Yesterday for the first time ever I got to meet face to face another Dean’s World contributing editor and commenter. Aziz Poonawalla.
I have to admit that he’s the first because he is easiest to locate around my little part of the world. He lives in nearby Verona, Wisconsin and he works at the sprawling complex of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospitals and Clinics (UWMHC) at the far western end of the UWM campus.
Aside from the fact that we had a hard time coordinating the process of getting to the same place at the same time for lunch, it was one of the nicer social get-togethers I’ve participated in over many years.
No, we did not argue shia or sun’a Islam; catholic, protestant or orthodox Christianity; Judaism, Hindutva, Buddhism, or even my own wimpish Apatheism.
We did talk a little about Aziz’s Dawoodi Bohra sect of the shi’a tradition of Islam. Mainly because the little I have read about that group interestd me beyond my usual superficiality about faith-based cultures and social systems.
(Yes, Aziz. I will buy and carefully read the book that I think you suggested. I aim to find out how your group has handled the combination of orthodox Islam and a serious effort to come to grips with modern life; which, I understand, characterizes Dawoodi Bohra.)
Nor did we argue american politics.
Stefi was with us for lunch. The two of us told Aziz mainly about our work to promote smart growth comprehensive planning, areawide transit, protection of farmlands being eaten up by urban sprawl, and above all, the near impossibility of protecting the environment of land and water resources in urbanizing metropolitan areas that lack comprehensive areawide planning. One day, I will post on DW one of our screeds covering the intersect of “smart growth” planning and environmental protection.
Aziz up close and across the table from us proved to be a uniquely interesting, intelligent, outgoing young guy. I understand he is doing post-doctoral work at UWMHC in radiology, and as I understand it, his focus is on the machinery — CT-scanners, et all — rather than medical interpretation of the scanned pictures. At my age, the chances are his work may save my butt one day from whatever doom I probably have coming to me.
Our lunch date was at the Texas Tubbs Taco Palace out on University Avenue across the street from one of Madison’s two big multihospital complexes. “TT’s”, I they apparently call it.
I can’t honestly say the food was very appealing and with Stefi watching over me like a mama hen over her chick, all I got was a pitiful small taco with a little bit of Mahi fish on it, plus a shared salad when I squawked about the size and content of the portion. Next time we dine together in Madison, I aim to steer Aziz to one of the Panera Bread franchses: Best sandwiches and soups around; you pick up your order at the counter and thus don’t have to tip waitstaff for performiong chores that you can do for yourself.
My next target is to see if I can talk Reverend Paul Burgess into coming over here from Iowa for some first-rate coffee, almond bear claws, and above all, conversation. He was always one of the most intelligent people on Dean’s World, when he was present and accounted for.
Aziz, thank you for that hour at TT’s.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
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I really hope I get to meet Aziz one day myself.
Come by Madison one day, and you can do a double meetup.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold, you beat me to it! I was going to say that everyone has to envy me now because I alone have met the Scion of Mt Horeb :)
I really had a great time – apart from the shame at being too slow to grab the check. BTW heres teh blog I mentioned about trransportation issues:
http://www.ctchouston.org/blogs/christof/
and this is probably one of his best posts ever (recently)
http://www.ctchouston.org/intermodality/2009/09/22/megaregional-transit/
its absolutely brilliant. Houston is a great case study for almost every possible issue in transport that you can devise. Hes also very approachable and you might consider inviting him up here to speak about land use issues under aegis of your Dane Cty group.
We definitely have to meet again. I loved meeting Stefi, though I did sympathize with you – I only answer to God for my dietary restrictions, and now I think I get off lucky!
and I am a Panera Bread addict. My usual weekly breakfast indulgence is a artichoke egg pastry, a bear claw, and a large coffee. So count me in :)
i didnt know Paul was in Iowa. His blog – xrdarabia.org – is absolutely essential reading too. I wonder how far away he is? and under what pretext we can lure him here?
Not to impose on the sensibilities of a person doing post-doctoral (post-PHD) work at UWMHC in radiology, a rather exact science hopefully, but:
John Burgess belongs here: xrdarabia.org
and Paul Burgess here: pmburgess.blogspot.com/
and here: paulburgess.org
McK,
Everyone makes typographical errors. So don’t be too coy about Aziz. Besides. There’s no reason John Burgess can’t join us all for some good quality food and cheer in or near Madison WI. Which is true for you as well.
Aziz,
“…artichoke egg pastry, a bear claw, and a large coffee.” ?? I thought from my instant googled research is that the Dawoodi Bohra have dietary restrictions. My very own da’i i-mutlaq is She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBE). So I am not permitted to even look at an egg yoke, to say nothing of consuming one. So I have learned to suffer in silence and satisfy myself with fried egg whites, which are not cholesterol-laden.
Speaking of research, I found reference to a book by Jonathan Blank, titled “Mullahs on the Mainframe”, and read excerpts from it online. Is that the book you were suggesting that I read in full?
Panera Bread it shall be. Also, it’s easier to park in their franchises than at TT’s.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold,
There weren’t any typo’s nor was I being coy. That isn’t explainable in this format. I suspect Aziz may understand my point.
And, I appreciate your invitation –even had kinfolk out near Footville and Magnolia nears County Road A and Route 213.
Yet, I’m an old man, live out west with mid-west roots.
ah McK is correct, for some reason i swapped John with Paul. At least I got the URL right!
yup Arnold Mullahs on the Mainframe is the book – the excerpt is good but the whole thing is better. I even wrote my own mini-review here:
http://cityofbrass.blogspot.com/2002/11/review-mullahs-on-mainframe.html
and Arnold, how is it that your Dai ul Mutlaq forbids you eggs but turns the other way when you consume bear claws? (I approve on both counts. Your Dai is wise.)
Aziz,
Egg yolks = cholesterol
Bear claws = carbohydrates
But don’t imagine that SWMBO allows me to consume rolls of that type every day.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold,
Deer (pun) heart, the american cackleberry (the egg) has been getting a very bum rap for years and years by the medico’s. The cholesterol in an egg is absorbed and digested and the cholesterol component doesn’t enter the bloodstream (as cholesterol) from which the cholesterol test is derived. The liver decides how much cholesterol to put on your medical doctors laboratory tests.
Further, the liver manufactures its own cholesterol. When the liver finds out, you ate then egg, it punches in (the) exogenous source button and renders it stupid.
Furthermore, do not listen to the ppl at Harvard or NIH. Harvard for example hasn’t decided whether its useful to take vitamin pills or shud I say they have decided on alternating years.
Not to worry, there is enough butter in one bear claw to provide enough saturated fats to make the liver go crazy in ldl production.
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