What I'd been waiting for...

Perhaps I never consciously realized what it was, but there was something that has drawn me through much of this past year to the 3rd floor cafe overlooking the River Cam.  I've mentioned the cafe before, it's my favorite chill out spot in Cambridge.  But several weeks ago, I finally experienced what I'd probably been waiting for all along...

It was an ordinary afternoon.  I was on my laptop, sipping a cappuccino, and distractedly watching the punts and row boats passing by in the river below.  When suddenly it happened.  A young couple hired a row boat for an afternoon outing.  There boat was the type where the guy sits, facing his lovely lady and controls both oars with what can only be described as impeccable virility.  You know the type of rowboat...they are often featured in old romantic movies and Andy Griffith episodes when escaped prisoners try to escape but are foiled by a leaky boat.  Anyway, this particular guy was having some trouble steering his boat (no, that's not code).  The poor guy was bouncing off the side walls of the river and ended up pretty much spinning the boat hopelessly in a circle.  Eventually, the woman that runs the boat hire had to come rescue the couple and pull them back to shore.  How emasculating.  I, however, was thoroughly entertained and was a bit sad that the ordeal was over.

Much to my surprise (and delight), minutes later another different type of boat, one where each person controls one free paddle, came bouncing from side to side down the river.  It was the same couple.  Brilliant!  While still trapped in the harbor area, the boat started spinning around again...like a toy boat in a draining bath tub.  By this point, the girl had pulled her oar from the water, placed it across her lap, and folded her arms across her chest in the classic, "I'm done with this" pose.  As a guy, I had serious pity for the poor chap hopelessly trying to salvage his boat trip and maintain his dignity.  We've all been there.  Anyway, I have to give him big props for persevering and directing the boat out of the harbor and down the river...ricocheting from side to side the entire way.

By this point I was thoroughly delighted and all the hours I'd spent in the cafe seemed well worth it.  I do wonder though...did that couple ever make it back?

Complexity Part II: Learn from one of my professors...

...Dr. Ha-Joon Chang.  Here's a link to an interview with the author of Bad Samaritans and 23 Thinks They Don't Tell You About Capitalism. He also happens to be my development economics professor. 

Ha-Joon Chang on TheRealNews.com

I've certainly learned a lot from Dr. Chang. Most importantly, the value of questioning those things that are passed off as 'fundamental historical truths.'  For example, it is often peddled, by those of a certain ideology, that the industrial powers (the U.S., Britain, Japan, Germany, etc.) achieved their current levels of prosperity through purely 'free-market' policies. In fact, this couldn't be further from the truth as all of them utilized highly interventionist policies during their prime growth years, including healthy doses of tariffs, subsidies, state-owned enterprises, and quantitative restrictions. In essence, the on-going attempt of the 'free-market' establishment to re-write history and force developing countries to adopt policies that they themselves did not use amounts to, in the words of Fredrich List, "kicking away the ladder."

While I don't have time to go into Dr. Chang's arguments in-depth (I do have exams this week after all), I highly recommend his books. It's a sad commentary on the current state of economic debate that his reasoned and factual analysis is considered heterodox, or outside the mainstream. It would seem that most of us are not ready to embrace complexity and question some of our most basic assumptions.

I'm all about development right now...

...doing stuff like this.

Can't believe it took me so long to figure out...

...Taste of Cambridge equals my Cambridge Qdoba.  Classic Falafel = Vegetarian Burrito.  All is right with the world again...

Time to drive up traffic...

...and nothing drives traffic to blogs like pictures of dogs in funny hats.  And when it's chihuahuas...it's like a triple bonus.

 

So yeah, that was the Stateside celebration over the weekend, but the dogs had nothing on the UK celebration.  I've got one word for you...Kambar.  What's the Kambar?  Just the koolest place in Cambridge...and possibly the world...duh.  In a nutshell, it's a ratty and grungy bar/club in the city centre that attracts the cream of the Cambridge crop for late-night shenanigans.  It features a stoplight, a cheap chandelier (think of your grandmother's dining room for a visual), alternative-ish music, a cramped dance floor, drinks in plastic cups, strobe lights, and of course, the persistent thunk-thunk-thunk of the dj dropping his beats.  Heaven.  Can't believe it took me so long to find it...I'll probably be spending pretty much every night there from now on...because that's how I roll.

Amsterdam...you know what that means

Keukenhof Gardens...aka the promised land

So yes, we went to Amsterdam last weekend.  Yes, it has taken me a long time to blog it out.  Yes, it was pretty much ridiculous...as expected.  No, the delay in blogging does not suggest that the weekend turned into a recreation of The Hangover (as far as you know).  In actuality, it's just been an insane week...you know how my life is...crazy busy.  Anyway, here's what I thought about A-Dam...full picture tour available in the album.

Complexity – Part I

Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned this year is to better recognize and appreciate complexity. We, as humans, love nothing more than to simplify things, to create simple black and white dichotomies, to attempt to find simple answers for complex problems. It’s only natural, but it is terribly dangerous. My aim is to create a series on complexity to examine this phenomenon a bit more closely. In Part I, I will look at the recent death of Osama bin Laden, and specifically, the reaction to the news in America. I believe the popular reaction is incredibly revealing in ways that most of us fail to recognize.

Royal Wedding

In case you didn't hear, there was a wedding in London yesterday.  Michelle went...I didn't.  I invited Michelle to serve as a guest blogger and give a first hand account, but she declined.  I think she said something like, "Why would I do that?  It's not like anyone reads that thing anyway."  Fair point.

However, I did manage to steal her photos and video.

All I have to say is...all hail the new Duke and Duchess of CAMBRIDGE!  (How do you like us now Oxford...that's what I thought! Don't worry though...maybe you'll get Harry or something as a consolation. Bwahahaha!)

One of several relatively obscure pre-wedding processional shots...see the album for the complete set.

Where all the magic happened at 1:26 BDT.

Remember when the Mayberry Band brought in the ringers form Freddy Fleet and his Band with a Beat to fool the mayor?  The way they wear their hats kind of reminds me of that...like they're trying to hide something.

 

Grass Court Season...

Well, it wasn't quite Wimbledon...but almost.  My very first time on a grass tennis court.  Overall, it was pretty much what you'd expect...pretty grassy. 

The scene: Centre Court at Churchill College...just before dusk...clash of the titans, me versus Blake (who is noted for her sneaky-good backhand and combination lower the roof/Soulja Boy-Crank That victory dance, which is so sly and elusive it's practically impossible to catch on camera).

Epic Clash

Great Hustle

The backhand slice...so effective on grass

Vive le France! Part Deux

Want to know one interesting fact I learned about France during our trip to Paris…for some reason, their promotional posters for the movie Hangover 2 call it “Really Bad Trip 2.”  At first I thought, well, that must be the closest translation…then I realized the poster was in English…very confusing.  Ah, the French and their quirky contradictions…

Vive le France! - Part Un

A little taste of Paris...in video form.

Taking over England (or wherever): The Grantchester Edition

So yes, I've decided to finally bring back (by popular demand) the Taking over England series with a new installment...Grantchester.  In other words, we finally poked our heads out of the whole that is our flat and didn't see our shadows.  Spring has definitely arrived...

Hit ‘em Up

So, as I mentioned before, we did manage to complete our quick trip home earlier this week.  It was a good time…here are some random thoughts on the last week and a half or so…

-  First off, and on a completely unrelated note, it was brought to my attention that I share a birthday with Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls aka Greatest Rapper of All-Time(?)!  My first reaction was, “How did I not know this?”  If you don’t believe me, check my Facebook page…that was literally my first reaction.  My second reaction was, “Do I share a birthday with the greatest rapper of all-time?”  It’s a distinct possibility.  I love both Biggie and Tupac (despite their literally homicidal hatred for each other).  I would guess Eminem has to be in the conversation as well.  Maybe some others (50, Kanye...)?  I’m not sure…I really only listen to rap music that makes the mainstream…but I feel that gives me enough expertise to judge (I mean, I do have my own blog after all).

-  On our train ride from London to the airport, a young Jordanian (as it turns out) lady got on the train with a clattering of luggage and great huffing of breath.  She was clearly in a hurry and wanted everyone to know it.  She sat next to an older American lady.  This turned out to be a true blessing.  The older lady caught my attention earlier in the journey because she got highly flustered when another passenger picked up a dropped make-up compact and left it on the train seat before exiting the train.  She actually got up and gave it a close inspection and asked the person sitting across from her if that was just a make-up case because that “looked suspicious” (the person responded, “Yes, you idiot”)…apparently she thought it was a bomb or something…a make-up bomb. I do miss paranoid Americans sometimes. Anyway, the Jordanian and the American struck up a nice conversation.  It began with the normal formalities, but quickly progressed to a careful psychoanalysis of the Jordanian girl’s life history.  Apparently, she has the master’s degree…and still can’t find a job (shocking). She said she really wanted to stay in the UK (obviously, because as the American aptly noted, “It’s probably so oppressive there in Jordan”…I mean of course it is, they have the Islam and everything).  As it turns out, she’s had some serious depression issues…and felt the need to let her potential employers know in interviews that she was on anti-depressants.  Good strategy.   Not surprisingly (if there’s one thing us Americans do well…it’s mental health), the American didn’t seem shocked by this revelation though she did counsel that she “needed to be careful about that.”   Sound advice.  Just think the absolute genius the whole world would have missed out on if the Jordanian had missed that train…I shudder at the thought.

-  Because I’m still trying, after almost two weeks, to wrap my head around this train conversation…and I can’t help picturing either one of the two conversant playing the real-life role of perspective aid worker interviewee in my new favorite Youtube video…I’ll leave it at that for now.

Something to fill the void...

...while I'm seriously unmotivated and trying to catch up with school work.  We did successfully complete our whirlwind trip home a couple days ago.  Nothing too exciting, just lots of fun family and dog time.  I promise to post some more complete anecdotes soon.  Until then, I'm trying my best not to become the guy in this video...

Now that's what I'm talkin' about...

A much better effort this time...

And perhaps most importantly, some big news...we are bringing the non-stop party that is our life back to the USA for a week, starting tomorrow!  It promises to look something like this...

Spring Time in Cambridge…

So I set a goal for myself to snap so awesome pictures of the beautiful spring blossoms and blue skies before they fade away.  I pretty much failed miserably.  I managed to take four pictures total…none of which are particularly good.  In my defense, (a) I don’t really like taking pictures and (b) carrying around a camera seriously ruins my street cred...I’ve managed to get to the point where the punt tour salesman don’t approach me any more…one click of the camera and all my hard work on that front is out the window.  Now that I’ve successfully played the expectations game…here you have it…

Note that the cyclist rode into my shot...I was like, 'Should I take another? Nah...it's good.'

Not very seasonal...but decent

I don't know

Good use of lighting on my part

 I'm pretty disappointed with myself...

Ninjas versus Pirates: MCR Guest Night…Pure Shenanigans

Ok, since last term’s brilliant Guest Night experience (remember…Bond Night?) I know everyone has been anxiously awaiting the Lent Term redux.  It was Saturday night…and it was pure craziness.  The theme…Ninjas versus Pirates…for those of you who have ever wondered which would reign supreme…and who hasn’t really?  You can find all the photos in the album.

"We’re Chelsea…so f#*# all the rest"

The event I know all of you have been waiting for since we arrived on the little island…an outing to a top-level football match.  We managed to check this one off the list on Wednesday night…Chelsea versus FC Copenhagen in leg two of a Champion’s League round of sixteen tie at Stamford Bridge.  Full photo gallery here.

Catching up…

Lots of stuff going down the past week or so…not really.

-  Monday we went to a public lecture by the esteemed fiction author Ian McEwan (author of Atonement, among many other novels). Very interesting talk about what he calls “the levers of fiction” (in other words, the tools of the fiction-writing craft).  I always find it fascinating to listen to people that are so passionate about their subject, whatever it might be, because it makes me think about things in a whole new perspective. One take home point from this evening…if you don’t get a particular novel…it’s your fault, not the author’s.

-  Saw two movies at the theater in the past week or so…No Strings Attached and Hall Pass (no, we’re not intentionally sticking to a particular theme).  Both were funny.  Definitely DVD-viewing worthy…unless you don’t have a TV, then seeing them in the theater is ok.

-  Apparently Prince Charles visited Cambridge today.  Unfortunately, only the smart kids were invited to attend his reception…so I didn’t get to go.  Plus, Julian Assange (aka WikiLeaks) is giving a talk on Tuesday.  Unfortunately, only those who paid the exorbitant union society were invited…so I won’t get to go.  I feel like there should be some reward for those that have the best attendance record at the ubiquitous and often more boring events throughout the year.  I feel like I would be on top of the heap in that respect…they really need some type of perfect attendance award.

-  Funny how your environment can affect your perception of things.  I was doing some job searching the other day (as usual) and came across a listing for a “CSR Position” in Titusville.  I was like, wow…a Corporate Social Responsibility job in Titusville?!? Perfect! I applied and everything…there wasn’t much of a job description.  Then I realized later…it was a “Customer Service Representative” job.  Didn’t even think of that rather obvious possibility at the time.

-  I really feel like there’s more I should be saying…but can’t come up with anything.  Sorry, I feel like I’m letting everyone down.

Trinity Formal: Kicking it old school…

We managed to score swap tickets to a formal dinner at Trinity College (one of the big 3). It was last night…and let me tell you, it’s a whole other world over there.

-  Allow me to set the stage…Trinity is ridiculously exclusive and snobbish.  It’s the one college that non-Trinity students can’t even walk into without a valid reason.  And “I really want to see it” apparently isn’t a valid reason…I already tried it.  Anyway, we finally got our first glimpse of the promised land on our way into dinner.  Sporting our best dinner wear…we were looking quite spiffy (see below). The Trinity courtyard is quite impressive, even in the dark.  There’s a nice fountain and gazebo in the middle and it generally looks like a castle, with turrets and all. It also comes complete with suitably bossy and scary staff…those guys are legit.

-  Our first brush with the elite came at the pre-dinner reception. Get this…for their non-alcoholic juice option, they served pear juice. Not apple, not orange…pear.  I’m telling you…it’s just a whole other world.

-  The dining hall itself was pretty swanky…rather Harry Potter-esque except there was a portrait of Henry VIII at the head of the hall.  Unfortunately, we were a bit unprepared for the bull rush into the hall to find seats.  Ended up pinned on an island between the drunks and the snobs (but that was pretty much unavoidable really).  We didn’t talk to anyone else the whole time…how do you like us now Trinity?

-  Food was solid. Risotto and potatoes were good.  Michelle said the cow was also good.  Chocolate mousse was very solid.  No complaints really.  I got my port to cap off the meal…that’s all that matters really.

-  That’s about it really, solid night. Check Trinity College off the bucket list.