Happy Pop's Day!
Dad's middle name is Joseph, so his monogram is PBJ. How cool is that?
Maybe Dad got into Mom's vicodin.
On second thought, looks like they shared it.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Fam Time
Exciting developments in Boston coupled with continued insomnia sponsored this lazy post.
Happy Pop's Day!
Dad's middle name is Joseph, so his monogram is PBJ. How cool is that?
Maybe Dad got into Mom's vicodin.
On second thought, looks like they shared it.
Happy Pop's Day!
Dad's middle name is Joseph, so his monogram is PBJ. How cool is that?
Maybe Dad got into Mom's vicodin.
On second thought, looks like they shared it.
Dartmouth '05 Reunion
I always liked school superlatives.
Least Changed: Olivia Whitinger – MIA since arriving at school, except for a text on Saturday morning: “I cannot find my pants.”
Best Smile: Alyssa Hochman
Best Catchphrase: “Go Daddy!” – Codi calling out to the ’96 rowers while lounging by the river
Strangest Compliment: "You look like a stewardess."
Biggest Faux Pas: Alex calling someone a d&!# not knowing he was standing right behind her.
Frattiest: Founding members of KDE
Others:
Most Missed: John Helmstedder III
Most Likely to Succeed: Matt Oppenheimer
Most Likely To Surprise Us All: Kate Schoener
Cutest Couple: Brian Edmonson & Nate Gorence
Inseperables: Megh Duwadi & facetime
Best Conversationalist: Abi Ridgway
Most Stylish: Krista Oopik
Best Eats: Bagel Basement
Ladies’ Man: Sean Robinson
Least Changed: Olivia Whitinger – MIA since arriving at school, except for a text on Saturday morning: “I cannot find my pants.”
Best Smile: Alyssa Hochman
Best Catchphrase: “Go Daddy!” – Codi calling out to the ’96 rowers while lounging by the river
Strangest Compliment: "You look like a stewardess."
Biggest Faux Pas: Alex calling someone a d&!# not knowing he was standing right behind her.
Frattiest: Founding members of KDE
Others:
Most Missed: John Helmstedder III
Most Likely to Succeed: Matt Oppenheimer
Most Likely To Surprise Us All: Kate Schoener
Cutest Couple: Brian Edmonson & Nate Gorence
Inseperables: Megh Duwadi & facetime
Best Conversationalist: Abi Ridgway
Most Stylish: Krista Oopik
Best Eats: Bagel Basement
Ladies’ Man: Sean Robinson
Monday, June 14, 2010
Evil Pimms
Saturday night can best be summed up in Angelica's text:
Evil Pimms! After my second cup I decided I needed to dance, and the next thing I know it's 4 AM. I'm incredibly sweaty, my phone has died, and people are looking for me saying my husband is worried sick. I should also mention I found Tim drinking straight from the bottle of Pimms, like a pirate.
They weren't always pirates.
We were celebrating the England vs. USA soccer football match which ended in a draw. It was a proud day for American ex-pats in Budapest until the Hungarian American football team joined us at the bar and reminded everyone why foreigners think Americans are douches.
Luckily, Krista and I were there to redeem America's reputation.
If you define redemption as being unable to follow the football match, eating hamburgers and drinking Pimms like it was my job.
And deciding to go spelunking at the Palvolgyi Cave on Sunday.
In unrelated news, Kris introduced me to the skinny arm.
According to legend, if you shout the name of your favorite dish into the Laszlo Lakatos Chamber, the dish will be waiting for you in your kitchen.
Unfortunately upon our return home neither a pig roast nor blueberry pancakes were waiting for us.
(Can you guess which one was Krista's request? Hint: her favorite website is shouldieatbacon?.com.)
While the rest of the world focuses on the World Cup this week, I will reserve my energy for the not-so-young and occasionally-hustling Boston Celtics. Kris, you might want to purchase a romper for the occasion. Go Cs!!!
Evil Pimms! After my second cup I decided I needed to dance, and the next thing I know it's 4 AM. I'm incredibly sweaty, my phone has died, and people are looking for me saying my husband is worried sick. I should also mention I found Tim drinking straight from the bottle of Pimms, like a pirate.
They weren't always pirates.
We were celebrating the England vs. USA soccer football match which ended in a draw. It was a proud day for American ex-pats in Budapest until the Hungarian American football team joined us at the bar and reminded everyone why foreigners think Americans are douches.
Luckily, Krista and I were there to redeem America's reputation.
If you define redemption as being unable to follow the football match, eating hamburgers and drinking Pimms like it was my job.
And deciding to go spelunking at the Palvolgyi Cave on Sunday.
In unrelated news, Kris introduced me to the skinny arm.
According to legend, if you shout the name of your favorite dish into the Laszlo Lakatos Chamber, the dish will be waiting for you in your kitchen.
Unfortunately upon our return home neither a pig roast nor blueberry pancakes were waiting for us.
(Can you guess which one was Krista's request? Hint: her favorite website is shouldieatbacon?.com.)
While the rest of the world focuses on the World Cup this week, I will reserve my energy for the not-so-young and occasionally-hustling Boston Celtics. Kris, you might want to purchase a romper for the occasion. Go Cs!!!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Hungarian Debt Crisis: Deserved or Characteristic Pessimism?
IMF dismisses Hungarian debt crisis claims
Posted June 8, 2010
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has dismissed comments by Hungarian officials that the country faces a Greek-style debt crisis.
At a meeting with Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker - who heads the Eurogroup of finance ministers - IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Hungary's finances pose "no special reason for concern".
Mr Juncker echoed the IMF's thoughts, saying he did not see a problem with Hungary, only with its politicians, who he said talked too much.
In an attempt to shed some light on the Hungarian economic situation which Hungarian politicians I do not understand, I conducted a mock interview with google search and the (small) part of my brain that remembers I was an econ major.
Q: What exactly is a debt crisis?
A: A domestic debt crisis occurs when a country cannot service its debts due to lack of access to capital. Because lenders are less willing to lend to countries at risk of default, a debt crisis is self-fulfilling. Think of it in terms of The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Danielle is a struggling country on the verge of sanity default, and the capital is friendship. (Theresa would have been too obvious an example.)
(Rhetorical) Q: I thought Hungary already had a debt crisis.
A: Hungary was the first EU member to obtain a bailout in 2008, lining up $26.9 billion in emergency loans after investors cited the country’s heavy foreign-currency denominated debt. While initially the foreign loans provided access to “cheap” capital, Hungarians increasingly were exposed to rising debt payments as the forint fell against the euro and the franc.
Q: So why the recent panic?
A: Until last week, Hungary was run by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai’s Socialist government, who succeeded in bringing some stability to the Hungarian economy through the bailout funds and tax increases and other austerity measures. As a result, Hungary reduced its budget deficit to 4% of GDP in 2009 from 9.3% in 2006. However the newly elected, right-wing Fidesz government now claims the former government had manipulated budget figures and lied about the real state of the economy.
Q: How does Hungary compare to Greece?
A: Greece’s 2009 budget deficit was 13.6% of GDP versus 4% in Hungary, and Hungary’s external debt is about half that of Greece. Furthermore, Hungary is outside the euro zone and therefore not bound by its one-size-fits-all monetary policy, giving the Hungarian central bank more flexibility to respond to the ups and downs of the economy.
Q: Comparatively things don’t sound too bad. Is this just a case of Hungarians being typically pessimistic?
A: Although the budget deficit may be manageable, the Hungarian economy remains vulnerable. In recent years millions of Hungarians took advantage of cheap Swiss and Euro-backed loans to finance cars and houses and are now facing foreclosure. Imminent defaults are compounded by an unemployment rate hovering around 12% with little hope of improvement due to government commitments to cut spending as part of the bailout fund package.
Q: What next?
A: Although in a better position than Greece, Hungary is fighting an uphill battle. For an economic turnaround, the country needs fundamental and sustainable changes: right-sizing the budget, the return of foreign investment, and job growth stimulus. In a government as bureaucratic and corrupt as Hungary’s, this will be a Herculean task.
Posted June 8, 2010
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has dismissed comments by Hungarian officials that the country faces a Greek-style debt crisis.
At a meeting with Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker - who heads the Eurogroup of finance ministers - IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Hungary's finances pose "no special reason for concern".
Mr Juncker echoed the IMF's thoughts, saying he did not see a problem with Hungary, only with its politicians, who he said talked too much.
In an attempt to shed some light on the Hungarian economic situation which Hungarian politicians I do not understand, I conducted a mock interview with google search and the (small) part of my brain that remembers I was an econ major.
Q: What exactly is a debt crisis?
A: A domestic debt crisis occurs when a country cannot service its debts due to lack of access to capital. Because lenders are less willing to lend to countries at risk of default, a debt crisis is self-fulfilling. Think of it in terms of The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Danielle is a struggling country on the verge of sanity default, and the capital is friendship. (Theresa would have been too obvious an example.)
(Rhetorical) Q: I thought Hungary already had a debt crisis.
A: Hungary was the first EU member to obtain a bailout in 2008, lining up $26.9 billion in emergency loans after investors cited the country’s heavy foreign-currency denominated debt. While initially the foreign loans provided access to “cheap” capital, Hungarians increasingly were exposed to rising debt payments as the forint fell against the euro and the franc.
Q: So why the recent panic?
A: Until last week, Hungary was run by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai’s Socialist government, who succeeded in bringing some stability to the Hungarian economy through the bailout funds and tax increases and other austerity measures. As a result, Hungary reduced its budget deficit to 4% of GDP in 2009 from 9.3% in 2006. However the newly elected, right-wing Fidesz government now claims the former government had manipulated budget figures and lied about the real state of the economy.
Q: How does Hungary compare to Greece?
A: Greece’s 2009 budget deficit was 13.6% of GDP versus 4% in Hungary, and Hungary’s external debt is about half that of Greece. Furthermore, Hungary is outside the euro zone and therefore not bound by its one-size-fits-all monetary policy, giving the Hungarian central bank more flexibility to respond to the ups and downs of the economy.
Q: Comparatively things don’t sound too bad. Is this just a case of Hungarians being typically pessimistic?
A: Although the budget deficit may be manageable, the Hungarian economy remains vulnerable. In recent years millions of Hungarians took advantage of cheap Swiss and Euro-backed loans to finance cars and houses and are now facing foreclosure. Imminent defaults are compounded by an unemployment rate hovering around 12% with little hope of improvement due to government commitments to cut spending as part of the bailout fund package.
Q: What next?
A: Although in a better position than Greece, Hungary is fighting an uphill battle. For an economic turnaround, the country needs fundamental and sustainable changes: right-sizing the budget, the return of foreign investment, and job growth stimulus. In a government as bureaucratic and corrupt as Hungary’s, this will be a Herculean task.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Content?
With the European economies already in turmoil, a tactless Hungarian politician unwisely told the press that Hungary had "a slim chance to avoid the Greek situation".
Contentment = x1(GDP growth) + x2(transparent government) + x3(national obsession with ice hockey or cricket) + x4(height of population) - x5(proximity to Russia)
I guess it's time to buy a bicycle, join a sports club, and ship any senior citizen friends to another country.
Contentment = x1(GDP growth) + x2(transparent government) + x3(national obsession with ice hockey or cricket) + x4(height of population) - x5(proximity to Russia)
I guess it's time to buy a bicycle, join a sports club, and ship any senior citizen friends to another country.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Hungarian Eats III: The Hungarian Breakfast
While lauded as the most important meal of the day in the US, breakfast is the bastard child meal of Hungary: illegitimate and of dubious origin. Hungarians rarely eat breakfast; and if they do, it isn’t balanced or nutritious.
However who am I to criticize Hungarian eating habits, given Hungarians are substantially thinner than their American counterparts? While any of the below popular breakfast options would send me straight into crankytime a sugar coma, Hungarians seem to be doing just fine. I guess when you have bigger things to worry about, breakfast is no biggie.
Expresso: Pretty much the standard breakfast. Hungarians do not drink giant cups of coffee brewed with lots of water the way Americans do, and you can tell a tourist a mile away if she is carrying a “takeaway” cup. Cappuccinos are another caffeinated option and served in miniature cups. Don't ask for low-fat milk.
Turo Rudi: The go-to breakfast (snack, lunch, dinner and dessert) option found in the dairy case of any supermarket or convenience store. This uniquely Hungarian candy bar is made of a sweetened compressed cottage cheese dipped in chocolate and one of the don’t knock em’ til you try ‘em eats. At any given time, 12 out of 100 Hungarians are consuming Turo Rudis. One Turo Rudi makes a snack. Two make a meal.
Pogacsa: These rich pastries are everywhere, including the vending machine at work. A savory breakfast option, Pogacsa range in size from a donut hole to bagel, meaning they range from between 500 and 5,000 calories.
Jo Reggelt: Hungary’s answer to the granola bar. While these Muesli cookies are a bit bland, they make me feel smart because I know their name means “good morning.” While I thought Muesli was the quintessential European breakfast, I haven't seen anyone eat it outside of a hotel continental breakfast. That being said, why have a hearty bowl of Muesli when you could have Nougat Bits, cottage cheese covered in chocolate or a butter scone instead?
Cereal is without a doubt my favorite “American” breakfast. Yours?
However who am I to criticize Hungarian eating habits, given Hungarians are substantially thinner than their American counterparts? While any of the below popular breakfast options would send me straight into crankytime a sugar coma, Hungarians seem to be doing just fine. I guess when you have bigger things to worry about, breakfast is no biggie.
Expresso: Pretty much the standard breakfast. Hungarians do not drink giant cups of coffee brewed with lots of water the way Americans do, and you can tell a tourist a mile away if she is carrying a “takeaway” cup. Cappuccinos are another caffeinated option and served in miniature cups. Don't ask for low-fat milk.
Turo Rudi: The go-to breakfast (snack, lunch, dinner and dessert) option found in the dairy case of any supermarket or convenience store. This uniquely Hungarian candy bar is made of a sweetened compressed cottage cheese dipped in chocolate and one of the don’t knock em’ til you try ‘em eats. At any given time, 12 out of 100 Hungarians are consuming Turo Rudis. One Turo Rudi makes a snack. Two make a meal.
Pogacsa: These rich pastries are everywhere, including the vending machine at work. A savory breakfast option, Pogacsa range in size from a donut hole to bagel, meaning they range from between 500 and 5,000 calories.
Jo Reggelt: Hungary’s answer to the granola bar. While these Muesli cookies are a bit bland, they make me feel smart because I know their name means “good morning.” While I thought Muesli was the quintessential European breakfast, I haven't seen anyone eat it outside of a hotel continental breakfast. That being said, why have a hearty bowl of Muesli when you could have Nougat Bits, cottage cheese covered in chocolate or a butter scone instead?
Cereal is without a doubt my favorite “American” breakfast. Yours?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
An Offer She Can Refuse
My first week in Hungary, I joined practically every ex-pat group in Budapest to make friends. Because I didn't have any.
Although I rarely go to events anymore, I am on still on the mailing lists. Hence this email.
Hello Alexandra. I am [x] currently living in Budapest. I am 24 years young. I read with interest your profile, and will be happy to meet with you and get to know you. I invite for a drink this week. My greatest passions are guitar, foreign languages and practicing massage. I want to be straight with you about what I need. I am not looking for a life partner, nor am looking for a woman-friend. I am looking for a woman whom I will bring extreme satisfaction, caress, and pleasure, who will allow me to make her happy. I do feel that you are the right girl. So, waiting for your positive reply.
The next time I compare dating in Hungary to looking out over an expanse of frozen tundra, please remind me that I voluntarily declined an offer of satisfaction, caress and pleasure. Because, honestly, I don't know if I can fit even more satisfaction, caress and pleasure into my life.
Although I rarely go to events anymore, I am on still on the mailing lists. Hence this email.
Hello Alexandra. I am [x] currently living in Budapest. I am 24 years young. I read with interest your profile, and will be happy to meet with you and get to know you. I invite for a drink this week. My greatest passions are guitar, foreign languages and practicing massage. I want to be straight with you about what I need. I am not looking for a life partner, nor am looking for a woman-friend. I am looking for a woman whom I will bring extreme satisfaction, caress, and pleasure, who will allow me to make her happy. I do feel that you are the right girl. So, waiting for your positive reply.
The next time I compare dating in Hungary to looking out over an expanse of frozen tundra, please remind me that I voluntarily declined an offer of satisfaction, caress and pleasure. Because, honestly, I don't know if I can fit even more satisfaction, caress and pleasure into my life.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Varnaland
Although I can check off Bulgaria on my map, I don’t feel like I really have been there. Maybe it is because we arrived in Varna at 4 AM on Saturday morning. Maybe it is because I spent 75% of the time lying prone by the pool and the rest of the time trying to convince Susan to get ice cream with me.
Varna was beautiful, although not beautiful enough to motivate me to buy new AA batteries for my camera. I had been trying to piece together some history on the region for you but then decided just to let Wiki do its thing and do what I do best: make lists.
Over the weekend I read Netherland, a novel in which the protagonist Hans, an equity analyst, begins stock recommendations with an unrelated but smart observation or fact to gain the audience’s respect. Then he says whatever the hell is wants about the price of oil.
Likewise I am sharing a few observations and facts about Varna/Bulgaria so you can impress your friends. However, I cannot guarantee that the observations are smart. After all, I was pretty f#*ked up on gelato.
Didya Know...?
The communist government renamed the city Stalin from 1949 – 1956. Apparently it didn’t have the same come-hither-tourists ring.
After this guy, I had thought Budapest was the Ed Hardy-wearing capital of the world; I was wrong. It is Varna.
When Bulgarians waggle their heads Indian-style, it means yes and when they nod, it means no.
When I first moved to Budapset, my mom kept asking me how I liked Bulgaria.
A Bulgarian invented the first electronic computer, and the country has been called the Silicon Valley of Europe.
Bulgaria and Denmark were the only two countries to save their Jews during the Holocaust.
What are some good Boston/Worcester/New York facts? I need to impress some peeps come September...
Varna was beautiful, although not beautiful enough to motivate me to buy new AA batteries for my camera. I had been trying to piece together some history on the region for you but then decided just to let Wiki do its thing and do what I do best: make lists.
Over the weekend I read Netherland, a novel in which the protagonist Hans, an equity analyst, begins stock recommendations with an unrelated but smart observation or fact to gain the audience’s respect. Then he says whatever the hell is wants about the price of oil.
Likewise I am sharing a few observations and facts about Varna/Bulgaria so you can impress your friends. However, I cannot guarantee that the observations are smart. After all, I was pretty f#*ked up on gelato.
Didya Know...?
The communist government renamed the city Stalin from 1949 – 1956. Apparently it didn’t have the same come-hither-tourists ring.
After this guy, I had thought Budapest was the Ed Hardy-wearing capital of the world; I was wrong. It is Varna.
When Bulgarians waggle their heads Indian-style, it means yes and when they nod, it means no.
When I first moved to Budapset, my mom kept asking me how I liked Bulgaria.
A Bulgarian invented the first electronic computer, and the country has been called the Silicon Valley of Europe.
Bulgaria and Denmark were the only two countries to save their Jews during the Holocaust.
What are some good Boston/Worcester/New York facts? I need to impress some peeps come September...
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