Journal cyranoVR's Journal: Weekend Report 7

Homecoming
On Saturday morning, MrsVR and I trekked uptown to the our college Fencing team's Homecoming event. Unfortunately(?), almost none of our classmates were there - it was only guys from the 50's and 60's. I stood around with them before the meet listening to scary stories about going down to fence Navy.

The meet was really exciting, as there was a large turnout of spectators. There were even some students wearing facepaint and the school mascot(!) if you can believe that. It was pretty rowdy.

The women fenced first. As the match was very close (Princeton was leading 10-8 going into the final round), everyone was going nuts cheering. St. John's and Rutgers were fencing on an adjacent strip, and their fencers (training partners, actually) complained to me it was too loud - distractingly so. "Get used to it," I had to tell them. At the NCAA championships, Penn State and Notre Dame invariably get into an ear-splitting cheering contest.

Happily, the Lady Lions managed to pull off a come-from-behind 16-10 victory, with foil sweeping the last round 3-0.

The men's team won much more easily, led by a 9-0 shutout by the Saber squad.

There are no real weaknesses in the men's or women's team - they stand a legitament chance of winning the upcoming NCAA championship. MrsVR and I plan on driving up to Brandeis next month to watch.

Dim Sum at HSF
On Sunday MrsVR and I took our friend Bob down to HSF on Bowery Street for Dim Sum. I have to say, if you want to try Dim Sum in NYC, this is "the" place to go. Shrimp dumplings, stir-fried choi, fried taro pancakes, turnip cake, egg-custard, fried-pork rolls, pork buns - they have it all, and it's all good!

Of course, if you want to try the really nasty stuff (chicken feet, cow stomach) you have to special order it. The carts they wheel around only have "standard" dishes, so it is a good place for first timers who might get grossed out. Still, the do have some rather wierd original dishes - such as their Bacon-Wrappped Shrimp deep-fried to perfection.

Last week was Chinese New Year, but apparently the festivities weren't over as during our meal a troupe of drummers showed up with a chinese dragon. While the band played, the dragon actually came in the restaurant and danced around all the tables. The dragon had googly-eyes. It was pretty cool.

And it wasn't at all expensive either!

The Super Bowl
Well, I didn't really care which team won, but from what little I caught, it was an exciting game. Gotta love all that passing, 80-yard runs, etc.

[Un]fotunately, I missed the boobie incident. I was surfing on the laptop when suddenly MrsVR cried out "OhMyGod he just ripped something off her costume and you could see her breast!!!"

Me: "Hmmmmmm..? Um ok."

Observations:
1) It was a publicity stunt. Everyone who wastes time talking about it at work or otherwise contributes to the "buzz" is a sucker.
2) I am a sucker, goddamit.
3) This country is pretty goddamn repressed. It is just a fucken breast, goddamit! As my grandmother used to say "it's just the human body, and the body is beautiful."
4) What's one of the first things you see, after some scary doctor? Yer mom's breast. Everyone has already seen a breast, especially children! It's not like they were simulating sex on stage or something. Geez.
5) Oh yeah, I remember now - "Red America" people are upset because this represents the "Mainstreaming of Porn." Let the flamewar begin.

Our new apartment
MrsVR and I are buying a two-br condo. I am pretty psyched because it has a 24-hour gym (which is on our floor). MrsVR is busying herself buying new furnishings and stuff for the apt. *Yawn* Of course, she has charged me with the duty of setting up a wireless network - the condo has a 700 sq. ft. terrace, so being able to surf out in the sun is a priority.

Red Warrior and I debate Guantanamo Bay
I expended quite a bit of mental energy on this thread over the weekend. For those of you who don't have time/interest to read the whole thing, I'll sum up for you:

(Please keep in mind that this is a paraphrase)

RW: The fact is that the United States is following the Geneva Convention and treating the prisoners better than is required of POWs (which they aren't). For shits and giggles, here is the relevant text of the Geneva Convention. Show me how Guantanamo Bay violates it.

Me: Here are numerous newspaper articles, reports and expert analysis that contradict your claims of "fact." The Red Cross recently raised harsh criticism of the camps conditions and the detainees' treatment. Respected legal scholars are coming out against the US's interpretation of the Geneva convention. Allied Countries (i.e. with whom we have treaties) are protesting their citizens' indefinite imprisonment. The Supreme Court will be ruling on this matter over the Summer.

RW: Those are just opinions. The FACTS remain that the US is following the Geneva convention, and the treatment of the detainees is just fine. What part of "fact" don't you understand?

Me: I guess this has become a religious argument in which one simply chooses which side they will support without rationally considering evidence contrary to one's view. Here, I even found some articles that argue in favor of the US's "illegal combatant" position and use (or lack of use) of military tribunals.

RW: Quite clearly YOU see this as a religious argument - one in which you believe that Bush is Evil. You won't acknowledge The Facts, which I have already stated. Again, if you simply read the text Geneva Convention for yourself, you would understand that the US position is correct. End of Thread.

Me: You are calling certain things "facts" when they are actually "subjective interpretations." The only facts are the actual conditions of the camps and circumstances of the detainees' legal treatment. It takes some work to prove that these facts actually conform with the Geneva Convention. The controversy we have seen over this matter itself proves that the US's interpretation is not self-evident "fact." End of Thread.