Wanted: unknowing white male, 5'9", 230 lbs, brown hair

On Sunday, April 9 2004, surveillance cameras caught this man being surprised at the gathering of his friends and family for his birthday.

Going back...

I was back in Princeton briefly and gave a small talk and met with my book editor. Of course, things don’t change there (except for the last remaining non-gentrified restaurant in town going upscale). Yes, Princeton is pretty, but the place still gives me the willies. But my editor did point out to me the pre-aged statue they added.


You’d think, if anything, Princeton has time on its side. But this classic is only a few years old and was installed with patina already fixed.


Princeton also has their own label on bottled water for speakers. It’s amazing what a $9.9 billion endowment will get you.

Pisco Sour, Mmmmmm

I finally broke the Times

Having read the New York Times all my literate life, I've been trying hard to get my name fit to print. Today's the day. I'm quoted along with the more impressive big shots Jerry Skolnick, Frank Zimring, and David Kennedy.

We eat like this every day

Sometimes we when have guests over for dinner, they ask, “do you eat like this everyday?!” Well, basically, yes. I mean maybe not everyday. Because some days are leftovers. Or Mexican tortas. But we do eat pretty well most days.

Normally the East Asian Continent in my department. But tonight Zora whipped up this little gem of a dinner.

Shrimp and pork sautéed.


For an pancake filled with goodness.

Eggplant with spicy stuff on top.

Pork in a caramel sauce. This was sweet and, with a little extra fish sauce, delicious.

Grilled beef salad. It was my retro-nouveau cucumber garnish that inspired me to photograph the whole dinner.

Spicy Nuoc Cham sauce for the beef: Fish Sauce (Nuoc Mam in Vietnamese, Nam Pla in Thai), sugar, lime juice, garlic, carrot, hot pepper.

Fish sauce? I love it. Here’s the best article I ever read about fish sauce. I found it just now.