Lisa Napoli's Blog, page 54

#3goodthings

*that tree next to the pool

*seeing Star again after so long

*the comic absurdity of the Lindsey Lohan paparazzi outside our beloved Downtown Women's Center when we arrived to cook.

#3goodthings

No Facebook for Bhutanese civil servants

….at least not during office hours, according to this story in the Bhutan Times.

Somerville, Mass. and Happiness

Story in the NY Times (and Boston Globe) about how Somerville, Mass. is exploring citizen's happiness and well-being, thanks to a local famous professor and a forward thinking politician:

Excerpt:

"We need to change our mind-set in how we serve people,'' said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, who has been hailed at the White House for the city's pioneering program against obesity. He called the happiness survey "a no-brainer'' that he approved as soon as it was suggested.

"Cities keep careful track of their finances, but a bond rating doesn't tell us how people feel or why they want to raise a family here or relocate a business here,'' Curtatone said.

#3goodthings

*the way the wind was blowing tonight

*that food.

*seeing U's baby, Athena, no longer quite a baby–and how she radiates pure and simple joy and happiness

#3goodthings

Himalayan Viagra

PRI's The World did a piece on cordyceps, that pricey fungus that's supposed to boost, umm, everything and thus fetches enormous sums at market. Another one of Bhutan's natural wonders.

http://www.theworld.org/2011/04/caterpillar-fungus-bhutan-viagra/

The El Paso-Bhutan connection

Nice piece on KUT in Austin about the El Paso-Bhutan connection. Thanks, Nathan!

http://kut.org/2011/04/el-pasos-mysterious-link-to-bhutan/

LA Times Festival of Books this weekend

Dear Michael Saltzman just sent me this link, which looks pretty hot off the press:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/04/coming-to-the-festival-of-books-lisa-napoli.html

Not going to be in DC area tonight

Just to update my schedule for anyone who was planning on going to ONE MORE PAGE BOOKS tonight in Arlington, VA—you should go see that beautiful store, please buy my book if you haven't…..but if you go, sadly, you won't get to see me. (Nor, I you.)

Human rights/Bhutan

This piece ran in the Himalayan Times today; follow this link for a bit more background on Tek Nath Rizal.

Bhutanese to file suits against ex-Bhutan king

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Human rights spokesperson for Bhutanese exiles Tek Nath Rizal today said discussions had started with the Washington DC-based Bruce Fein & Associates, Inc, a law firm in the United States, to explore lawsuits against former Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuk for torture meted out to thousands of victims.

Issuing a press statement here in Kathmandu, Rizal, a former confidante of the Bhutanese king who was jailed for years in Thimphu, said the amount in damages that might be recovered under the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) would exceed US$ 200 million.

"It is generally believed that King Jigme has hidden assets well in excess of that sum," the statement read. Jigme who became king in 1972 abdicated in 2008 to leave the throne to his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.

More than 100,000 Nepali speaking Bhutanese citizens, known as Lhotsampas, were forced to leave Bhutan due to state-sponsored ethnic cleansing through the late 1980s to early 1990s during Jigme's absolute rule. Seeking refuge, the majority of refugees had entered eastern Nepal through India. More than 45,000 refugees have been resettled in eight first world countries, including the United States through the third country resettlement solution.

The TVPA allows both aliens and US citizens to make legal claims against foreign officials responsible for torture or extra-judicial killings perpetrated under the colour of foreign law.

#Book Report Radio and #FeatureMe2

Haven't had a barrage of press lately so thanks for indulging:

Here's a nice interview about Radio Shangri-La which ran this weekend on the syndicated radio show, Book Report: http://bookreportradio.com/media/The%20Book%20Report%20Show%2026%2059-43.mp3

And, nice new Web book review:

http://www.featureme2.com/tag/lisa-napoli/