The New York WorldRecent postsClear the Ice! Oksana Is No Blue Baiul- August 26, 2008 On a recent Monday morning, Oksana Baiul was pulling on a pair of battered skates at the Ice House in Hackensack, N.J., a few miles from her top-floor high-rise apartment in Cliffside Park. (When friends come over and see her Manhattan view, she said, theyre all like, Mo-ther fu-cker!) She yanked off one American-flag-bespangled blade protector, then another, pushed up the sleeves of her fuzzy Tweety-yellow sweater and made her way onto the crowded ice, skating past five-time national ice dance.http://www.observer.com/2008/style/clear-ice-oksana-no-blue-baiul Death of a Warrior- August 12, 2008 On a blustery day last December, my 78-year-old Tibetan father stepped out of customs at John F. Kennedy Airport into the unforgiving air of his new home. After eight years apart, his family was reunited in a land where he could find the freedom and independence for which he spent the better part of his life fighting. I first met Wangyal (many Tibetans use only one name) as a student 13 years ago when I lived with his family, who were among the thousands of Tibetans who had fled Chinese control.http://www.observer.com/2008/style/death-warrior Zen Small Talk- August 5, 2008 When someone asks, Hows it going answer, As the necessary consequence of previous actions! While they attain satori, make your escape. If someone asks, Whats new spread apart your hands and answer, Everything! with a creepy grin. If the creepy grin doesnt work, try adding, And also, nothing! and tapping them on the nose. If someone asks, Hows it going answer, How isnt it going (cf: What isnt new, What time isnt it, How isnt it hanging, etc.) If someone asks, Whats going on say, What, indeed,...http://www.observer.com/2008/style/zen-small-talk In Defense of Subway Music- August 5, 2008 The music on the subway has improved dramatically, dont you think Recently, I saw Floyd Lee, an electric blues musician, in the 34th Street station (at Sixth Avenue), backed by two extremely thin Japanese musicians: a bass player and a drummer. Mr. Lee is an up-tempo showman. After one blistering solo, he took off his hat and fanned the strings, to cool off the guitar. His version of Ray Charles Whatd I Say was so infectious, three generations of music lovers gathered, smiling. Mr. Lee, who was.http://www.observer.com/2008/style/defense-subway-music |