Sorry for the lack of recent blog postings this weekend. I'm too busy relaxing. Fans of this blog (if there are any!) will notice that I have posted a picture on the right-hand column, alongside my Blogger profile. Yes, it's the same picture that's on Friendster. I'm hoping to purchase a digital camera soon and once that happens, look for more pics on this site!

I stayed up late last night finishing reading "Angels and Demons." Just could not put it down. It's a great book by Dan Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code." However, having read "Da Vinci", I am familiar with Brown's writing style and was therefore able to decipher the twist - who the villain was - halfway through the book. Even though I had a good idea who the bad guy was, I still enjoyed how the author got us there and there was one final twist at the end that had me saying "Holy shit" out loud. I know that Ron Howard is currently prepping a "Da Vinci" film and having now read "Angels and Demons", I really hope that a film version of it follows. All I ask is that Ben Affleck NOT be cast as Robert Langdon.

Today they are dedicating the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. I'm watching it right now on The History Channel. This year on Memorial Day, as we enjoy our beaches, BBQs and clothing sales, let's take some time to honor the sacrifices of all of our veterans, in wars both just and unjust.

The beach opening went off without a hitch. The weather cooperated, unlike last year when it rained on us. I even got to meet the Mayor and he gave me a kazoo! One of the many giveaways was souvenir kazoos donated by Astroland Amusement Park. As Mayor Bloomberg walked in my direction, I stuck out my hand and introduced myself. He shook it and said “Hello. I am going to give you this.” He then handed me a kazoo that someone else had previously given to him. Quite the encounter! Otherwise it was a long day but we got a lot of positive media coverage so I’m happy. Since I subscribe to DirecTV, I don’t get the station NY1 anymore but I was told that I could be seen in one of the shots, with my back to the camera! I also met a guy who works for the Disney Corporate Office in Florida. He was vacationing in NYC and seemed very impressed with Coney Island. Maybe he’ll go back to work and suggest that they invest, ala Times Square. It was also great to have worked with the volleyball teams of Grady and Wingate High School, arranging for them to take part in the event by playing beach volleyball. Those kids and their coaches were thrilled to be there and I was happy to have them. But the best parts were what happened after the formal event ended... an unlimited lunch buffet courtesy of Greg & Paul’s and a ride on the Wonder Wheel. Yay Coney Island!

As is the tradition, the beach opening ceremony is always followed by Memorial Day weekend, which is the perfect time to crash and burn. I intend on doing just that.

Today I bought a Lotto ticket. I just watched the drawing. I didn't win. Shit.

“24” went out with a bang last night. Or should I say, a chop. In one of the more gruesome scenes in the series’ history, Jack was forced to chop off Chase’s hand with an axe. You see, he had no choice since Chase’s hand was permanently clamped to the deadly biological weapon that they had been hunting all year. In other developments, President Palmer decided not to seek a second term, Tony is off to serve at least 20 years in jail, Saunders was killed by Gael’s widow, and Chase and Kim decided to live a calmer existance. The final scene featured Jack privately sitting in his car, overcome with tears... the first time he ever cried on the show. A quiet yet powerful conclusion. “24” will not return until January, 2005 when FOX will then present it without any preemptions. They might do so with Kiefer Sutherland but without many of the supporting players.

Busy week at work. Busy busy busy. Tomorrow’s blog entry will be entered a bit later than usual in order to provide a full recap of the Beach Opening Ceremony.

Bush gave another speech last night. Don’t know why I bothered to watch. Maybe it was because nothing else was on. Maybe it was because he was supposed to have laid out some actual specifics as to what our Iraq endgame would be. Silly me. It turned out to be little we haven’t heard before. “We will transfer sovereignty by June 30... We will rebuild their security... We will rebuild their infrastructure.” Yes, but how??? In terms of transferring sovereignty, Bush said that an envoy from the UN will decide who will be the new President, Prime Minister, VPs and cabinet members. Sounds like that envoy should have been the one giving the speech instead. Of course no mention was made of the very real possibility that a new Iraqi government would ask U.S. forces to leave the country. Then what? More speeches will be forthcoming in the next month and I really hope they are more illuminating.

Last winter I read “The Da Vinci Code” and really enjoyed it. Now I’m reading “Angels and Demons,” the first Robert Langdon novel. It’s very much in the “Da Vinci” formula and it reads like an season of “24”, fast paced, taking place in one day, with a race to stop a catastrophe from happening. So far, so good!

Was at Coney Island earlier this morning getting ready for the big Beach Opening event, which is on Thursday. Today I was putting up the 2004 Event Calendar posters that I made on all of the informational kiosks. So if you’re at Coney this summer and you see the good-looking promotional posters, know that it was all me!

As Cher said in “Moonstruck”... “I don’t believe in curses.” To which the old Sicilian woman replied, “Neither do I.” It’s obvious that neither of them are baseball fans. Because true baseball fans know the power of a curse. The plights of the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox are one example. Another is that no Mets pitcher will ever throw a no-hitter. Case in point – yesterday’s game. Tom Glavine came within 4 outs of a no-no, only to be denied. Through the years, the Mets have had many great pitchers... Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, David Cone. All of whom never threw a no-hitter for the Mets but did so later in their careers after they left the team. When I was a little kid I used to say that I would erect a statue in my frontyard of the first Met to throw a no-hitter. As the years go by, it seems that is one statue that will never be built.

“The Sopranos” was AMAZING last night. Full of action and drama! Perhaps one of the best episodes ever. Yet also disturbing. It culminated in the whacking of Adrianna, a regular since the series’ inception. Adrianna had been giving information to the FBI for the past two seasons and once the family found out... well let’s say she knew exactly what was going to happen as Sylvio drove her into the woods. It was also a noteable episode as Tony Soprano refused to hand Steve Buscemi’s character over to the rival mob boss for a retribution killing. Now it looks like full-fledged war between the two families. Or to put it another way : Johnny Sack said to Tony, “You Got Served!” To which Tony replied, “No, You Got Served!” To which they resolved, “It’s On!” Now if this were “South Park” it would culminate in a dance-off. Don’t think that’s gonna happen though...

Yesterday was busy. Went to not one but two birthday parties. Go social life!

One of the parties was in the afternoon and the other was late at night so I had some time to kill in between. So I went to the McDonalds on 42nd Street and ordered a Number 3 Meal - SuperSized! After gorging myself (and only being able to finish half the fries and soda), I then went to the AMC 25 theater and saw the film "Super Size Me." It was awesome! As I sat in the theater suffering from the effects of my own Mickey Ds binge, I watched Morgan Spurlock as he only ate McDonalds three times a day for thirty straight days. As a result he gained 25 pounds, his cholesterol shot up, he suffered liver damage, had problems performing sexually, and suffered through bouts of depression. But it sure tasted good! Actually, only part of the movie dealt with his experiment. The rest dealt with the American obesity epidemic in general. It's a great film and a good companion piece to the book "Fast Food Nation." Oh and on my way walking from the theater to the 2nd party, I passed three McDonald's. They really have taken over Manhattan.

And speaking of documentaries, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" won the Cannes Palmes D'Orr Prize last night as the best film. Will definetely see that one as soon as it comes out!

Did everyone hear about the interview with Condi Rice where she answered “As I said to my husb...I mean the President” Yes, Ms. Rice was making a reference to Bush and the first words that almost blurted out of her subconscious when thinking of him were “my husband.” Does Little Miss Condi have a crush???

The comic strip “The Boondocks” has jumped all over the flub, joking around that they’re having a steamy love affair. In yesterday’s strip, Huey is watching a TV news interview with Rice and she tells a reporter, “As I was saying, we’re all horrified about the treatment of the detainees. Why, I was just saying to my snoogumcakes...” (stunned silence) “I – um – meant the President.” To which Huey yells out “SHE DID IT AGAIN!!”

The news is so gloomy. Iraq is a mess. The 9-11 hearings are contentious. The Mets lost yesterday. Nothing good in today’s paper to talk about. Except for a humorous story about a insurance executive who was billed for $28,000 at Scores Strip Club. He’s suing them for wrongful charges. The spokesperson for Scores said that the lawsuit boils down to his “partying like a champ but waking up the next day feeling like a chump.”

The expense list is itemized as follows...
$16,000 for Champagne (5 magnums of Clos Du Mesnil at $3,200 each)
$7,000 for Lap Dances (350 for $20 each, including dances by up to 12 women at a time)
$5,000 for more alcohol, food and tips

Well, I hope he had fun!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!!! Now you are as old as me! (Give or take seven months or so...)

NYC has made the Final Five cut for the 2012 Summer Olympics. However in the voting, we only came in 4th, behind Paris, Madrid and London. (Moscow is the other finalist) I don’t think the odds are good that NYC will be chosen. With the 2010 Winter Games in North America, they’ll probably choose one of the three European cities for 2012. I’m disappointed though that Havana, Cuba failed to make the cut. How great would that be? Castro would never let anyone leave!

Congratulations to Randy Johnson on throwing a perfect game last night. Not bad for 40 years old! It’s even sweeter that he did it against the Atlanta Braves. They’re not so tough this year, are they? Add that to another 9th inning come-from-behind win by the Mets and it was a good night for baseball.

Television’s greatest villain, Sherry Palmer from “24”, was killed off last night. She was the quintessential manipulater, always scheming against her husband and plotting her way to power. All of her schemes finally caught up with her though as she was gunned down by one of the women who she betrayed. In three years on the show, Penny Johnson Jerald did an amazing job in her portrayal of the character and she’ll be missed!

I cannot wait to see “Fahrenheit 9/11.” It’s the latest documentary from Michael Moore and it got a 20-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. Not surprising since the screening was in France and it really tears into the policies of the Bush Administration. It includes a rarely seen 7-minute clip of Bush being informed that the second tower was struck, and then sitting in a kindergarten chair with a vacant, baffled look on his face. It also shows war atrocities in Iraq with many of our own soldiers questioning what we’re doing. Plans are for the film to be released in theaters this summer (provided that they find a distribution company) and then on video and DVD in the fall. Hopefully it will be seen by many voters as a wake-up call.

Sad to say that Tony Randall of “Odd Couple” fame passed away this morning. I met Randall in November, 1999 at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in NYC. I was working with then-Parks Commissioner Henry Stern at a banquet in honor of City College. Stern and Randall were both guest speakers and I had the pleasure of an introduction. I wonder if Nick at Nite or TV Land will show an “Odd Couple” marathon in his honor.

Vassar College’s 5-Year reunion for the Class of ’99 is coming up! June 4, 5, 6. If you haven’t registered, do so now at the AAVC home page!

A word about the new Blogger system for comments. In order for your name to appear as having left a comment, then you have to sign in as a Blogger member. If you are NOT a Blogger member, you can still leave a comment by clicking the link to post anonymously. But to let me know who you are, please say so in the text of your comment. Thanks!

The front page of today’s Daily News asks “Would you pay $1,000 for an omelet?” My answer is... no, I would not even pay $1 for an omelet. I do not like omelets. I do not like green eggs and ham either. But apparently, Le Parker Meridian Hotel on W. 57th Street is charging a grand for an omelet that consists of eggs, lobster and lots and lots of caviar. It was also reported that noone has ordered it yet.

Hilarious stuff on “Meet the Press”. Colin Powell was being interviewed by Tim Russert via satellite from Jordan. When Russert asked a hard-hitting question about using false information to justify war, Powell’s staffers moved the camera off of him and pointed it toward some palm trees. His deputy press secretary told Powell that the interview was over but Powell yelled at them to put the camera back on him so he could answer the question. Powell later called Russert to apologize.

Great Mets game yesterday. After being shut out by Roger Clemens for 7 innings, the Mets got even with the Houston bullpen in the 9th as Mike Piazza hit the game-tying homer. For Piazza its an indirect form of revenge against Clemens. Who will ever forget the beaning he took in the head during the 2000 season? Then in extra innings, Jason Phillips hit the game-winning home run.

“The Sopranos” was certainly surreal last night. Much of the episode was an enactment of Tony’s dream, breaking all rules of time and space and bringing back many of the show’s former cast members who had been whacked in previous episodes. The dream reflected much of Tony’s inner torments and anxieties and foreshadowed the troubles he is soon going to face. Steve Buscemi’s character (Tony’s cousin) murdered a member of a rival mob family and now Tony fears that his family is at risk for retaliation. The last two episodes of the season should be great!

This morning I went to Lundy's (a Sheepshead Bay institution) for a breakfast in honor of Congressman Anthony Weiner (who used to be my boss many many years ago!) It was great to see him and catch up with many of the people who I used to work with including Jeremy Halperin, Brian Gottlieb and Suzanne Bressler. Now the only question is if Weiner will run for Mayor next year. Hmm...

Speaking of Sheepshead Bay institutions, Roll 'n Roaster has been a hallmark on Emmons Avenue for the past 33 years. They just recently opened a restaurant in Manhattan, on 3rd Ave & E 11th St, and I ate there last night. Tasted the same to me!

Saw "Mean Girls" last night. Sharp, funny movie that was highlighted by Lindsay Lohan's... ummm... assets. When does she turn 18?

Special thanks to Marivel for e-mailing this to me...

Have you heard of the NO-CARB Diet for 2004?

NO C-heney
NO A-shcroft
NO R-umsfeld
NO B-ush

and "Absolutely NO RICE!"

This is a diet that will take you successfully through the next election.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday's Parks event was a ribbon cutting at Police Officer Reinaldo Salgado Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant. It was for a new synthetic turf ballfield, replacing an asphalt one. Definetely a good thing for all the kids who will be using it.

Got up early this morning and watched "The Last Samurai." Lots of exciting battle scenes and an engrossing historical epic of Japan's transition in the late 19th Century. And yeah, Tom Cruise was good too.

There is nothing more soothing than listening to the rain fall as you settle down to sleep. Last night was great in that regard.

When I heard that Bruce Ratner was going to build a new arena complex for the Nets in Brooklyn, I originally felt bad for the homeowners that would be displaced. Now I hear that all property owners have been offered over $1 million to move. Suddenly I don't feel too bad for them anymore.

Another Parks event going down today. It's at 1:00 though which will severely cut into my lunch. Hmm, will have to grab something on the way.

Am determined to see a movie (or two!) this weekend.

Don't forget to visit VassarChat!

RUPERT!!!!!!

Rupert won the million dollar vote, no doubt thanks to all the votes that me, my dad, my aunt and my co-workers threw to him.

Yeah, Rupert!!!

OK, no more Survivor talk for a while.

Saw an excellent movie the other night. "Osama", the first movie made in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. It's about a family of women who are starving to death because all the men in the family are dead and the Taliban bans women from working to earn a living. So they cut the hair off their youngest daughter and have her pose as a boy in order to work. Meanwhile, all the young boys in the village are rounded up to serve in Bin Laden's army - including her. It's an amazing film and very reminiscient of "Europa Europa", where a Jewish boy pretends to be German in order to escape the Holocaust and even serves in Hitler Youth.

Terrible, terrible pictures out of Iraq. First there's the prisoner abuse photos. Then there's the beheading of the American. It's as if the terrorists are saying "Oh you think you're sick? Watch what we can do."

Voting for the next Survivor million dollar winner has closed with the winner to be announced tonight. I voted for Rupert a few times. I tried to vote for myself but did not see my name on the ballot.

Fiddling around with Blogger. Changed the visual interface again.

Testing, testing, one two...

And oh yeah, the comments are back. Contain your excitement.

Announcing a brand new website...

VassarChat.com

An opportunity for alumni, current students and
prospectives to come together and talk about
Vassar, dish gossip, discuss future plans,
promote causes, talk about the news and much much
more!

Log on now, register with the site and leave
comments on our easy to use message board. Then
tell your friends about it and keep coming back!

VassarChat.com is run by fellow alumni and is
not affiliated with Vassar College.

See you there!

Said goodbye to Tom Stofka today. His funeral was the first Catholic one that I have ever attended. Literally hundreds of people were there, with Parks employees filling the church pews all the way to the back. Across the street from the church, a forestry climber & pruner truck was parked with lettering that read "We Love You Tom Stofka." An honor guard of Parks supervisors and enforcement officers stood at attention at the front doors. The priest and Commissioner Benepe both spoke exceptionally well in their eulogies. Tom will certainly be missed. He was a highly thoughtful and insightful individual. He and his wife would leave notes to each other every so often with positive affirmations on life. The day that he died, his wife found a note from him that he apparently wrote that morning before he left for work. A coincidence or did he have an inkling that something might happen? This is what he wrote...

- Want more for others than yourself
- Be an appreciator
- Stay in rapport with source energy
- Understand resistance
- Contemplate yourself surrounded by the conditions you want to create
- Meditate connected to source
- Stay matched with the field of intention
- Think from the end - visualize results
- You can resolve a problem by condemning it
- Be in a constant state of gratitude
- Practice radical humility

Thank you Tom for leaving us with those final, valuable words. And thank you for living the life that you led.

Woah. Blogger sure changed its visual interface last night.

And the winner of "Survivor : All Stars" is... Amber! I picked it! Rupert was first to go, then Jenna, then Amber beat Boston Rob by a 4-3 vote. Voting for Amber was Shii Ann, Lex, Alicia and Tom (the latter three were out of spite for Rob). Voting for Rob was Rupert, Jenna and Kathy. Then on the live reunion show, Rob proposed marriage to Amber and she accepted. What a Survivor love story. I hope she signs a pre-nup. :) The "big surprise" was something of a letdown. It's that CBS will award a second million dollar prize in a "viewer's choice poll." You can vote by logging on to CBS.com.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Can't wait to go out to dinner tonight and eat lobsters with mom.

Tonight is the big finale of "Survivor : All Stars". All season I've been offering my weekly picks and it all culminates tonight. The first elimination will be interesting. Rob and Amber are an alliance. So are Rupert and Jenna. Will it be a 2-2 tie? If so, what's the format for a tiebreaker? Will one of the players abandon their alliance to secure a 3-1 edge? Then when it comes down to 3 players, it's all about who wins the final crucial immunity challenge. The unpredictable nature of the final four makes predictions difficult but here goes. I'll say that Rupert is the first voted out. Then Boston Rob. Then the jury will choose between Amber and Jenna and they'll give the win to Amber. CBS is hyping huge surprises for tonight, which could be anything!

Thanks to John and Spencer for throwing a supremo BBQ tonight! Though, a BBQ before Memorial Day? Isn't that sacriligious? Mmm, sacrilicious...

So after meeting David McCullough on Friday, I went to the bookstore and purchased his book, "John Adams". I enjoy his references to the journals that Adams kept when he was in his late teens & early twenties. His journal entries sound no different than the blog entries that me and many of my friends write nowadays. Just think, if John Adams was alive today, he'd have a blog!

UPDATE : I just met David McCullough. The historian and author of "John Adams", "Truman", and many other novels. He came into our building today as he tours historical points of Brooklyn. And I introduced myself and shook his hand. I feel giddy.

Still devastated about Tom Stofka’s death. But life goes on. A bunch of us went out last night for food and drinks, and we talked about Tom as well as other things. I think the camaraderie helped us cope. In his honor, American flags in Brooklyn’s parks are at half-mast.

So how about the shit hitting the fan about the abuse treatment of Iraqi prisoners? Rumsfeld is in trooouuubbbllleee... Apparently, Rumsfeld knew about it for months and hid the reports from Bush. Yesterday, Bush had to actually use the word “sorry”. This administration never apologizes for anything! We very may well have a new Secretary of Defense before it’s all said and done.

And now a few TV commentaries.
1) Big Tom Buchanan was voted off of “Survivor” last night. He could have played the role of a crucial swing vote but neither alliance felt they could trust him for the duration. The final four is now Boston Rob, Amber, Rupert and Jenna with the finale to be aired on Sunday night.
2) I caught the last half-hour of “Friends” last night and was not impressed. I never really watched the show to begin with and couldn’t care less that it’s off the air.
3) The season finale of “The O.C.” was the other night. For the first time, a party on that show did not end with a fistfight or someone getting thrown into a pool. Very sad ending though with Ryan going back to Chino out of obligation, and against his wishes. I think it’s pretty clear though that he’ll move back to the Cohen’s house very early next season. And what was with Seth sailing off into the sunset? Gabe raises a good point, he’ll probably wind up drowning!
4) “24” is down to its last few episodes and Tony Almeida’s character has absolutely lost it. Blackmailed by the bad guy, Tony has betrayed his country and directly put the lives of millions at risk. Can’t wait for Jack to dole out his brand of justice. A litany of bullets in Tony’s head perhaps? Worked for Nina.

How bout those Mets? They still stink but at least they swept the San Francisco Giants. Guess the Giants aren’t much of team when Barry Bonds doesn’t play. And my Fantasy Baseball team is even doing a little better. If you can call 5th/6th place a little better.

I really want to see "Super Size Me", the documentary about the guy who only eats McDonalds for 30 days.

Have a good weekend!

Well this has been some day thus far. This morning, there was a groundbreaking ceremony at Sternberg Park. The event itself went well. However, I then returned to the office and learned that one of my co-workers, Tom Stofka, died this morning of a massive heart attack. He was Brooklyn's Forestry Director and a great guy who I've worked with for five years. I'm still in disbelief as I type this. I last saw him yesterday and come to think of it, he did look a little flush. Then, five minutes before I learned of his death, I "cc'd" him on an e-mail. So right now we're all just sitting around the office, stunned. Tonight we're supposed to go out and have drinks with Lauren, who left the agency last week. I'm still going to go out but I don't know how much of a celebration its going to be.

"Survivor" is down to five. Anyone could go at this point. Big Tom is a crucial swing vote as Rob and Amber, and Rupert and Jenna seem like they're going to stick together. My prediction is that Tom sides with Rob and Amber and chooses to vote off Rupert. But I hope that doesn't happen.

The following was posted today by The Anonymous Blogette. It's a great piece and I have decided to reprint it in its entirety.

SINGLE PERSON'S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. I have the right to do something on my own without being subject to A) incredulity and B) pity. If I say I did something alone, do not look at me as if to say, "Awww, you didn't have anyone to do it with?" Maybe it was my choice. Maybe it was easier than dragging someone else along who was not as into the activity. If I stop at my favorite restaurant to eat alone right after work, I may have not wanted to base my schedule on someone else's on that particular eve.

2. I have the right to give, as an answer for why I can't meet up with you, that I'm busy and not have to justify it. Just because I'm single doesn't mean each evening is free. If I were married, you wouldn't be holding me responsible for having to turn down some of your invites. You'd assume I have a life. Well, I am single, and I want to do things with you, but I *still* have a life. Just because I don't have to change diapers today doesn't mean there aren't things I need to get done. Don't quiz me on what I am doing if I turn you down. It's nothing personal. I may have planned some alone time. Please keep asking, as I would do the same with you.

3. I have the right to, on the one hand, value my alone time, and on the other hand, still want to seek out someone to share my life with, without being called a hypocrite or judged on it. I can be happy alone, but I might be happier with someone, IF it was the right person. These are not warring impulses. How hard is that to understand?

4. I have the right to expect that you will be looking out for someone for me to date. Yes, I do...Listen up: Are you a true friend? Well, the best way for people to meet is through friends. If you are a true friend, rather than doing #1 and #2 above, you will, upon meeting someone who is single and whom I might like, find out more about them and pass the info to me or see if they might like to meet me. It might be the nicest thing you can do for me.

I am trying to do this on my own as much as I can, but could use extra pairs of eyes. Dating services are awkward. Meeting appropriate people and getting to know them is HARD. Just look at the blogs of my brothers and sisters in arms.

5. I have the right to complain about dating. If you haven't been out there and experienced it in a while, don't criticize me. Instead, re-read #4. And if I find someone, I won't be complaining about dating anymore.

The website I alluded to the other day is coming along nicely. Stay tuned to this blog for the grand announcement of its domain name. It will herald a new era in the Internet!

My apologies to Jay Bartow. Upon arriving home last night, I switched off my cell phone. It’s a habit since I usually use the cell during the day and then my home phone at night. Besides, my cell doesn’t get good reception in my apartment. Anyway, I later turned on the cell to find a voicemail message from Jay yelling “I’m driving through Brooklyn and am completely lost! Help me find a way out of here!” Oops. Sorry I didn’t get your message when you needed it, Jay. Hope you found your way out sooner or later.

Hilarious sketch on SNL last weekend! It featured Rachel Draitch as “Debbie Downer”, a woman who always knows how to ruin a good mood. While everyone else is having a good time she adds comments about diseases, natural disasters, terrorism and how she can’t have children. It was supposed to have been played completely deadpan but the entire SNL cast including Lindsey Lohan kept cracking up and breaking character throughout the entire sketch and that made it even funnier. Sure to become an SNL classic.

When 9-11 happened, I figured that it would end Hollywood’s habit of making disaster movies. Surely, after witnessing the actual collapse of the Twin Towers, who could stomach such similar fictional scenarios? Well it’s been two and a half years since 9-11 and disaster movies are back. Case in point, “10.5”, a miniseries aired for the past two nights on NBC. Yes, the acting was terrible and ridiculously melodramatic but noone watches disaster movies for the acting. We just want to see shit get destroyed. Well “10.5” gave us the destruction of the Seattle Space Needle, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the entire coastline of Southern California. Soon Hollywood will give us “The Day After Tomorrow”, where the entire world goes to hell! So soon after 9-11, is this in the best taste? I guess the ratings and box office will tell.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Maybe I should have placed some money on Imperialism after all. Although he did not win the Kentucky Derby, out of 18 horses, he came in a very respectable 3rd. Supposedly you can bet that a horse will come in "place" which means that you'd win $$$ if they finish in 3rd or higher. Guess I should have done that. Ah well, that'll be my plan for the Preakness Stakes!

Saw two good movies on Netflix yesterday. One was "Shattered Glass". Just as Hayden Christensen plays Anakin Skywalker in Episode II as a whiny bitch, he plays Steven Glass, the New Republic reporter who faked his articles, as... a whiny bitch. Guess it works for him. The second movie I saw was "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton." Standard formulaic teen romantic comedy...but it had heart! Or something like that. Now I need to drag my ass to an actual movie theater and see "13 Going on 30" and "Mean Girls".

Stay tuned to this blog for an announcement of a new, innovative website that will be of interest to most of my readers. I will write more when more details become available!

Yesterday was so busy that I didn't have time to blog! It was Arbor Day (a big deal for the Parks Dept) and we had two events to celebrate it. The first was at Carroll Park in Carroll Gardens and the second was at Kaiser Park in Coney Island. I was only supposed to have been at one of them but wound up at both when the programs were left behind at the office and I was the only one available to bring them over. The weather was great though so it was ideal to have been outdoors all day. Then my mom had knee surgery yesterday on a torn miniscus. All went well and she is currently home and recovering nicely.

I've never bet on horse racing before but I was walking past an OTB this morning and I became highly tempted. Today is the Kentucky Derby and I considered placing a bet on a horse. I ultimately decided not to, seeing as how I know nothing about the horses and that it would likely be a complete waste of cash. However the horse's name that caught my eye was "Imperialism." So if Imperialism does indeed win today, then I might have to trust my gut in the future. If Imperalism loses, I'll just forget the whole thing.

I just heard that U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter got beat up last night by a bunch of young punks while he was jogging. That sucks. Couldn't they have targeted Scalia instead? (Kidding!)