tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2012:/news/kaitytong//400 2011-07-16T00:18:33Z Movable Type 3.36 tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.300854 2011-07-15T23:58:28Z 2011-07-16T00:18:33Z

So there I was the other day, watching a food show on TV, as I often do. The chef was preparing something impossibly exotic—a fish dish, carefully baked, with an incredible sauce creatively laced with novel combinations of condiments and...

Jeremy Tanner So there I was the other day, watching a food show on TV, as I often do. The chef was preparing something impossibly exotic—a fish dish, carefully baked, with an incredible sauce creatively laced with novel combinations of condiments and herbs, and side dishes of moderate complexity. As I watched, I shamelessly felt myself smiling; I was really enjoying the show. And then I thought: “Wait a minute! Much as I enjoy cooking, I’m NEVER gonna make this dish. Too damned difficult!” Even though I now know HOW to make it, I’m just not motivated enough to actually DO it. And that’s when it suddenly dawned on me: we’re a nation of wishers. We pay rapt attention to these programs even while knowing, in our heart of hearts, that we just don’t have the time or energy to whip up these amazing repasts. And when our significant others ask us why they don’t ever get to eat these delectable delights, we smartly answer: “Because you never order it in the restaurant.” And the guys are wishers, too. DIY Network, HGTV, and so many others all have shows where master carpenters or talented do-it-yourselfers are tearing apart the kitchen or bathroom and constructing a showplace in its stead—and all in only 30 minutes! And the guys sit in front of the tube, transfixed by these transformations and learning all these sophisticated skills—from framing to tiling to plumbing to electrical work—without the slightest possibility of ever actually using them. So… we girls know how to make that flambé. And you guys know how to construct that home spa. And everybody around us wishes we would. We wish we would, too. But we won’t. And you know what? At the end of the day, I’m okay with that. I’ve got enough to do. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.299373 2011-06-27T22:26:21Z 2011-06-27T22:27:56Z

Took a wonderful trip to Paterson New Jersey this weekend. As many of you know, I anchored for a few years in the '80's with the legendary Tom Snyder at Channel 7. What a trip that was! And then, on...

Andrew Ramos Took a wonderful trip to Paterson New Jersey this weekend. As many of you know, I anchored for a few years in the '80's with the legendary Tom Snyder at Channel 7. What a trip that was! And then, on Saturday another trip....in a rented bus with 18 of his friends, many who had flown in from California for the event. And what was the event? Well, as many of you might NOT know, Tom had a passion for trains. Lionel trains to be exact. A few months after we started anchoring together, he invited me and my then-husband to his home in Mamaroneck. He paused dramatically in front of a closed bedroom door, then with a flourish opened it to reveal an entire village and town, complete with valleys and mountains, through which an amazing series of trains, accurate down to the last detail, chugged along, with real smoke bellowing forth. You could not enter the room....it was entirely taken up with this magical world of tiny houses, and stores and people, and those trains, just choo-chooing along. It was truly breathtaking. this following article, it'll tell you all about the event.]]> tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.298388 2011-06-15T19:23:53Z 2011-06-15T19:31:53Z

Now, normally I don't do this...take a suggestion from a loyal reader and just post it verbatim on my blog. But frankly,I didn't think I could improve on this from my blog pal Charles Frazier, and besides, I'm tired. So...

Chaleampon Oates Ritthichai http://www.wpix.com Now, normally I don't do this...take a suggestion from a loyal reader and just post it verbatim on my blog. But frankly,I didn't think I could improve on this from my blog pal Charles Frazier, and besides, I'm tired. So a little help from a friend is always welcome. So as LIONEL would say, feel free to comment, as you see fit. Hey, Kaity! You mentioned if I had a blog suggestion to let you know,... so, here's one connected to the music theme. What do you, (and your blogging fans), think of the idea of comparisons between regular musical artists who made their names & marks on the world through regular career channels,.. as compared to those who attempt to do so on "Reality Shows" such as "American Idol", & "The Voice" among others? It has been commonly pointed out that many past famous musical talents, (such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones or even The Beatles), would probably have never made past the audition judging stages of most of these now popular "Star-Search type series. Also, the whole amateur concept really originally came from "Amateur Night At The Apollo", which I believe dates back to like 1935,..... but, the main point would be what you & other people think of the career venue comparison as a potential rode to success & originality of the artist's voices, talents and product. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.297591 2011-06-06T16:59:49Z 2011-06-07T17:05:45Z

Just read a fascinating article in the New York Times, "In Queens, new mothers and old Asian Custom." It's about how immigrants from China, giving birth in a new land, adhere to the old traditions of post-partum confinement, or in...

Andrew Ramos "In Queens, new mothers and old Asian Custom." It's about how immigrants from China, giving birth in a new land, adhere to the old traditions of post-partum confinement, or in Mandarin, "sitting the month". That's exactly what my young mother did when she had me at the age of 24 in Tsingtao China, only in her case, she did a sitting for two and a half months. which even by Chinese standards is a bit excessive. The Chinese believe that a woman is weakened after giving birth and must be pampered , fed strengthening foods, and kept calm, in order to be strong enough to take care of her newborn.]]> I had thought this practice was something from the past, a byproduct of a long- disappeared era. Now I read that in enclaves in Flushing and Bayside, there are businesses that cater to this belief that the best way to recover from childbirth is to not move for a month. No wonder Chinese mothers from China feel sorry for American moms who are shuttled out of hospital sometimes within a day! It must seem downright barbaric! I remember my mother telling me that after I was born, servants in the giant household into which I was born in pre-Communist China were assigned to keep her in pampered confinement. My Dad, who was a colonel in the Chinese army and unable to be there for my arrival into the world, who, in fact would not even lay eyes on me till I was six month old, was instructed by my mother's parents not to write love letters that were too romantic. They might stir up my mother's emotions and that was considered detrimental to her health. As my mother jokingly remarked, there was no danger of that. He wasn't that romantic a letter-writer. Mom was kept in a beautiful room but it was a kind of a prison, too, even though it was in her parents' home. The heavy red and gold brocade shades were drawn at all times...sunlight would be bad for her eyes. and the letters my Dad did write were read to her, so she didn't have to strain her eyes. She was not allowed out of bed for two months; servants gave her sponge baths twice a day, and she was turned from side to side several times daily to avoid bed sores, and to have fresh sheets put on her bed, Nothing that was not okayed by my NaiNai (grandmother) passed my mother's lips.. She was fed a special diet, some of it nasty-tasting, to make her strong, and her milk plentiful. Unlike some well-born mothers, she didn't want a surrogate nursing me, she did that herself every day,but then I was taken away so she could rest. She was not allowed to drink or eat anything cold; as the article in the Times mentioned cucumbers and watermelon were verboten, The Chinese believe it leeches warmth from the body, On top of that, this was July with no air conditioning. Torture. The worst part, she told me, was not being allowed to wash her hair in all that time. By the end, her hair was just a big mud-cake. At the end of her confinement, the muscles in her legs had atrophied to the point that she could not walk for several days without assistance. But her hair, she said, when it was finally washed, was amazingly lustrous and thick, and her skin was translucent like a baby's. When I had my son at Lenox Hill in the late '80's, my mother was dismayed that the hospital encouraged me to walk around right after I had given birth, and wanted to send me home within a week (I'd had a Cesarean, so that takes more time). She said, that's no good for you, you won't be strong, your hair will get brittle, you'll get arthritis! Now more than two decades after the birth of my boy, I wonder if there's some truth to that old wisdom: my hair IS getting less shiny, and every once in awhile, I get an ache in my joints. :) tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.293359 2011-04-29T20:20:18Z 2011-04-30T03:24:17Z

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be sitting in the audience of a new film being shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's called The Second Day, and was made by the son of a neighborhood friend. His name is Brook Peters....

Andrew Ramos Tomorrow afternoon, I will be sitting in the audience of a new film being shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's called The Second Day, and was made by the son of a neighborhood friend. His name is Brook Peters. I've known Brook since he was about 7 years old, playing stickball on the corner of 7th Avenue and 19th on those special summer days when the local pub at the corner, Peter McManus, would serve free beer and hot dogs to all the Chelsea neighbors who came to play, or just cheer. The block would be cordoned off, with the help of a firetruck; lawn chairs set up on the sidewalks for spectators or players wanting to take a break and have a beer; everybody yelling to be heard above the occasional roar of the subway under our feet. It is a truly New York scene. And it was on one of these muggy Chelsea summer afternoons that I met Brook, a gentle, sweet, and clearly very bright young man and his beautiful single mother, Michelle. We didn't talk about 9/11 much, as we sat on the folding chairs and sipped our beer, cheering on a skinny little boy with a determined look on his face, who was squaring off with some big bruiser of an off-duty cop, winding up the pitch. Brook was only four years old when 9/11 hit, a kindergartner at his second day of school. By the time I'd met Michelle and Brook, three years had gone by, and we had happier things to talk about. But it was something that was always there, in our minds. When Brook turned 11 or 12, what happened that day became a project for him that turned into one of the films good enough to be in the TriBeCa film festival. Brook is now fourteen,and over six feet tall. He wants to be a firefighter, once he finishes college. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.291055 2011-04-11T23:41:45Z 2011-04-12T20:01:52Z

I was thinking today about Eva Blum. She was an Asian-American from New Jersey, with a husband, two kids and a dog, who desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. You might remember her; I know I'll never forget her. When...

Jeremy Tanner I was thinking today about Eva Blum. She was an Asian-American from New Jersey, with a husband, two kids and a dog, who desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. You might remember her; I know I'll never forget her. When we learned just how serious her condition was, we did a story on her. More than anything, I just wanted to spread the word: Eva needed a donor match, and she needed one fast. Her life hung in the balance. I don't think I ever wanted a story to have a bigger impact; I had hopes that Eva would have her pick of donors. She didn't; she died before a match could be found. I've been sitting here in my office, wondering what more I could have done-- as a fellow New Yorker, as a journalist, as a mom. I know you know the feeling; we all ask it of ourselves sometimes; Did I do enough? I wasn't able to help Eva, much as I wanted to. But maybe there's another Eva out there reading this, another person with perhaps a different problem, or different needs. Maybe you know of somebody with a story-- a story that grips your heart, like Eva’s gripped mine. Let me know. If there's a story to be told and a person to be helped, I'd like to do the telling-- and the helping. I've opened a special email address for this. Write me at kaityhelps@gmail.com. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.287692 2011-03-16T20:24:07Z 2011-03-16T20:55:47Z

A woman searches for her missing husband amid debris after an earthquake and tsunami struck Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan March 13, 2011. We’ve all seen the videos. We’ve watched television, we’ve read the newspapers and internet. The extent...

Andrew Ramos
A woman searches for her missing husband amid debris after an earthquake and tsunami struck Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan March 13, 2011. We’ve all seen the videos. We’ve watched television, we’ve read the newspapers and internet. The extent of the horror that the Japanese people have faced—and continue to confront—is incalculable. And we’re reminded once again of how puny we are: in the face of a massive earthquake and a flooding tsunami, we are candles in the wind. Natural disasters have a way of instilling humility that nothing else can. But what I feel today is not just humility in the face of natural forces, but also indescribable anger at human stupidity or—much worse—greed. ]]> Nobody can possibly be surprised that Japan would suffer a horrible earthquake; it’s happened before, and most Japanese alive today remember Kobe. Japan is situated in that peculiar spot in the Pacific Ocean that every undergraduate geology major knows is earthquake territory. And everyone knows that when earthquakes happen, particularly near great bodies of water, tsunamis—fatal walls of water—rise in their wake. That Japan has been shot yet again by the double-barrel of earthquake and flood is not surprising, and all who live there must be aware of the frightful possibilities of these natural disasters. But how could these poor, sad citizens have known of the frailty of their nuclear generation plants? These are, after all, the work of men, not nature. And they are the cause of this “unnatural disaster,” the third, and perhaps most lasting, element of damage in a triad of curses: radiation. I condemn all those people—the designers, the architects, the contractors, the engineers, and the operators—who were complicit in building nuclear reactors that were, by all appearances, so incapable of handling the predictable. Backup diesel generators are supposed to be the insurance policy against operational failure. And they failed. Where is the “failsafe” mechanism, the design element that says: “If everything goes to hell in a hand basket, we’re safe and protected because we have a….”? And if such a failsafe device has not yet been invented to protect against the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis in an area prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, why were the damn reactors built in the first place? Is it because of ungovernable corporate greed? Or is it because of inconceivable governmental stupidity? I don’t know the answer. But some people—in positions of great wealth and power—owe an explanation to the world that watches with fear and grave concern as the dominoes fall. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.287357 2011-03-14T18:07:09Z 2011-03-14T21:09:22Z

A Japan Self-Defense Force member reacts after rescuing a four-month-old baby girl in Ishinomaki, northern Japan, Monday, March 14, 2011, three days after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the country's east coast. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Hiroto Sekiguchi) So many...

Andrew Ramos
A Japan Self-Defense Force member reacts after rescuing a four-month-old baby girl in Ishinomaki, northern Japan, Monday, March 14, 2011, three days after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the country's east coast. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Hiroto Sekiguchi) So many people have been asking me about Philip's well -being that I thought it best to write this and tell everyone at once. First of all, he's fine. Thank you. As many of you know from my earlier blogs, my son went to Japan more than a year ago to teach English to high school students in a small town along the northernmost coast. When that terrible and terrifying quake and tsunami struck two days ago, I was deluged with calls, emails, texts ... so many of you worried for Philip, thinking he was still in the country. ]]>
A ferry stranded on a building is seen in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, Sunday, March 13, 2011, two days after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the country's east coast. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun) As for the small mountain village where he taught school, it endured a five point quake,but no tsunami as it is miles from the coast and high up on a mountain. There was some damage,but no casualties. The buildings there are not as sophisticated and well built as those in Tokyo, but the Japanese have dealt with quakes and tsunamis for centuries, and are very savvy about the structure of even small buildings and homes to withstand these natural disasters. But this one was of a magnitude no one expected or could completely prepare for. I'm sure you've been watching this story unfold. The aftermath, the death toll, the heartbreak. When something like this happens, you can't help but think about fate. Philip could easily have been in Tokyo when the quake and tsunami devastated Japan; he'd wanted to stay at least a few months longer, but his visa had run out. My son has spent the past couple of days trying to get in touch with his friends in Tokyo and in the smaller towns along the northeast coast, plus relatives of ours who have lived outside Tokyo for many years, to find out if they are okay. He hasn't heard back from one young man, yet, but Philip continues to try. He clings to the hope that his friend escaped harm. To make a donation to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, click here. ]]> tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.285520 2011-02-28T21:35:12Z 2011-02-28T21:49:41Z

Those of you who are regular readers of my blog already know quite a bit about my little brother Kai. How smart and creative he was from the time he was small, a wonderful artist and writer even in elementary...

Andrew Ramos Those of you who are regular readers of my blog already know quite a bit about my little brother Kai. How smart and creative he was from the time he was small, a wonderful artist and writer even in elementary school. How we shared a fondness for Little Tavern burgers and the rare Coke or milkshake with our parents at Howard Johnson's. How he was a terrific cook, even as a teenager, whipping up amazing casseroles at the drop of a hat. I just always knew he'd do great in life. So I feel comfortable sharing the following with you... Check it out.]]> tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.284558 2011-02-21T20:44:26Z 2011-02-21T20:48:27Z

Just got back from a big grocery shopping expedition, stocking up the 'fridge' for the arrival of my son from his travels to Japan and other distant vistas. By the time he arrives in the city, I will already be...

Andrew Ramos Just got back from a big grocery shopping expedition, stocking up the 'fridge' for the arrival of my son from his travels to Japan and other distant vistas. By the time he arrives in the city, I will already be at work, doing my thing from either Queens or Brooklyn, so I want him to come home to a fully stocked larder. When my kid was little, I won't say he was a picky eater, I'll just say there were a lot of things he wouldn't eat. :) For example, he loved pizza, but from when he was about five to ten, he would pull all the cheese OFF the pizza and just eat the crust. He also never liked mac and cheese, anything with cheese, actually. Hated eggs in any form. Loved pasta with meat and tomato sauce, sushi, and Chinese dumplings. Now that he's grown, his tastes have expanded, and he's willing to try just about anything. Will now eat pizza WITH the cheese attached. But still will not touch eggs. Anyway, I am going to make a great homemade chicken with rice stew/soup that I just kind of made up one day, and I must say it's pretty good. Also, since I've been battling a very bad cold all winter long, this soup was comforting. And easy to make. Here goes: INGREDIENTS: Cut up chicken breasts and thighs with skin (if you're not into the skin, just get skinless, but it won't be quite as tender) two large yellow onions a bunch of leeks (optional) couple of cloves of garlic a bag of peeled carrots a bag of frozen petit peas olive oil 2 boxes of free range chicken broth (I get mine from Trader Joe's) but the equivalent of 2 quarts of any chicken broth works cayenne pepper kosher salt pepper half and half I cup cooked rice (brown, basmati, white, what have you) about a half cup or more of white wine PREPARATION: Chop up onions in big chunks (quarter the onion, then cut each quarter in half) Chop up leeks into pieces about 2 inches long Chop garlic coarsely Cook the onions, leeks, and garlic in a deep, large pot with olive oil, till it just smells yummy! Meanwhile, heat a large flat pan with olive oil, and brown the chicken, a few pieces at a time. Place aside. The chicken does not have to be cooked through, just browned slightly. If you want, you can remove the skin on all pieces except one breast (you need a little skin to give it flavor...and cold-healing powers! :) Or just put everything, skin and all into pot. Place chicken into the large pan with onions, salt and pepper , then pour in the two quarts of chicken broth. Stir. Now, just keep adding salt and pepper, with a dash of cayenne pepper, to taste. Cook over the lowest flame for at least one hour. Check on it once in awhile to stir and taste. And add a bit more cayenne if you like it with a little bite. Just remember, a little goes a long way. Put in the bag of carrots, the rice, stir, let this cook another 20 minutes or so. Put in bag of peas. Another five minutes of slow cooking. Then, I like to put in a little half and half to make it a kind of cream of chicken/rice soup, but you can skip that if you like. And finally half a cup or more of white wine! Stir. Before serving, take out as many skin pieces and bones as you can, and discard. It makes for easier eating. But still alert your friends to watch out for them and eat carefully. It's really not a big deal, if you are careful. The Chinese do it this way, all the time, and we're still here to enjoy many bowls of good homemade soup, bones and all! Hope you like it! tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2011:/news/kaitytong//400.283377 2011-02-11T17:06:06Z 2011-02-11T21:27:37Z

Okay, I don't want to hear it. Yes, I have been very very bad about keeping up with my blog. But I have my reasons. Which I won't go into right this moment. But I do have something on...

Andrew Ramos Okay, I don't want to hear it. Yes, I have been very very bad about keeping up with my blog. But I have my reasons. Which I won't go into right this moment. But I do have something on my mind. It has to do with my subbing for Jodi Applegate because she is getting married (what a beautiful bride you'll be, Jodi!) this Saturday and is taking a few days off. Don't know if you've had a chance to see it; I am having fun doing the show. But there are some funny things that I did not encounter when Jim and I anchored the show together back in the old days, sitting at a desk.]]> And everybody on the set.....G, Mocker, Lionel....everybody , is taller than me. The other funny thing is (and this is an industry secret that I am now revealing).....my legs are faintly green. That's because at the start of the newscast, and at various other points, I am standing in front of, AND, standing ON, what we call a 'green screen." A stretch of material that is green, yet through the magic of television, will not look that way to you at home on your set. Instead you will see pictures of whatever story I am talking about show up behind me, and I will appear to be standing on a black floor. Which is all well and good....it's an old technique....but I did notice yesterday that a reflection off this 'green screen' hits my bare legs and they look slightly greenish! Am I saying that this is unattractive? Well,that's personal taste. But certainly strange. This does not at all reflect on the expertise of the folks who make this magic happen. They are the best at what they do. I think I just have strange legs. It doesn't seem to happen to Jodi whose legs always look nice. Not the least bit green-tinted. But me? Another story. It's just funny, that's all. I will try, I promise, to blog more regularly. I am so happy for your support! I know this is not the most riveting blog I've ever written, but, hey, it's a blog. Love you guys.]]> tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2010:/news/kaitytong//400.275221 2010-12-10T20:05:45Z 2010-12-10T20:21:30Z

You know how it feels when you've put off writing a thank you note for so long ( because you've just been too busy or, let's face it, you're just an inveterate procrastinator?) And then when you finally sit down...

Andrew Ramos You know how it feels when you've put off writing a thank you note for so long ( because you've just been too busy or, let's face it, you're just an inveterate procrastinator?) And then when you finally sit down to write it, you feel really awkward because the time to write it is already past? Well, that's about the way I'm feeling right now. I know I have neglected my blog terribly in the past couple of months, but there have been a number of reasons. For one thing, there have been new challenges at work, and adjustments to be made. But more specifically, I have been quite ill from a severe case of laryngitis since the day before Thanksgiving.....a case of laryngitis that then blossomed into a fiery case of strep throat,and now a more difficult kind of infection on my vocal cords. KAITY'S EASY HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP 1 whole chicken, cut up with skin on 3 medium onions, yellow a bunch of leeks 3 cloves of garlic a bag of large peeled carrots a bag of little peas 2 boxes of chicken broth stock olive oil sea salt, ground pepper cayenne pepper paprika two bay leaves PREP In a large saucepan, heat up olive oil, a couple of tablespoons, and saute garlic and onions and leeks for awhile. Then just put in the chicken, broth, carrots, bay leaf, etc. all at once and cook over a low-medium flame for one hour. Stir occasionally Throw in peas Season to taste Cook another 20 minutes or so. Eat! Thanks for all your support and kind words. And for making me laugh. Let's all try to do that more often! ]]> tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2010:/news/kaitytong//400.265646 2010-10-05T22:03:51Z 2010-10-05T22:07:50Z

I know, I know: it’s not that big a deal. With all the difficult stuff that goes on in our lives, this shouldn’t stick in my craw, but it does. So I’ll confess, and I make no apologies for it:...

Kaity Tong I know, I know: it’s not that big a deal. With all the difficult stuff that goes on in our lives, this shouldn’t stick in my craw, but it does. So I’ll confess, and I make no apologies for it: I absolutely hate those little stickers that supermarkets put on individual fruits. What an irritating policy, and what a maddening design. It’s true that we’ve seen an amazing proliferation of fruits available to us. Years ago, if you wanted an apple, you could choose maybe a Golden Delicious, a Granny Smith, and one or two other varieties from the grocery bin. Now, you can get, oh, forty different varieties of apples, including some from Iceland and Venus. Okay, maybe not forty, and maybe not from Iceland and Venus, but you get my point. With all these varieties, we certainly can’t expect the supermarket checkers to be able to distinguish one from the other. Soooo, they put labels on ‘em to expedite the checkout process. But what labels! They affix these little stickers to the tender skin of the fruit with an adhesive compound that favorably compares to surgical glue; the sticker is just millimeters long and practically impossible to peel off. Couldn’t the geniuses who devised this piece of shopping torture simply have said: “Hey, guys! Instead of putting adhesive on the WHOLE sticker, let’s leave a little area without adhesive so the shopper can grab hold of an edge and easily peel?” Of course they could have; but I think they’re enjoying punking us. So far, I’ve struggled with these devilish little stickers and tried not to let them ruin my fruit-eating experience. There’s a wonderful, even visceral, delight in taking that first bite out of a freshly rinsed, room-temperature, ruby-red apple with its pristine skin. And that delight is diminished by the sight of a wound in the apple caused by the removal of a bleeping price tag. But so far, I’ve resisted the temptation to just…. eat the sticker in that first bite. Instead, I struggle with its removal. But I can only hold out so long, and I’m beginning to rationalize: Eating a little paper can’t hurt. I think. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2010:/news/kaitytong//400.262809 2010-09-16T20:52:49Z 2010-09-16T21:00:29Z

Just got back from giving a speech at the Library of Congress. Quite an experience. The occasion was a ceremony marking the donation to the Library of an 80- volume genealogy of Confucius’ family. My mother, Kung Ling-he, is a...

Kaity Tong Just got back from giving a speech at the Library of Congress. Quite an experience. The occasion was a ceremony marking the donation to the Library of an 80- volume genealogy of Confucius’ family. My mother, Kung Ling-he, is a 76th generation descendant of the revered Chinese teacher and philosopher, and donated this documentation of the Confucian family tree. The volumes record 83 generations ( that’s more than 2 million people) descended from Confucius. It is believed to be one of the biggest family trees in the world. The House of Representatives recently passed a resolution to honor the 2560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognize his global contributions to philosophy and social and political thought. My mother spoke about the importance of Confucius in her life, and then I talked about what it was like growing up in a Confucian household. For those of you who are curious, here are a few facts about my ancestor. He was born in 551 B.C. in Qufu in eastern China’s Shandong Province. Confucius was a great teacher and thinker whose theories were the orthodox ideology in China for more than 2,000 years. His teachings, which advocate peace and social harmony, have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. The Library of Congress is the central repository for all types of Asian publications that are not broadly available at other locations in the United States. Initiated in 1869 with a gift of 10 works in 934 volumes offered to the United States by the Emperor of China, the Library’s Asian collection of more than 2 million items is the largest and most comprehensive outside of Asia. I can remember being told stories of Confucius from early childhood and how my mother and her family had a special link to this great teacher. I recall telling my friends that the little slips of paper found inside Chinese fortune cookies at the restaurant were the wise sayings of an ancestor of mine! As I got older, I would do just the opposite. Point out that those little slips of paper in the Chinese fortune cookies had =nothing= to do with the wisdom of an ancestor of mine! Just because the sayings start with the words: Confucius Say....doesn't mean he said them! If you ever find yourself in Washington, try to go by the Library of Congress and find the Asian division. You'll find my mother's donation there. tag:weblogs.wpix.com,2010:/news/kaitytong//400.260314 2010-08-31T21:22:36Z 2010-09-02T23:38:07Z

Okay, kman. So you wanna chat. Well, so do I. And just for the record, I didn't think you were being rude when you chided me on my last blog. You've been a longtime reader, and I find your comments...

Kaity Tong Okay, kman. So you wanna chat. Well, so do I. And just for the record, I didn't think you were being rude when you chided me on my last blog. You've been a longtime reader, and I find your comments interesting, funny, and thoughtful. And since you've been commenting since practically the day I first started blogging, I feel I've gotten to know you a bit. I think you're a baby boomer with kids probably around the age of mine, and I know we share many of the same tastes in music, food, and other stuff. Though,Shelley, I must say I very much appreciate your jumping to my defense the way you did! Yeah, sometimes, kman can come across a bit snarky (and kman, I don't think you'd disagree with that) but I don't think he means to be mean.. And kman, you do make an astute point. Where ARE all my regulars? Always good to hear from Chuck, Ari, Giada, Z-man, diedonce, Alexa, LB, Kaity Fan, mc in PA, to name some of my most loyal regulars, but what happened to Christian, CityCop, Leeanne, Mel, Jen, KC, Marie, bart and Nash, that sweet kid who was going to college just last year, the one who numbered his comments. Where did you go??? I think we've all been a bit busier than usual lately, and someone keeps telling me that Mercury's in retrograde, so things are all crazy and off-kilter now. But HEY, did you see the 1154 or so comments I got on some of my blogs?! Oh alright. So most of them were from my old pal "viagra" Ha! I have pleaded with our webmasters here and they can't seem to get these bozos off my site! Any ideas? Anyway, back to our topic at hand. We all had so much fun talking about our love of music, I thought it would be equally fun to chat a bit about books. I am a voracious reader, mostly fiction, and my tastes range as far and wide as do my tastes in music. As I think one of you said, 'it would be easier just to list the music we DON'T like!" Right now, in no particular order, I am enamored of these following authors: Lee Child: I love just about anything by him, but especially 'Gone Tomorrow" and "The Hard Way" with one of the most entertaining protagonists, Jack Reacher. Alan Furst: just re-read Dark Voyage, The Blood of Victory, and The Polish Soldier. Jim and I actually mentioned Mr. Furst during one newscast, we are such fans of his, and were disappointed he didn't acknowledge our 'fan worship!" I mean, come on, he lives on Long Island and we're SURE he's a n avid watcher of PIX News at Ten (yeah,who are WE kidding?!) lol. Anyway, he writes the most beautiful spy novels, somewhat along the lines of John LeCarre, of whom I am also a devoted fan. Michael Connelly Stephen Hunter Tess Gerritsen, James Lee Burke, his entire series starring Dave Robicheaux George Pellicano: wonderful, gritty, wise-ass, and heartbreaking tales of kids trying to grow up in Washington, DC David Sedaris: laugh-out-loud hilarious Bill Bryson Nick Hornby Carl Hiaasen Amy Tan Steig Larsson: The trilogy that begins with "the girl with the dragon tattoo." Such a shame he died at such an early age. I read that he had a heart attack during a power failure in his apartment building in Sweden, and,as he's trying to climb God knows how many flights of stairs up to his apartment, he collapsed and his last words were something to the effect of "S----t! I'm only 50 years old!" With the exception of Mr Larsson, I wait eagerly for the next book from each one of the authors listed above. Believe me, there are more favorites, but I can't list them all. At least, not today. Gotta go do a mobilecast. And BTW, kman, have you downloaded the PIX app onto your iphone and checked us out on the mobilecast? No? Well, never mind. It's just another shameless plug from yours truly! : ) Besides, I seem to recall your saying you don't have an i-phone,(neither do I!), and that you're satisfied with a simple cellphone, just like me.