2nd June,2005

After that artistic journey through the Temple of Dendur,Rodin,Monet and a couple of Van Gogh's we went home (this is my grand deluxe room no.1101 at the Peninsula Hotel). I just couldn't sleep at night and woke up at 4am to sit and answer a few emails. So, by the time we went down for a "leisurely breakfast" at 7am at St.Regis's Hotel I was really tired and sleepy. We had a couple of panel discussions and talks in the morning. George Tenet,former CIA director spoke to us before being quizzed by Chris Matthews (host of talkshow Hardball). Chris really tore into Tenet about WMD's and Iraq although admittedly Tenet defended well knowing that he was automatically on the backfoot from the beginning. Mr. "blogposter" asked a question and then continued to take his questioning form into the next couple of days, never failing to take the opportunity to ask questions.
After Tenet finished telling us about the American dream ( he is a son of Greek immigrants) and inspiring us to take up public office( I think he just presumed that everyone there wanted to come to America) there was a panel discussion on "Science and Religion". This was introduced by a pediatrician who couldn't believe that all of us had come from a melting pot of algae and slime. On the other hand we had Sir Paul Nurse, whose only point was that we must not allow a religious ideal to wrest political dominance and thus chart the scientific progress of a nation. He was obviously worried about all his scientists( he is President of Rockerfeller) working with stem cells being laid off.
We of course had a wishy washy diplomatic government spokeswoman(cant remember her name) who proceeded to inform us that we must remind ourselves of the values that inspire us to undertake science. Love for our brothers, altruistic intentions to eradicate hunger and disease..blah blah blah..
When I asked her how she dealt with the very human values that encourage science now being used to restrict scientific work in a particular area, she replied,"by having discussions like this". Rubbish!!
This was then followed by a really brief discussion about health policy which they had to cut short because of time constraints.
We then headed off to Gracie Mansion, NY mayor's official residence to have lunch in his garden. Its a huge house and fantastic garden. The sun was shining and the backdrop is the river with a bridge. Great view, nice food and good wine!! I sat next to Scott Momoday who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969. I had no idea who he was but chatted reasonably well with him after I told him that I had never heard of him or read his work. He is a Native American and we talked about extinct languages and Louis Lamour. He wanted to come to India and so I gave him a bit of advice about it.
Before we could start lunch we had the mayor giving a long speech and then an award to journalist and host of "Meet the Press" Tim Russert. Tim spoke really well, lucidly, engagingly and witty. Unfortunately as soon as they finished we were packed off again in buses to our next destination, Broadway.
That after a few more photos.