Prague Journal

Saturday, June 25, 2005.

Another day spent working at the computer, but at least I can see progress. Of the four cases that I have submitted to three different journals this year, one has been accepted (first pass with almost no revisions for the final copy) and will be in print in August, the second has just been accepted (the fruit of my labors of the last three days, and conciliatory interchanges with the journal editor), the third is now revised and nearly ready to send back to the journal (I only need a bit more information from the company), and the fourth is still under first review. The last two cases have been sent to a journal that is known for its long review process, so I do not anticipate that there will be quick turnaround on this second review, despite the fact that all three reviews were extremely positive and have specifically given the editor the final say. The reviewer suggestions were detailed, lengthy and quite helpful in making the case better, but writing appropriate responses for each reviewer’s concerns took more time than making the changes. The case is 10 pages long, plus 2 pages of exhibits; the Instructor’s Manual (analysis) is 13 pages long; and the response letter (explanation and/or rebuttal) to the editor and reviewers is 16 pages!
This evening’s dinner with Charlotte and Bruce was a welcome break from work, not to mention a delight in spending time with Charlotte and Bruce. We went to Buffalo Bill’s, a Tex-Mex restaurant that has been in Prague since 1993. The restaurant has a lot of interesting memorabilia of America’s Cowboy & Indian movies and many pictures of Buffalo Bill. Combine this with the background country music and it makes for a highly entertaining meal. The restaurant was founded by Dennis Naughton, an American lawyer who started coming to Prague in 1991 with a team of judges and lawyers to teach about western law practices. At that time, Dennis’s wife Gail was working as a public relations director for Clarke College, a Catholic liberal arts institution in Dubuque. Gail, who only visited Europe two or three times a year, ferried suitcases of Tabasco sauce and chili powder to Prague. For Buffalo Bill’s initial Thanksgiving dinner in November 1993, she taught the Czech chefs to make the first pumpkin and pecan pies in Prague culinary history. Alan Levy (the first editor in chief of The Prague Post) told a story about Dennis driving a leased Skoda to Frankfurt to pick up Gail and their youngest son, Nick, both bearing satchels filled with Buffalo Bill-embossed T-shirts and aprons. On the ride to Prague, a German policeman in Nuremberg—seeing a Czech car populated by three foreigners and laden with what looked like all their belongings—bullied them as though they were Cold War defectors or economic refugees. When he finally realized that they weren't (“Oh, you're Americans!”), he apologized profusely. But all three Naughtons assured him sweetly that they were proud to be mistaken for Czechs. Dennis Naughton sold his share of Buffalo Bill’s in 1997 and resumed his law practice in Iowa. Buffalo Bill's still has an extensive menu of fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, tortillas, nachos, wings, ribs, beef burgers, salads and desserts. Charlotte and I were not impressed with the Margaritas, but Bruce and Rick thought the ribs were quite fine (properly greasy and spicy, but not as plentiful as one would get in a typical American ribs joint). The fact that we were the only patrons this evening is a signal of their eventual demise. Perhaps American cuisine is not as novel or popular as it was ten years ago, or maybe the negative attitudes of people about anything American has had an impact. The number of American tourists has certainly decreased in the last couple of years.

posted by JWinn @ 10:36 PM