Random pieces

[magid]

The RCA (Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox group) has decided that any member rabbi performing a marriage must have the couple sign a pre-nup to avoid the problem of agunot in the future. Excellent. ("It's about time" comes to mind, also.)

Best sign on the walk home yesterday: "No Live Parking".

Harvard graduation is tomorrow. I walked through the Yard this morning wondering who will have to tilt the water off the thousands of folding chairs already set up. (That was under the 'one day of rain' assumption. Now, I'm wondering if everyone just sits in the rain, or what.) Some of them have no view of the proceedings at all, facing a brick wall or huge speakers instead. There are lots of tents dotting the other parts of the Yard (does Harvard rent all this every year, or do they have a huge storage facility somewhere?), plus a temporary information gazebo (gaZEEbo!).
Note to self: consider using Central Sq. tomorrow morning.

It's quite impressive weather out; I got drenched going to the supermarket to get some lunch. I'm glad I have spare shoes and socks in my cube. I'm very happy to have the farm share starting today, but I'm not looking forward to carrying it all home in the gusty downpour. No way I'm fitting in extra miles afoot or by bike, so perhaps I'll make progress on straightening up the apartment.

So many people moving to Portland, OR. I think the huge magnet under Harvard Sq. holding everyone locally was moved to Powell's. Or something like that, anyway.

Comments

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

The tents and chairs are rented. There's a big speech going on now, actually, and there are actually people out there - there's a reasonably biggish knot of umbrellas down in front, and many more people on seats just outside the library, under the overhang. I'm going out the back doors when I leave, needless to say.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Umbrellas are useful, but screw up sight lines. I hope most of the adoring families are able to see something.

I was surprised I was able to walk through this morning; I vaguely remember last year the Yard was already closed off on the Wednesday. Perhaps I was running late last year...

Hope you can stay dryish on your way home.

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

I don't think most people are caring about sight lines right now.
Heading home will be ick, but same as for everybody; I don't start out biking when it's raining, so I took the bus in.
I don't actually remember the Yard being closed off on Wednesday; definitely Thursday, though, until mid-day, at least. My biggest recollection of Wednesdays is having certain parts of the Yard blocked, especially the parts that are "backstage" for whoever the speaker is. I've had trouble getting my bike out from there before when I've made the mistake of parking it in my usual spot. Not a problem this year.

off-topic

[magid.livejournal.com]

See Powerfrau's second comment below.
:-)

[clauclauclaudia]

I believe the usual practice is for everyone to tip their own chairs. ;-)

I think they decided that what with the rain, the show wasn't in enough demand to bother with the usual security today. They've piped the proceedings to large screens set up all over campus--I can hear people laughing at Seth MacFarlane next door now.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I remember being an usher at Brandeis and tipping/wiping hundreds of chairs before graduation, so I just assumed it wouldn't be the all-dressed-up people here for graduation. Makes sense, though.

It's cool that they've got the show going to so many large screens; if I had to choose, I'd go indoors myself.

[clauclauclaudia]

I'm interested to read that the pre-nups offer financial inducement. Hm.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Money is pretty much what can be mandated in a non-religious society. In Israel, they can suspend the guy's driver's license (or throw him iin jail, but I don't get the impression that happens much).

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

They were having us sign pre-nups ten years ago.

Commencement tomorrow takes place outdoors, rain or shine.

[magid.livejournal.com]

There are rabbis who've been having couples sign pre-nups for ages; having the whole RCA say that it's policy, rather than up to an individual rabbi, is a great step in the right direction.

I figured it would be outdoors either way; there's no obvious place to put it, otherwise :-).

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

oooh, Powells!

::runs to Portland::

oops!

:)

[magid.livejournal.com]

I have yet to make my pilgrimage to Powell's, alas. I have to content myself with the online version, which is not nearly so good for serendipitous browsing :-).

[powerfrau.livejournal.com]

Wow, the link on agunot is quite detailed...stiil scratching brain--but thinking she understands

[magid.livejournal.com]

It's an unfortunate situation, when a guy turns into a jerk and withholds a religious divorce decree even after a civil divorce. She's... up a creek, paddle-free, as it were.

[powerfrau.livejournal.com]

I love your friend dancingdeer's sign. I always call it that...watch out for dancing deer!

[magid.livejournal.com]

*grin*

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

hee! Thanks!