What Harm Could a Few Terrorists Do?

In support of the argument that we should close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay despite a Pentagon report "that about one in seven of the 534 prisoners already transferred abroad from the detention center...are engaged in terrorism or militant activity," the New York times reported today:

Terrorism experts said a 14 percent recidivism rate was far lower than the rate for prisoners in the United States, which, they said, can run as high as 68 percent three years after release.

What ever happened to common sense? ... Of course, this is piled on top of yesterday's New York Times' ode to hypocrisy:

"Guantánamo makes us less safe," the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said at a news conference where he laid out the party’s rationale for its decision [to bar transfer of detainees to the United States], which is expected to be voted on this week. "However, this is neither the time nor the bill to deal with this. Democrats under no circumstances will move forward without a comprehensive, responsible plan from the president. We will never allow terrorists to be released into the United States."

So now the Democrats are admitting that Guantanamo Bay houses terrorists, rather than some poor saps who happened to be walking by a war zone and accidentally got rounded up by the U.S. army?

Why are we closing Guantanamo Bay again? Anyone?

Searching for the Perfect Pad Thai

The hubby and I have been on a quest for the perfect pad thai for years. Some are too soggy. Some are too dry. Some have come close to being just right...but never quite there. Well, I am glad to announce that we may have finally stumbled upon the holy grail of pad thai at a restaurant called "Land" on Manhattan's Upper West Side (450 Amsterdam Ave, b/w 81st & 82nd St).

The place is small and quaint, with excellent thai dishes -- pad thai or otherwise (the steamed vegetable dumplings, for instance, are not to be missed). But the pad thai is...well, perfect. Firm but moist noodles, the right mix of ingredients, no overpowering flavors or smells, not at all watery or dry. It's really just right.

Another two pluses in my book: Land has a nice selection of wine and serves sticky rice. While the wait can be quite long on a Friday or Saturday night, a great pub next door makes the time fly. And, well, the food is worth the wait.

(Note: Land did not pay me for this post, but if they're reading, gift certificates to their restaurant are always appreciated!)

The City

I was never really a fan of The Hills... mostly because I'm not a fan of L.A. But when they decided to make The City spinoff, I figured I had to give it a chance. (And in case you've been living under a rock or just simply living in the MTV-less real world, The City is a semi-reality show about a nobody girl trying to make it in the fashion business in New York City...with the help of clever MTV producers who spin her "real" life into a plot fit for a soapy TV show.)

So, the first season of The City just ended this week. Now that I've had time to digest the show as a whole, here are my thoughts:

I've grown to like Whitney. I especially like her pink lipstick...so cute! Anyway, I was proud of her in this last episode for standing up to evil Upper East Side snob Olivia and to her hunky downtown hipster sleazebag ex-boyfriend Jay. Go Whitney! ...Though, of course, this plot clearly falls in line with my prediction of this show being made to emulate the trials and tribulations of Sex and the City's lovable Carrie and love-to-hate Mr. Big. Case in point: In the finale of the first season of Sex and the City, Carrie tells Mr. Big to take a hike too. Sigh...how predictable.

I like Allie. I hate her player boyfriend, Adam, though. I definitely fell into the producer's love/hate trap here. And I bet all the male MTV viewers who watch this show (yeah, you're out there) love Allie and give props to Adam for scoring such a hot chick while getting some on the side. Those MTV producers are geniuses.

I like Olivia. She obviously got this gig specifically by agreeing to play the gorgeous, snobby, rich-girl villain. And why the heck else would she be working as an intern for DVF other than to implement the character of Whitney's frenemy in the workplace. Love it!

Jay, Jay, Jay.... As I've already mentioned, he's obviously styled to be the hipster version of "Mr. Big" ... obviously without any of the "bignesss." The producers are clearly setting him up to be the guy Whitney dumps and takes back...over and over again. I bet the number of expected break-ups and reunifications are spelled out in their contracts.

So, all in all, it was a great season. And yes, I know the show is blatantly set up and not real at all. (Why else would Jay's ex-girlfriends, for instance, "happen" to show up in the most unexpected places again and again?) But I know that taking "real" people and setting them up to deal with life's most awkward moments is exactly what keeps us all watching. For that, I give props to MTV.

Delta: You'll Love the Way We Fly...Without You

Going "airline" is this decade's "going postal."

I was close to "going airline" today at the Delta terminal in JFK Airport. Turns out the $500 airplane ticket I purchased on expedia.com was not for a "seat" on Delta flight 1823 from New York to Miami, but rather for a "reservation" for a chance at a seat. Turns out Delta overbooked my flight by an extra dozen passengers (and does so routinely for all their flights) without letting me know until I arrived at the gate...after I had checked my liquid-filled bag for a $15 fee. Turns out I lost the seat "lottery." Turns out Delta runs three flights a day from New York to Miami on the eve of spring break. Turns out Delta overbooked all its Miami flights. Turns out that your checked luggage can get on an overbooked flight...even when you can't. Turns out my luggage was in the company of another dozen or so bags that went on vacation without their owners. Turns out that when your luggage goes on vacation without you, you don't get your $15 back.

I was close to going postal...or rather, airline, on someone at Delta today. Instead, I wrote this post.

The Oscars Streaming Blog: Part VI

My predictions were all right! *Patting myself on the back.* Well, the Oscars were pretty blah this year. Some great dresses; some lousy dresses. Nothing very memorable, except those weird award presentations where egocentric actors and actresses who've already won their own Oscars tell the actor/actress nominees of the night (in the second-person) how each one of their innovative 2008 performances changed the world. Gag me.

The Oscars Streaming Blog: Part V

That dancing medley was fun! Woke me up. And that black girl showed everyone up at the end. Yeah!

The Oscars Streaming Blog: Part IV

I'm bored. *Yawn.*