Category: Uncategorized

A sudden storm…

Emma1 Comment

Hi everyone,

There was a brief, BUT very powerful, storm in DC area yesterday (SUN, 7/25).  There was no electricity in the house from 4 p.m. onwards.   Our neighbor’s aunt was locked out of the house, so she came to hang out w/ us for a while.  (The nabes had gone off to an event.)  I felt bad b/c we ONLY had little 4 stubby little candles (and I was in a cranky mood)!  This lady, who looked young and in good shape for her age, immigrated to the US just 3 yrs ago from Gazipur (a village).  Back in Bangladesh, she raised 2 kids (now grown and settled).  In recent years, her husband and both in-laws passed away.  She had to wait 10 yrs to get the visa to join her relatives!  Luckily, ALL her brothers and sisters are in the West (Canada and US).  These days, she’s working and trying to become more of an “independant” person. 

I went to bed around 10 p.m. and listened to the iPod nano radio until midnight.  I woke up at 3:30 a.m. for a few mins. and saw that the electricity was back.  In the morning, I saw that several trees were uprooted; one big tree blocked a road.  The storm caused most damage in Montgomery County, MD.  (On NPR this morning, I heard that VA folks didn’t have it so bad, except some rural parts of Loudon County.)

But here’s something COOL… 

A few weeks ago, a lady named Muriel, who manages Diego Hartfield’s official web site, contacted me about using my ’08 US Open photos of Diego.  Those photos are now on the site! 

http://diegohartfield.net/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=233

What I’m currently reading:

Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez

What I’m currently watching:

Lark Rise to Candleford (Series 2)

Quantum Leap (Season 3)

The Tudors (Season 2)

All the best,

EMMA.

Spring is here!

EmmaLeave a comment

Update on me:

Last Wednesday night, I went to a speed dating event at K St Lounge hosted by Professionals in the City.  [I had been to this lounge when South Asians for Obama (SAFO) had an event last year.]  This event was also geared toward South Asians around my age, though there were 2 guys who were not South Asian.  It was a pretty fun event, though I thought it could’ve been better. 

First of all, there were TOO many people- 27 men and 30 women!  It took more than 2 hours to talk w/ every guy.  The time (4 mins) went by VERY quickly w/ few exceptions.  When you go to events like this, there are bound to be 1 or 2 people who have ZERO interest in talking w/ you (not even to be polite).  They will just hem and haw, not bothering to think up a topic to discuss.  In my opinion, 4 mins is just TOO short.  I think 7 mins would be better.  

Second issue: quite a few people came w/ their friends to this event.  Okay, maybe they wanted to feel comfortable going with a little group.  Or they just have single pals.  But the POINT of this event was to meet NEW people!  The petite gal sitting next to me also came by herself, and I chatted a bit w/ her.  She commented that most of her friends are getting married, not going out as much, and so on.

I didn’t have HUGE expectations going into this event.  I arrived a BIT early and noticed that people were talking w/ their pals or just standing about.  I wanted to go up and chat w/ some gals, but they didn’t come off as very friendly.  Or maybe they were a little nervous?  Okay, on to the guys!

The guys (expect perhaps 2 or 3) were Indian Hindus.  One guy said he was 1/2 Bengali (mom’s side) after I mentioned I was Bangladeshi.  As you may expect, most were American desis (born and raised in US).  But I was surprised to see many immigrant and 1.5 gen guys (and gals) at this event.  (At a similar event in NYC 2 years back, there were very few immigrant guys and no immigrant gals!) 

All the guys were professionals (of course!); most work w/ the fed govt (IT contractor, IT manager, computer engineer).  I think there was only 1 investment banker, 2 lawyers and 2 or 3 research scientists.  A few of these guys impressed me, BUT I don’t think I clicked w/ any.  Too bad!  At least I took a chance. 

You can check out the web site below if interested.  This organization holds events in various cities.               

http://www.prosinthecity.com/dcevents.php

 

Movies I’ve Seen Recently:

Gran Torino (2008)

I saw this movie while my mom was visting; she REALLY likes Clint Eastwood.  I thought there were some nice/funny moments, BUT it seemed implausible to me (especially the ending). 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205489/

Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948)

This is a melancholy romance/drama set in Austria.  It has great atmosphere and lighting.  It’s worth a look!   

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040536/

 

Recent iTunes Downloads:

BardCast: The Shakespeare Podcast 

http://bardcast.blogspot.com/

Chop Bard

http://www.inyourearshakespeare.com/chopbard.html

 

What I’m watching:

Babylon 5: Seasons 1 & 2 are on Hulu.  This sci-fi series (5 seasons total) came out around the same time as Star Trek: DS9.  I’ve seen 8 eps so far, and it get’s getting good!   

http://www.hulu.com/

2010 Vancouver Olympics: Ice Dancing

EmmaLeave a comment

The best of ice dancing tells the  story of two people falling in love.  -Dick Button

 

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) – Gold Medal

This couple just WOW-ed the audience (and judges) with their steamy, fast-paced, and technically superb flamenco!  Tessa used her long red skirt very skillfully as a prop; Scott’s expression was TERRIFIC throughout the dance.

At the end of the OD, V&M took the lead.  This is one of the MOST well-choreographed ODs I’ve ever seen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vDLpfGN80g

In the Free Dance (FD), V&M skated after their training partners/good friends Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA).  I LOVED D&W’s FD, and wondered what V&M would do.  (Did you know BOTH couples have been skating with their respective partners for 13 years!?)

V&M went “old school” w/ a very sweet/elegant FD with one piece of romantic music.  Their costumes were very simple, yet beautiful.   The audience fell in love with them as well!

A fan blog:

http://virtuemoir.blogspot.com/

YouTube channel with many V&M videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/gillym123

 

Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA) – Silver Medal

In the OD, Davis & White wore lovely Indian-inspired outfits.  They danced to music from Bollywood movies, including the international hit Devdas.  In a interview on the NBC web site, Charlie mentioned that they both took a classical Indian dance course to prep for their dance.  Meryl was proud that many in India were watching (and commenting positively) about this program on YouTube.  Very cool!

 

In the FD, D&W skated first in the final group.  They set the bar VERY high!  Their dance was fast, difficult, and passionate.  Charlie is a VERY strong skater; Meryl moves like a ballerina.  (IMHO they performed better than at Nationals.)

Meryl and Charlie looked exhausted at the end of the FD b/c they did their BEST!  That’s how the Olympics should be…

YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/merylandcharlie

Watching these young North Americans, I was reminded of ground-breaking couples from the past: Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat (my favorite team- from France), Isabelle & Paul Duchesnay (brother-sister team from France), and Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (the famed duo from Great Britain).  These teams paved the way for this confident new generation with their creative lifts, innovate choreography, and dedication to improve their sport (with OR without a medal).

I wish Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto got the bronze medal this time; in 2006, they won the silver.  That judgment would have been fair, but it was NOT meant to be.  B&A have contributed a LOT to ice dance over the last decade; it was FUN to watch them grow up and improve.  They were the first U.S  team taken seriously at the international level.

My 1st Olympics

EmmaLeave a comment

1988 Calgary Olympics

These were the first Olympics I ever watched!  I have a few vague memories of that time (since I was just 9).  I went to YouTube recently to look back at some programs. 

Brian Orser’s Short Program (SP)

A VERY well choreographed/fast/fun program revealing Orser’s personality, as well as skill.  He was ahead of Boitano after the SP w/ this program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8lQGAxH4VY&feature=related

Brian Boitano’s SP

Who knew a SP could ALSO be this artistic!? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me0RvshG1pY

Boitano’s Long Program (LP)

This was the gold medal-winning performance choreographed by Sandra Bezic (now a NBC commentator).  As you will see, it was ALMOST flawless.  Boitano was the total package, and then some IMHO.  He created the ‘Tano lutz: a triple lutz with the left hand poised above the head.  Besides his jumps (he’s the first American to land the triple axel) and spins, Boitano had a GORGEOUS spread eagle (another one of his signature moves) and TRULY felt the music.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEYNskBniw0&feature=related

Orser’s LP

It was “too close,” as Orser says after he gets silver.  He was the first man to do 2 triple axels at a major competition (1987 Worlds).  Before the Brians in ’88, it wasn’t common to see 2 triple axels in one program.  They BOTH set new standards for excellence, technically and artistically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ4BLCff93M&feature=related

Viktor Petrenko’s LP

An 18 y.o. Ukranian (skating for the then USSR) burst onto the world stage w/ his elegant/mature program.  Look at the height on his jumps, his beautiful lay-back spin, and posture!  GREAT things were up ahead for Petrenko… 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKj0E4U4zrY&feature=related

An interview looking back at the “Battle of the Brians”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=383RoLN-j9E&feature=related