tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:09:42 +0000The official blog of <a href="http://www.ryan-silva.com/">The Far-Flung Ryan-Silva Media Empire.</A>http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/default.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)Blogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1080472711292697430Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:23:00 +00002010-03-19T09:31:13.100-04:00meta-photographysaloonsN'SyncI'm on a quick trip to Bangladesh, and with some friends of mine here I took a walking tour of Old Dhaka today. Here are some highlights. View of the Gulshan 2 area from my hotel window. It's every bit as glamorous as it looks. A mosque in Old Dhaka. Colonial architecture in Old Dhaka. Our small tour group of Westerners attracted a lot of attention from the locals, who aren't http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2010/03/bangladesh.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1693398710463913558Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:55:00 +00002010-02-07T09:04:55.660-05:00OK, so maybe I'm a little behind. She has yet to ask for her own pony; I hope it stays that way. Hanging out in the new house. Ready for winter with new snowpants. Taken when it was about 70 degrees outside. Daddy and his little girl. I promise to take this down when he turns 12. Bobby's birthday. Mommy and Daddy smile for the camera while the kids remain http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2010/02/catchup.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-8372199260927738936Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:52:00 +00002010-02-07T08:55:23.999-05:00I laid over in Tokyo on a trip to Hanoi and Bangkok last fall; here are some highlights: I did not purchase any greed cups, but I did get a good deal on a bucket o' sloth. How do you spell relieb? I'm against it. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2010/02/japan.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-2977736350367140736Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:17:00 +00002009-11-01T09:29:08.942-05:00lakeside trombonesunicameral state legislaturesThis summer we made our usual trip to Omaha, plus an extra bonus long weekend in a rental house by a lake in South Dakota. Hanging out with Grandma. For Isabel, shopping with Grandma was a prominent and much-loved feature of the visit. Grandma has an excellent hose in the backyard. Lounging on the beach in South Dakota, which is what one does in South Dakota, apparently. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/11/what-we-did-on-our-summer-vacation.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-6913649420460307021Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:56:00 +00002009-11-01T09:17:16.064-05:00tiarasblue chalkclose-ups Extreme closeup: Bobby edition. Extreme closeup: Isabel edition. Auditioning for Blue Man Group. I should emphasize for future generations that it was most certainly Isabel's idea for Bobby to wear the tiara. He will probably still be mad at me for posting the photo, though. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/08/why-yes-i-do-have-cute-kids.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-6746533714137490898Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:20:00 +00002009-06-14T22:30:40.221-04:00Urban Velo for PreschoolersMel GibsonWe just moved from our little condo in Arlington, VA, to a rambler in Silver Spring, MD. It's been months of selling our old place, finding a new one, dealing with the snakes' nest of pure evil that is the membership of the National Association of Realtors™, and moving all our possessions. For Isabel, all of this means only one thing: that bike we told her we didn't have space for? There are no http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/06/one-less-car.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-4267363332630419261Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:18:00 +00002009-06-14T22:20:20.325-04:00CessnaCrackberryMiss Manners I've talked to Isabel a thousand times about her posture when she's flying small aircraft. At the Udvar-Hazy Annex. Bobby simply won't put the Blackberry away, even at dinner. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/06/bad-manners.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-2501864054920168295Mon, 25 May 2009 23:58:00 +00002009-05-25T20:11:51.189-04:00measuring tapeHello KittyinsulinJumping zebras Isabel and Bobby take Isabel's stuffed cat, Tabbles ("it's a real cat," notes Isabel) for a springtime walk on a leash made of measuring tape. Isabel selects the baby swing in a gesture of sibling solidarity. Future bike commuter. Bobby relaxes in the Hello Kitty playhouse. Isabel and her "sisters", many of whom she notes are wearing animal costumes. Isabel enjoys http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/05/isabel-and-bobby-take-isabels-stuffed.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1518422559941363360Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:58:00 +00002009-04-19T15:03:45.743-04:00power walkingblowdry Bobby is now quite a competent and confident walker, which opens up many possibilities. ...like blowdrying your hair in the bathroom. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/04/bobby-on-move.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1781465361854752686Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:11:00 +00002009-03-31T10:31:02.637-04:00virus-pooping carrion eatersH5N1BangladeshIt's avian influenza that brings me to Bangladesh, which means my photos are mostly of live poultry markets -- what we in the biz call "wet markets". But they're the best darn pictures of Bangladeshi wet markets you will see today.How did I end up with this job? The boq bike: predawn bike commuting is for the birds. Boq bike, part 2. Note the crows waiting to eat any delicious chickens http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/03/bangladesh.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-3584496186508586983Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:07:00 +00002009-03-31T10:31:27.371-04:00Rainbow Drive-InI'm putting the far-flung in the Far-Flung Ryan-Silva Media Empire again, this time with what I'm calling the Bang-Bang tour. Bangladesh and Bangkok, sandwiched between two thin but delicious layers of Tokyo layover. Spotted at Loft in Shibuya. Incomprehensible? Yes. But the kindest t-shirt featuring a US President I have seen abroad in a long while. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/03/japanese-t-shirt.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-8868698384405056607Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:25:00 +00002009-03-11T15:08:54.364-04:00four-eyed fairy princessfiremenElton John Isabel dips into the dress-up box and comes up with one outfit for her... ...one for Bobby... ...and one for Daddy. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/03/dress-up.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-3522507436899923224Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:20:00 +00002009-03-11T15:12:26.050-04:00scissorsskepticismcrabsIt has been a busy winter, with a couple of hospital stays and some frenzied activity to get the condo ready for sale -- perhaps an optimistic venture. So excuse the long lull. Bobby plays peekaboo with the laundry; a favorite game of his sister's at that age. Isabel shows off her spontaneously conceived "crab costume" -- scissors attached to her fingers with tape. She had some trouble http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2009/03/empire-strikes-back.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1269190871578528049Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:33:00 +00002009-03-11T15:10:26.897-04:00Martha StewartBarbieBobby spent about two weeks in the hospital with pneumonia and complications thereof; he's out now and back to his usual antics. But while he was sidelined, his sister still had a lot going on. Let's go to the videotape: It's true: Isabel is 4. Celebrating girly style with visiting Aunt Anne. Ready for pajama day at preschool. Visiting Grammy on her birthday. Chillin'http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/12/catching-up-with-bean.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-2043076908519148048Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:12:00 +00002009-03-11T15:10:53.200-04:00spellingRecently Isabel was making a sign for her door. "How do you spell NO?" she asked. On hearing the answer, she got to work on the sign. The first part finished, she asked, "how do you spell BABIES ALLOWED?"Bobby has been in the hospital with pneumonia for a little over a week. Isabel reports that she is considering making a new sign that says "BABIES PLEASE COME IN" when he comes home. We all hope http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/12/siblings-and-spelling.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-8210972061229994952Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:49:00 +00002008-11-21T11:48:00.743-05:00sympathy for non-native speakersbolognaChecking the server logs for October, I see someone came to the Far-Flung Ryan-Silva Media Empire by Googling:what means 'my bologna has a middle nameI hope they left edified. We at the Ryan-Silva Media Empire (Far-Flung Division) pride ourselves on having the best bologna team on the planet. For the record, our bologna has a hyphenated name.http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/11/your-source-for-bologna-information.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-5827923317628331601Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:38:00 +00002009-03-11T15:11:55.205-04:00death and Reston - the difficulty distinguishingemusGringo the ponyJulie was in New York over the weekend, so I took the kids to Reston Zoo in sleepy Reston, VA (town motto: "we're not dead, we're just Reston"). I think we all have fond childhood memories of feeding the emus. Isabel rides Gringo the pony. She's got the pony thing down now. Isabel and Bobby check out the alligator enclosure. Bobby rides a lion... ...while his sister rideshttp://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/11/this-place-is-zoo.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-2251602257116483034Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:39:00 +00002008-11-04T07:52:10.850-05:00 Isabel concentrates intently on decorating a pumpkin at a local fall festival. Bobby takes a lighter approach. Isabel sits proudly astride Bootsy the pony. The jack-o-lantern costume gets one more airing. A wascally wabbit. Bobby and Isabel got some musical Halloween cards that both are quite taken with: http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/11/autumn-man-empire.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1651359176878035021Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:38:00 +00002008-10-26T13:28:05.203-04:00One hurried day in Beijing on the way home. At the Forbidden City. Photographs cannot adequately capture how gobsmackingly enormous the Forbidden City is. At the Forbidden City. I resisted the temptation of a piping hot tan meat casserole. Or are they served cold? An excellent motif for a Chinese fast food restaurant. I'm home now, and very jetlagged.http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/beijing.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-2363824407316969671Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:20:00 +00002008-10-22T08:38:26.821-04:00 I'm staying at the Hanoi Hilton. Seriously. Apart from being charged US$4.50 to launder one pair of pants, I have been well-treated. It took me a while to realize that cab drivers don't understand where I want to go unless I pronounce it "Hinton". It would be difficult to overstate the popularity of the motorbike here. I lived in Cairo for four years and had no compunction about http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/hanoi.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-1537232174941741242Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:49:00 +00002008-10-18T23:07:31.889-04:00I've been in Bangkok since Monday, eating good food and attending meetings. A lot of meetings. But I got away for some touring, too. The Wat Phra Kaew temple complex. Wat Phra Kaew. Hanging with local demons at Wat Phra Kaew. Part of a huge and intricate Ramayana mural at Wat Phra Kaew. The famous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Wat Pho. At Wat Pho. The view ofhttp://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/bangkok.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-9062971499732974059Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:50:00 +00002008-10-13T21:03:00.121-04:00Spent another day in Tokyo on my way to Bangkok. I always enjoy these stopovers, despite the way the overwhelming intensity of Tokyo interacts with the grinding jet lag.I am fond of saying that I can't tell whether Japan is a country that's really far away or a planet that is relatively close. The restaurant experience is one example of what I mean. Many downmarket restaurants use this schemehttp://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/japan.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-5804995642014711725Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:05:00 +00002008-10-05T16:45:21.633-04:00 Bonus birthday celebrations with little friends. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/mo-better-birthday.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-8703749220520279180Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:11:00 +00002008-11-04T07:52:45.578-05:00 The birthday cake stylings of Julie. I think he likes it. The assembled multitudes await slice distribution. Chicks dig Bobby. The Ryan-Silva Family relaxing by the train table. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/10/birthday-cake-stylings-of-julie.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5134800.post-6687333934504806035Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:43:00 +00002008-09-26T22:49:25.942-04:00 Isabel at her dance class at the YMCA. At her new preschool. http://www.ryan-silva.com/blog/2008/09/classes.phpnoreply@blogger.com (Robert)0