acknowledged that he has been the target of laundry-related accusations in the past. In 2016, Netanyahu sued his own office and Israel’s attorney general in an effort to prevent the release of his laundry bills under the country’s freedom of information act. The relatively minor accusation joins a longer list of corruption allegations that have threatened the 70-year-old leader’s hold on power and triggered protests in Israel this month.

Australian offers free coffee, chat from his kitchen window (AP) It all started when Rick Everett walked out of his home in Sydney and put up a sign on his kitchen window that read: “Free coffee to combat the virus.” It was March, and the Australian acrobat had lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic. With more free time, he felt he could help out others in need. And he knew how to bake and cook after managing a chocolate and coffee shop and a pizza restaurant. When he started, he said the window would be open whenever he was home. He stressed that it wasn’t a coffee shop business; he just wanted to do something nice and meet his neighbors for a friendly chat during a difficult time. “Think of it as popping over to your mates for a coffee only it is a friend you have not met yet,” he wrote on a sign. “I am not selling anything. This is a gift and all it will cost you is a smile.” Soon his neighbors began to stop by, bringing him everything from cakes and loaves of bread to a six-pack of beer. Strangers began to recognize him on the street and wave hello. “It’s like I live in a small town again, and it’s really beautiful,” he said. “And what’s even more beautiful is people ring my coffee bell just to talk,” he said. “They don’t even want a coffee! They don’t want to take anything from me, but they’re most happy to have a conversation with me, which is really nice.”

[bigyack-com]

China’s Coronavirus Has Revived Global Economic Fears

Before a mysterious respiratory illness emerged in the center of China, spreading with lethal effect through the world’s most populous nation, concerns about the health of the global economy had been easing, replaced by a measure of optimism.The United States and China had achieved a tenuous pause in a trade war that had damaged both sides. The specter of open hostilities between the United States and Iran had reverted to stalemate. Though Europe remained stagnant, Germany — the Continent’s largest economy — had escaped the threat of recession.Now, the world is worrying anew.An outbreak originating in China and reaching beyond its borders has summoned fresh fears, sending markets into a wealth-destroying tailspin. It has provoked alarm that the world economy may be in for another shock, offsetting the benefits of the trade truce and the geopolitical easing, and providing new reason for businesses and households to hunker down.On Monday, investors dumped stocks on exchanges from Asia to Europe to North America. They entrusted their money to traditional safe havens, pushing up the value of the yen, the dollar and gold. They pushed down the price of oil over fears that weaker economies would spell less demand for fuel.In short, those in control of money took note of a growing crisis in a country of 1.4 billion people, whose consumers and businesses are a primary engine of economic growth around the world, and they chose to reduce their exposure to risk.By late Monday, the virus had killed more than 80 people in China. Nearly 3,000 had been infected — mostly in mainland China, but also in Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, and as far away as Australia, Canada and the United States.The emergence of the virus in China, whose government jails journalists and tightly controls information, left the world uncomfortably short of facts needed to assess the dangers.“It’s the uncertainty of how the global economy is going to respond to the outbreak,” said Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec, a specialist bank in London. That will depend on the severity, the spread and the duration of the outbreak, he said, and “we don’t really know the answers to any of these questions.”What was left to the imagination resonated as a reason for investors to unload anything less than a sure thing.Stocks in Japan and Europe fell more than 2 percent. In New York, the S&P 500 was down 1.6 percent, with stocks of companies whose sales are dependent on China especially susceptible. Wynn Resorts, which operates casinos in the gambling haven of Macau, a special administrative region of China, dropped more than 8 percent.The virus and its attendant unknowns conjured memories of another deadly illness that began in China, the 2002-3 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which killed nearly 800 people.“In many ways, it looks similar,” said Nicholas R. Lardy, a China expert and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. “We are seeing fast increases in the number of cases. The hospitals are overwhelmed and are not even able to test people with symptoms. I’m expecting the cases to go way, way up.”In the end, SARS significantly slowed the Chinese economy, dropping the annual growth rate to 9.1 percent in the second quarter of 2003 from 11.1 percent in the previous quarter, according to Oxford Economics, an independent research institute in London.The episode is coinciding with the Lunar New Year, a major holiday in which hundreds of millions of Chinese journey to their hometowns to visit relatives.With air, rail and road links in central China restricted as the government seeks to block the spread of the virus, hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses are likely to suffer.Some economists assume that those effects will quickly dissipate, leading to a revival in the consumer economy within months. That is how events played out in 2003.“Our baseline is that it will be a fairly big impact but relatively short-lived,” said Louis Kuijs, the Hong Kong-based head of Asia economics at Oxford Economics.In the hopeful view, economic damage will be contained by the Chinese government’s aggressive response in effectively quarantining the outbreak’s center — Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, and much of the surrounding area in Hubei Province.But Wuhan is a hub of industry, sometimes called the Chicago of China, intensifying the quarantine’s implications for the national economy.“This is really unprecedented,” Mr. Lardy said. “The economic effects may be much larger than SARS. Wuhan is a major industrial city, and if you’re basically shutting it down, it’s going to have a major effect.”Already, China’s government has extended the Lunar New Year holiday by three days, through Feb. 2, ensuring that migrant workers will not return to their factory jobs as soon as anticipated, almost certainly disrupting production. Suzhou, a major industrial city near Shanghai, has extended the holiday until at least Feb. 8.Given that China’s economy is the source of roughly one-third of world economic growth, the slowdown could be felt widely.Most directly, China’s neighbors would absorb the effects, especially those dependent on tourists from China — among them Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Over the weekend, China announced that it was barring overseas group tours by its citizens.If China’s factories are hobbled by additional restrictions on transportation that limit factory production, that could become a global event. It could hit iron ore mines in Australia and India that feed raw materials into China’s smelters. It could limit sales of computer chips and glass panel displays made at plants in Malaysia and South Korea.It could trim sales of factory machinery produced in Germany and auto parts made in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. It could even affect the purchases of additional American farm goods that China agreed to under the trade deal signed this month.The shock is hitting just as China contends with its slowest pace of economic growth in decades, reviving fears that its reduced appetite for the goods and services of the world could jeopardize jobs on multiple shores.“China is obviously slowing down in a structural way,” said Silvia Dall’Angelo, senior economist at Hermes Investment Management in London. “The global economy is clearly more shaky, with sluggish growth. It is clearly more vulnerable to shocks.”The SARS outbreak prompted the government to stimulate the Chinese economy by directing surges of credit that financed huge infrastructure projects. But whatever damage China confronts this time, its willingness to respond will be limited by the government’s concerns about mounting public debt.“They are much more constrained now,” said Mr. Lardy, the China expert. “I think people underestimate the conviction that the top leadership has, that they really want to reduce financial risk.”But as global investors try to gauge the outlook, one element is the same as ever in China: Information is scarce. Trust in the authorities is minimal.During the SARS outbreak, the government was slow to acknowledge the existence of the virus as local officials actively covered up cases, allowing the threat to multiply.This time, the government has sought to project the sense that it is forthrightly reckoning with the crisis. President Xi Jinping has publicly acknowledged the threat, while warning local officials not to hide reports of trouble.But in the current moment of agitation, any perceived lack of information tends to weigh in as bad news.“This is, of course, still a government system where transparency is not really held up as an important criterion,” Mr. Kuijs of Oxford Economics said. “This is still an overall system in which discretionary decisions by bureaucrats are driving everything instead of very clear rules.”Clifford Krauss and Matt Phillips contributed reporting. Read the full article

[shirtlesssammy]

Wishful Thinking: The Teddy Bear Doctor Recap

Guys! Guys!! We made it to one of Boris’s very favorite episodes. I’m overjoyed that we’re finally recapping it!

Then:

UST all over the place.

Now:

We open to a woman showering, when a creeper kid wanders up to the shower behind her. Just as she finishes and turns to exit, he vanishes. As the woman towels up, a ghost hand print streaks across the shower condensation, and foot prints pad across the bathroom floor. The woman senses the ghostly presence, and calls out, to no response. She then throws her hair towel aside, only for it to land 6 feet in the air. The jig is up for the apparition. “Um, hello...Mrs. Armstrong.” COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED UNCONTROLLABLE SCREAMING.

Sam and Dean are at a bar. Dean is enjoying his post-Hell coping shots, while Sam pesters him about why Uriel would tell him that Dean remembers Hell. Dean is still denying any knowledge of his time there. They also have one very enthusiastic server. Dean is not impressed.

Sam kind of has a case. He tells Dean about the ghost sightings in women’s locker rooms, and Dean’s throwing cash on the table so fast, Sam can hardly keep up. “Women, showers. We got to save these people,” Dean insists. Oh Dean, you opportunistic, sublimating unicorn.

Sam and Dean roll into Concrete, Washington. Dean drops Sam off at a Chinese restaurant where Sam interviews the woman from the cold open. He’s writing a book called...Supernatural. As she’s telling her story, Sam get distracted by a couple kissing in the corner. The woman tells Sam that the apparition knew her name, and she fell --she wasn’t pushed, which kind of unravels her story of a vengeful spirit.

Sam meets up with Dean, who did a check on Mrs. Armstrong’s house, coming up with nothing but disappointment. As they head to the car to leave the town behind, a child, chased by a group of other children, runs in front of their path, and they notice a local vehemently arguing with the police that Bigfoot attacked him. FBI agents to the rescue!

The brothers head to where “Bigfoot” was last seen, and Sam informing the audience that hunters already know that Bigfoot is a hoax. Only, they find imprints in the ground, and Sam observes, “That is a big foot.” They follow the tracks to a liquor store, door ripped off.

Once inside, they find the place trashed. Dean surmises that Bigfoot is a “girl drink drunk” with all the amaretto and Irish Cream bottles broken on the ground. And then he nabs himself some Hunters Helper. Smooth Dean. In addition to all the booze, Bigfoot also grabbed all the porno in the shop. The boys are beyond baffled, and hilariously take a silent moment to sit and ponder the absurdity of the situation. Dean’s mind wanders to comparing Bigfoot to David Duchovny. His little guilty face from thinking about Mulder is just too cute.

Just then a little girl on a bike rides by, dropping her Busty Asian Beauties mag, as one does. She was returning all the booze and porn, so they follow her to her home. They knock and the little girl answers. Sam asks to speak to her parents, but they’re not home. Dean then asks, “Have you seen a really, really furry…” and the girl quickly responds, “Is he in trouble?!” No! They just want to make sure he’s okay. The girl admits that “he” is her teddy bear and that he’s sick. It’s a good thing Sam and Dean are teddy bear doctors! They agree to take a look at him.

And then instantly regret it when he yells at them to “Close the friggin’ door!” Audrey, the little girl, explains that all she ever wanted was a big teddy, but something is wrong with him now. Dean asked how the teddy became real, and Audrey admits to wishing for it at the wishing well. Dean heads back to to the teddy bear, and gets hit with a load of existential pain.

In an aside, the brothers wonder how they take care of a stuffed teddy bear. Figuring this is just a small part of the larger mystery, they tell Audrey that the teddy bear is suffering from lollypop disease, and she should find a neighbor to stay with.

We cut to the little boy from earlier tossing a coin into a wishing well at the Chinese restaurant. He leaves just as Sam and Dean walk up to the well. Dean tests the well with a wish of his own. Two seconds later a sub arrives. Stellar service sub shop! The boys surmise that the wishing well is legit --the teddy bear, the sub sandwich, and they both see the couple again. Apparently a nerdish dude and an attractive woman make no sense. (Natasha: I know, right? Eyeroll.) As Dean eats his very delicious sub sandwich, a waiter informs him he can’t eat outside food, so the brothers show their health inspector badges to shut the restaurant down to investigate the wishing well better.

They share a BM scene, discussing what Sam would wish for. Dean seems to want him to wish for a life without the supernatural in it. Sam disagrees with it. It’s not what he wants anymore. “Well, what would Sammy wish for?” “Lillith’s head on a plate, bloody.” It’s that moment that Dean notices a strange coin, one that won’t budge from the bottom of the well. Armed with a crowbar and hammer, Dean gets nowhere with this magical coin. Sam takes an etching, tells Dean to look into it, and takes off.

Invisible creeper boy heads once again into the women’s locker room. Sam follows him him, confronts him, and shocks him into turning visible once again. 

“Don’t worry ma’am,” Sam says to explain his presence. “I’m with the health department.” Sam, you beautiful, magical dumpling. (I do love that Sam got this job instead of Dean.)

Meanwhile, Dean witnesses a young boy chasing after several much larger boys. “You got a problem, mister?” the boy asks when he notices Dean staring. No, man, no problems here. Dean is quickly distracted by indigestion, however.

Sam arrives back at the hotel room to hear Dean throwing up. “The wishes turn bad,” Dean warns weakly between vomiting spells. Urg. “The coin is Babylonian,” Dean says before he boomerangs back to the bathroom. He’s been doing some research (in between vomiting spells?) The coin is cursed and while it grants wishes, the wishes turn on the wishers. While this may seem like a lighthearted chuckle, the coin has torn entire towns apart. The only way they can stop it is to find the first wisher. That person can pull out the coin and reverse all the wishes.

Meanwhile T. Bear writes a tearful suicide note, lifts a gun to his mouth, and shoots a hole in his head (Boris: complete with stuffing!). The camera pans back and our bear is still alive! “Whyyyyyy,” he shouts in existential horror. 

Back at the hotel room, Dean’s sleeping off the bad sandwich special. He twitches in his sleep and we see flashes of Hell before Sam yells at him to wake up. Dean pops up and immediately settles on the side of the bed so he can lean over and grab the bottle of booze on the floor. He takes a swig. He’s good. Yeah. He’s good. (Boris: Man, I am so looking forward to season 13! Dean is going to be in so much pain, but if his Mary confession helped at all, he’s going to be processing Cas’s death so differently.)

Sam calls bullshit on his affected indifference. He insists that Dean remembers Hell and begs him to confide in him. “Can we stow the couples therapy?” Dean asks. He’s ready to work. Sam rattles off his list of wishers so far: the girl and her teddy bear, lottery guy, “invisible pervert guy”...

Dean, who’s been perusing the paper, finds a potential wisher that goes back one month. The surprise engagement of one Wesley Mondale and Ms. Hope Lynn Casey - aka the nerdy dude with the hot chick.

At the Mondale residence, Hope brings in “a snack” on a tray. It’s a whole roast chicken piled with a ton of other food. She loves him like crazy, scary banana cakes. “Are you happy?” he asks her, worried.

“I love you more than anything,” she replies, eyes wide. Eesh.

Wesley asks her to do things that “made her happy before.” She starts to break down into tears, worried that she’s disappointing him. He tries to reassure her when the doorbell rings. It’s Dean and Sam! This time they are the world’s surliest florists.

Wesley recognizes them as health department. Oh yeah, agrees Dean. And florists. “Plus FBI. And on Thursdays, we're teddy bear doctors.” They spot Wesley’s coin collection mounted on the wall and grill him about a certain ancient Babylonian coin. They’re interrupted from escalating their interrogation by Hope’s arrival with her wedding planning book. She manically flips through magazines and clippings while Dean and Sam ask her about their impending nuptials.

“One day last month, it’s like I just saw him for the first time.” Caught up in memories, she starts to kiss him and uuuuuuuuugh I am so uncomfortable right now.

Wesley tells him that the wish-granting coin was given to him by his grandfather. The Winchesters tell him that he’s got to unwish his wish. Dean pulls his gun out of his belt. “We really wish you’d come with us.” (Does his gun have a name? I would like to call it The Persuader. And one day Dean will be fighting a murderous debate team and pull out his gun, then say “Debate this” before killing all the monsters.)

Wesley is slumped in misery in the backseat. He’d wished that Hope would love him more than anything and he doesn’t want to take it back! It’s not fair! Pout. Pout. Dean tells him that he’s not supposed to get what he wants. That’s not how the world works. And. Okay. I mostly really, really love this episode but one thing that skeeves me out every time is that Wesley’s wish is framed as an unfortunate thing that will backfire on him. When the Winchesters talk to him about his choices, that’s how they frame it. But man. Nobody thought to just bluntly point out the horrifying consent / rape issues with Hope? I realize that robs the episode of a great deal of comedic tone, but it makes me feel gross to just gloss over it like it’s not a big deal.

Anyway, Wesley remains unconvinced and asks them to prove that his town is tumbling into insanity.

Cut to the gaggle of bully boys. The little kid knocks over an SUV holding the other terrified kids and then shouts to the sky, “Kneel before Todd!”

Sam and Wesley head off to the restaurant while Dean talks to Todd. Dean tries to give him the Spiderman “great power, great responsibility” line and Todd decks him one. 

Outside the restaurant Sam is suddenly struck by lightning. Wesley finds Hope standing over the wishing well and reveals that she wished Sam dead so he wouldn’t undo the curse. Wesley is horrified to learn that Hope wished a man dead. She loves him more than literally anything. He hugs her, reassures her, then leans over and picks up the coin.

Dean tries to control Todd but gets caught in a chokehold. Sam lies dead outside. But when the coin gets picked up Todd loses his strength and Sam revives. Dean, because he’s a good bean, acts scared in front of Todd’s bullies and the bullies flee, scared forever of the wrath of Todd.

At the restaurant Wesley tries to talk to Hope but she doesn’t know him at all. She walks out in a fog and heads back to her regular life again. Wesley mopes his way out of the restaurant and turns the coin over to Sam for safe keeping.

All the wishers are back, consequences mostly mitigated. Sam melted down the coin and the town is safe once more. Dean pauses for a super quick BM moment (away from the car! GASP!) (Boris interjects: Second one for the night! Do we even know this show?!?)

Dean tells him that he remembers everything from Hell. But he is one billion million percent not willing to talk about it. He’s deeply, deeply scarred. “You wouldn’t understand,” he tells Sam. They both choke back EMOTIONS. (And so do we.)

KNEEL BEFORE QUOTES:

Dessert time? Amirite?

Every hunter worth his salt knows bigfoot’s a hoax.

He's some kind of a alcohol-o-porno addict. Kind of like a deep woods Duchovny.

What's this, like a Harry and the Hendersons deal?

We are teddy bear doctors.

Careful what you wish for.

People are people 'cause they're miserable bastards, 'cause they never get what they really want.

There’s a bigfoot out there, and he’s a son of a bitch!

Not ‘ouch’ sad, but ‘ouch in the head’ sad.

“Why am I here?” “For tea parties!”