Sulphur & Iron

Upon opening my eyes this morning I realized that what I most wanted was to -

1.) Complain
2.) Mope
3.) Not get out of bed
4.) Agonize over whether I can afford to quit my job/whether I'll get into grad school/ how staggering a mountain of debt I'll incur since the family can't help me pay for it/ how people everywhere have much greater problems than these.
5.) ???
6.) Profit

But it's not my fault, because today is officially The Most Depressing Day of the Year
The British proved it, with science and (I assume) a team of professional miseriologists. If I'd known, I could have planned a party - of despair. With cake - of suffering.

But this won't matter tomorrow, when Obama beams us all up in his magical hope-powered mothership. Right? Right?

To combat fits of weeping and an excess of black bile, I'm recommending this.

"An Eye for an Eyelash"

"Israel likes to portray itself as an island of democracy in a sea of authoritarianism. Yet Israel has never in its entire history done anything to promote democracy on the Arab side and has done a great deal to undermine it. Israel has a long history of secret collaboration with reactionary Arab regimes to suppress Palestinian nationalism. Despite all the handicaps, the Palestinian people succeeded in building the only genuine democracy in the Arab world with the possible exception of Lebanon. In January 2006, free and fair elections for the Legislative Council of the Palestinian Authority brought to power a Hamas-led government. Israel, however, refused to recognise the democratically elected government, claiming that Hamas is purely and simply a terrorist organisation.

America and the EU shamelessly joined Israel in ostracising and demonising the Hamas government and in trying to bring it down by withholding tax revenues and foreign aid. A surreal situation thus developed with a significant part of the international community imposing economic sanctions not against the occupier but against the occupied, not against the oppressor but against the oppressed."

Avi Shlaim, How Israel brought Gaza to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, Guardian, January 7, 2008

What I Want for Christmas

Thinking about this made me a little sad, seeing as all my wishes have become undeniably adult and domestic: kitchen things, expensive sheets, liquor.

Which takes me back to simpler times:

I don't recall my brothers and I ever having the "Homeless Guy and Mustachioed-WWI Hatted Policeman" set, but I do have fond memories of the giant mass of Lego-Playmobile-Pirate-Knight-Pioneer-Doctor-Magic-Construction-Princess-Business-Land that once occupied a large chunk of an upstairs room.

So, this is my wish: That this still exists, and that someone in the world gets it for Christmas (or other winter holiday)

A Prescription for Cold Times

Sometimes plans to go to the Beat Kitchen and hear some very loud music go awry, because Chicago is settling into the bitterly frigid time of the year, and no amount of coats, scarves, and Smart-Wool socks can fortify you to step outside.

On a night such as this, J.A. and I instead drew straws to see who would go to the corner store to buy a bottle of whiskey from the friendly Turkish man. (J.A., ever gallant, braved the elements)

And then the only reasonable thing to be done is make hot toddies, with a recipe I made up. I don't know if little book of cocktails that's sitting somewhere among an illustrated book of Chinese cooking and a stack of handwritten recipes would approve, but they are delicious.

To Assemble:

- 1 1/2 ounce of Buffalo Trace bourbon (necessary if you are J.A. and me, and nostalgic for last year's trip to Spain, where this was for some reason the only bourbon we could find, and bartenders seemed nonplussed that we wanted drink it at all. The easier thing was to ask for "Un whiskey, por favor" and then a glass would be filled with Cutty Sark until one said when.)

- 1 1/2 ounces water

Heat the water and whiskey until it steams, and is too hot to dip in a finger. Then add:

- One squiggle of honey (two if you are J.A., and sweet)

- One splash of lemon juice (two if you are R.A., and sour)

- A dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves (or if you prefer, all the spices of the Orient)

Stir together, and enjoy on the futon, wrapped in blankets, while listening to the Sufjan Stevens Christmas album. Repeat as needed until the cold is chased from your bones and the end of your nose.

Cheers!