I saw They Might Be Giants perform a free concert last night at Prospect Park. It was so much fun. It was also a big Blogger party as I was joined by Sarah, Caren, The Anonymous Blogger's substitute, Claire, Daryl and Sydney. Those who joined us that didn't have blogs were Anonymous's friend "Daisy", Daryl's friend Annie, and my friend & co-worker Eryn, with her friend Cary. A great time was had as TMBG is always entertaining. Most of their best songs and biggest crowd reactions came from the "Flood" CD, which reminded me of the Simpsons episode where Homer attends a BTO concert and screams "Play 'Taking Care of Business'! Nothing from your new album. No new crap! Just 'Taking Care of Business'. And skip to the chorus!" Some pics from last night are posted below...

Eryn & I @ TMBG Concert 

Caren, Sarah & Claire @ TMBG Concert 

What a convention.  Four nights of rousing and inspired speeches.  Over the weekend I will chime in with my thoughts on the week but for now...

A recap of Thursday night’s speeches at the Democratic National Convention

John Kerry
“My name is John Kerry and I am reporting for duty...
“We have it in our power to change the world again. But only if we're true to our ideals – and that starts by telling the truth to the American people. That is my first pledge to you tonight. As President, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House...
“Now I know there are those who criticize me for seeing complexities – and I do – because some issues just aren't all that simple. Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn’t make it so. And proclaiming mission accomplished certainly doesn't make it so. As President, I will ask hard questions and demand hard evidence. I will immediately reform the intelligence system – so policy is guided by facts, and facts are never distorted by politics. And as President, I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition: the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to... 
“And on my first day in office, I will send a message to every man and woman in our armed forces: You will never be asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace. I know what we have to do in Iraq. We need a President who has the credibility to bring our allies to our side and share the burden, reduce the cost to American taxpayers, and reduce the risk to American soldiers. That's the right way to get the job done and bring our troops home...
“I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as President. Let there be no mistake: I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response. I will never give any nation or international institution a veto over our national security. And I will build a stronger American military...
“And tonight, we have an important message for those who question the patriotism of Americans who offer a better direction for our country. Before wrapping themselves in the flag and shutting their eyes and ears to the truth, they should remember what America is really all about. They should remember the great idea of freedom for which so many have given their lives. Our purpose now is to reclaim democracy itself. We are here to affirm that when Americans stand up and speak their minds and say America can do better, that is not a challenge to patriotism; it is the heart and soul of patriotism... That flag doesn't belong to any president. It doesn't belong to any ideology and it doesn't belong to any political party. It belongs to all the American people...
“For four years, we've heard a lot of talk about values. But values spoken without actions taken are just slogans. Values are not just words. They're what we live by. They're about the causes we champion and the people we fight for. And it is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families. You don't value families by kicking kids out of after school programs and taking cops off our streets, so that Enron can get another tax break. We believe in the family value of caring for our children and protecting the neighborhoods where they walk and play. And that is the choice in this election. You don't value families by denying real prescription drug coverage to seniors, so big drug companies can get another windfall. We believe in the family value expressed in one of the oldest Commandments: "Honor thy father and thy mother." As President, I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut benefits. And together, we will make sure that senior citizens never have to cut their pills in half because they can't afford life-saving medicine. And that is the choice in this election. You don't value families if you force them to take up a collection to buy body armor for a son or daughter in the service, if you deny veterans health care, or if you tell middle class families to wait for a tax cut, so that the wealthiest among us can get even more. We believe in the value of doing what's right for everyone in the American family. And that is the choice in this election...
“And let me tell you what we won't do: we won't raise taxes on the middle class. You've heard a lot of false charges about this in recent months. So let me say straight out what I will do as President: I will cut middle class taxes. I will reduce the tax burden on small business. And I will roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals who make over $200,000 a year, so we can invest in job creation, health care and education...
“The story of people struggling for health care is the story of so many Americans. But you know what, it's not the story of senators and members of Congress. Because we give ourselves great health care and you get the bill. Well, I'm here to say, your family's health care is just as important as any politician's in Washington, D.C. And when I'm President, America will stop being the only advanced nation in the world which fails to understand that health care is not a privilege for the wealthy, the connected, and the elected – it is a right for all Americans...
“I've told you about our plans for the economy, for education, for health care, for energy independence. I want you to know more about them. So now I'm going to say something that Franklin Roosevelt could never have said in his acceptance speech: go to johnkerry.com...
“I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush: In the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity; let's respect one another; and let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States...
“And let me say it plainly: in that cause, and in this campaign, we welcome people of faith. America is not us and them. I think of what Ron Reagan said of his father a few weeks ago, and I want to say this to you tonight: I don't wear my own faith on my sleeve. But faith has given me values and hope to live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday. I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God's side...
“And now it's our time to ask: What if? What if we find a breakthrough to cure Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's and AIDS? What if we have a president who believes in science, so we can unleash the wonders of discovery like stem cell research to treat illness and save millions of lives?...
“I learned a lot about these values on that gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta with young Americans who came from places as different as Iowa and Oregon, Arkansas, Florida and California. No one cared where we went to school. No one cared about our race or our backgrounds. We were literally all in the same boat. We looked out, one for the other – and we still do. That is the kind of America I will lead as President – an America where we are all in the same boat.”

Max Cleland
“I ultimately realized that although I had lost a lot, I still had a lot left, and I resolved to make something of my life. I decided to run for the State Senate in Georgia. I won, but when I got there, in 1971, I was a lone voice. Then I heard this young veteran on TV speaking about the war. It was John Kerry. He put everything I was feeling into words. Tonight, I’d like to let you know, that even before I met John Kerry, he was my brother. Even before I knew John Kerry, he was my friend. Even before I spoke with John Kerry, he gave me hope...
“As I look back over the last 36 years, I now realize John Kerry’s service to his country didn’t end in Vietnam. It began there. Since Vietnam, John Kerry’s life has become an object lesson in what was once described as the true definition of patriotism “the long and steady dedication of a lifetime.”...
“My fellow Americans John Kerry has never let me down. He’ll never let you down. He is an authentic American hero. He is the next captain of our ship of state. And he will be the next president of the United States.”

Wesley Clark
“War. I've been there. Heard the thump of enemy mortars. Seen the tracers fly. Bled on the battlefield. Recovered in hospitals. Received and obeyed orders. Sent men and women into battle. Awarded medals, comforted families, attended funerals. And this soldier has news for you: Anyone who tells you that one political party has a monopoly on the best defense of our nation is committing a fraud on the American people. Franklin Roosevelt said it best: "Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth."...
“This hall and this party are filled with veterans who have served under this flag - our flag. We rose and stood reveille to this flag. We saluted this flag. We fought for this flag. And we've seen brave men and women buried under this flag. This flag is ours! And nobody will take it away from us...
“Under John Kerry we will attack and destroy the terrorist threat to America. He'll join the pantheon of great wartime Democrats. Great Democrats like Woodrow Wilson, who led us to victory in World War I. Great Democrats like Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who turned back the tide of fascism to win World War II. Great Democrats like John Kennedy, who stood firm and steered us safely through the Cuban Missile Crisis. And great Democrats like Bill Clinton, who confronted ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia, and with diplomacy - backed by force - brought peace to a shattered land. My fellow Americans, Democrats are leaders. Democrats are fighters. John Kerry is a leader and fighter and he will be a great Commander-in-Chief.” 

A recap of Wednesday night's speeches at the Democratic National Convention

John Edwards
“Decisive. Strong. Aren’t these the traits you want in a Commander in Chief? We hear a lot of talk about values. Where I come from, you don’t judge someone’s values based on how they use that word in a political ad. You judge their values based upon what they’ve spent their life doing. So when a man volunteers to serve his country, and puts his life on the line for others, ­that’s a man who represents real American values. This is a man who is prepared to keep the American people safe and to make America stronger at home and respected in the world...
“The truth is, we still live in two different Americas: one for people who have lived the American Dream and don’t have to worry, and another for most Americans who work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can build one America...
“I have heard some discussions and debates about where, and in front of what audiences we should talk about race, equality, and civil rights. Well, I have an answer to that question. Everywhere. Everywhere.  Everywhere. This is not an African-American issue, not a Latino issue, not an Asian-American issue, this is an American issue. It’s about who we are, what our values are, what kind of country we want to live in...
“And we will have one clear unmistakable message for al Qaida and the rest of these terrorists. You cannot run. You cannot hide. And we will destroy you...
“So when you return home, you might pass a mother on her way to work the late-shift ­you tell her……hope is on the way. When your brother calls and says that he’s working all the time at the office and still can’t get ahead­ - you tell him……hope is on the way. When your parents call and tell you their medical bills are through the roof - you tell them…...hope is on the way. When your neighbor calls you and says that her daughter has worked hard and wants to go to college - ­you tell her……hope is on the way. When you talk to your son or daughter who is serving this country and protecting our freedoms in Iraq­ - you tell them……hope is on the way. And when you wake up and sit with your kids at the kitchen table, talking to them about the great possibilities in America, you make sure that they know that John and I believe at our core that tomorrow can be better than today”

Elizabeth Edwards
“This has been quite a year for John and for me. We started last January crisscrossing America, talking about how, with determination and vision and optimism, we can end the injustice of two Americas. And this January, it's going to end when we move two great friends, two great Americans, John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry, into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...
“You know, I married the smartest, toughest, sweetest man I know. And in two days, we will celebrate 27 years of marriage the way we always do. We'll do it the way we always do at Wendy's. Whether it's Wendy's or Washington, I've found that it's true: It's not where you go, it's who you go with...
“But none of the things I've mentioned are the reason that I married John Edwards. I married him because he was the single-most optimistic person that I have ever known. He knew there was a brighter day ahead, even as he swept the floors in the cotton mill as a high school student. He knew if he worked hard enough, he could be the first in his family to go to college. He knew that he could outwork and out-tough any battalion of lawyers to find justice. And he continued that fight in Washington, courageously, eloquently, with one simple goal: to make the opportunities of America available to all Americans”

Al Sharpton
“I'm convinced that at a time when a vicious spirit in the body politic of this country that attempts to undermine America's freedoms -- our civil rights, and civil liberties -- we must leave this city and go forth and organize this nation for victory for our party and John Kerry and John Edwards in November...
“Mr. President, I heard you say Friday that you had questions for voters, particularly African- American voters. And you asked the question: Did the Democratic Party take us for granted? ...Let me answer your question. You said the Republican Party was the party of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is true that Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which there was a commitment to give 40 acres and a mule. That's where the argument, to this day, of reparations starts. We never got the 40 acres. We went all the way to Herbert Hoover, and we never got the 40 acres. We didn't get the mule. So we decided we'd ride this donkey as far as it would take us...
“Mr. President, the reason we are fighting so hard, the reason we took Florida so seriously, is our right to vote wasn't gained because of our age. Our vote was soaked in the blood of martyrs, soaked in the blood of good men, soaked in the blood of four little girls in Birmingham. This vote is sacred to us. This vote can't be bargained away. This vote can't be given away. Mr. President, in all due respect, Mr. President, read my lips: Our vote is not for sale...
“And it occurred to me as I heard Ray Charles singing, that Ray wasn't singing about what he knew, because Ray had been blind since he was a child. He hadn't seen many purple mountains. He hadn't seen many fruited plains. He was singing about what he believed to be. Mr. President, we love America, not because all of us have seen the beauty all the time. But we believed if we kept on working, if we kept on marching, if we kept on voting, if we kept on believing, we would make America beautiful for everybody. Starting in November, let's make America beautiful again.” 

 

A recap of Tuesday night's speeches at the Democratic National Convention

Teresa Heinz Kerry
“My name is Teresa Heinz Kerry. And by now I hope it will come as no surprise to anyone that I have something to say...
“I know how precious freedom is. It is a sacred gift, sanctified by those who have lived it and those who have died defending it. My right to speak my mind, to have a voice, to be what some have called “opinionated,” is a right I deeply and profoundly cherish. My only hope is that, one day soon, women ­who have all earned the right to their opinions­, instead of being labeled opinionated, will be called smart or well-informed, just as men are...
“John is a fighter. He earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line for his country. No one will defend this nation more vigorously than he will ­and he will always be first in the line of fire...
“The Americans John and I have met in the course of this campaign all want America to provide hopeful leadership again. They want America to return to its moral bearings. It is not a moralistic America they seek, but a moral nation that understands and willingly shoulders its obligations; a moral nation that rejects thoughtless and greedy choices in favor of thoughtful and generous actions; a moral nation that leads through the power of its ideas and the power of its example. We can and we should join together to make the most of this great gift we have been given, this gift of freedom, this gift of America.”

Ron Reagan
“A few of you may be surprised to see someone with my last name showing up to speak at a Democratic convention. Let me assure you, I am not here to make a political speech, and the topic at hand should not, must not, have anything to do with partisanship...
“I am here tonight to talk about the issue of research into what may be the greatest medical breakthrough in our or in any lifetime: the use of embryonic stem cells — cells created using the material of our own bodies — to cure a wide range of fatal and debilitating illnesses...
“Now, there are those who would stand in the way of this remarkable future, who would deny the federal funding so crucial to basic research... A few of these folks, needless to say, are just grinding a political axe and they should he ashamed of themselves. But many are well-meaning and sincere. Their belief is just that, an article of faith, and they are entitled to it. But it does not follow that the theology of a few should be allowed to forestall the health and well-being of the many. And how can we affirm life if we abandon those whose own lives are so desperately at risk?...
“What excuse will we offer this young woman (13-year old diabetes sufferer) should we fail her now? What might we tell her children? Or the millions of others who suffer? That when given an opportunity to help, we turned away? That facing political opposition, we lost our nerve? That even though we knew better, we did nothing?...
“Whatever else you do come November 2nd, I urge you, please, cast a vote for embryonic stem cell research.”

Barack Obama
“My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or “blessed,” believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential... I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage...knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible...
“Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn – they know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white...
“For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga. A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription, and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief – I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper – that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. E pluribus unum...
“Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America – there's the United States of America. There's not a Black America and White America and Latino America and Asian America– there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

Howard Dean
“I was hoping for a reception like this. I was just hoping that it would be on Thursday night, instead of on Tuesday night...
“I may not be the nominee, but I can tell you this: For the next hundred days, I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure that John Kerry and John Edwards take our country back for the people who built it. Because tonight, we’re all here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party...
“We’re not going to be afraid to stand up for what we believe. We’re not going to let those who disagree with us shout us down under a banner of false patriotism. And we’re not going to give up a single voter, or a single state...
“To everyone who supported me you’ve given me so much, and I can’t thank you enough. But this was never about me. It was about us. It was about giving new life to our party, new energy to our democracy, and providing hope again for the greatest nation on earth.”

A recap of Monday night’s speeches at the Democratic National Convention

Bill Clinton
“Now this state, who gave us in other times of challenge John Adams and John Kennedy, has given us John Kerry, a good man, a great senator, a visionary leader...
“We Democrats want to build a world and an America of shared responsibilities and shared benefits. We want a world with more global cooperation where we act alone only when we absolutely have to. We think the role of government should be to give people the tools to create the conditions to make the most of their own lives. And we think everybody should have that chance...
“On the other hand, the Republicans in Washington believe that America should be run by the right people — their people — in a world in which America acts unilaterally when we can and cooperates when we have to. They believe the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who embrace their economic, political and social views, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on important matters like health care and retirement security. Now, since most Americans aren't that far to the right, our friends have to portray us Democrats as simply unacceptable, lacking in strength and values. In other words, they need a divided America. But we don't. Americans long to be united...
“For the first time when America was in a war footing in our whole history, they gave two huge tax cuts, nearly half of which went to the top 1 percent of us. Now, I'm in that group for the first time in my life. And you might remember that when I was in office, on occasion, the Republicans were kind of mean to me. But as soon as I got out and made money, I became part of the most important group in the world to them. It was amazing. I never thought I'd be so well cared for by the president and the Republicans in Congress. I almost sent them a thank you note for my tax cuts until I realized that the rest of you were paying the bill for it. And then I thought better of it...
“Now, we tried it their way for 12 years. We tried it our way for eight years. Then we tried it their way for four more. But the only test that matters is whether people were better off when we finished than when we started. Our way works better...
“During the Vietnam War, many young men, including the current president, the vice president and me, could have gone to Vietnam and didn't. John Kerry came from a privileged background. He could have avoided going too, but instead, he said: Send me...
“Now, everybody talks about John Edwards' energy and intellect and charisma. You know, I kind of resent him...
“Their opponents will tell you we should be afraid of John Kerry and John Edwards, because they won't stand up to the terrorists. Don't you believe it. Strength and wisdom are not opposing values...
“Now, again, it is time to choose. Since we're all in the same boat, we should choose a captain of our ship who is a brave good man, who knows how to steer a vessel through troubled waters, to the calm seas and the clear sides of our more perfect union. That is our mission. So let us go in tonight and say to America in a loud, clear voice: Send John Kerry.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton
“We meet at a moment of great peril, but also of great hope...
“(John Kerry) will lead the world, not alienate it. Lower the deficit, not raise it. Create good jobs, not lose them. Solve a health care crisis, not ignore it. I know a thing or two about health care. And the problems have only gotten worse in the past four years...
“Being a Senator from New York, I saw first-hand the devastation of 9/11..I hope no American ever has to witness a sight like that again. That tragedy changed all of us. I know it changed me. And every day now, as a mother, as a Senator, and as an American I worry about whether we are acting as wisely as we can to protect our country and our people. Last week, the bipartisan 9/11 commission issued its report. It was a sober call to action that we ignore at our peril. John Kerry understands what’s at stake...
“John Kerry is a serious man, for a serious job. So let’s work our hearts out and send him to the White House in 2004. And I’m optimistic we will because I know a great leader when I see one.”

Jimmy Carter
“Twenty-eight years ago, I was running for president, and I said then I want a government as good and as honest and as decent and as competent and as compassionate as are the American people. I say this again tonight, and that's exactly what we will have next January with John Kerry as president of the United States of America...
“Today our Democratic Party is led by another former naval officer, one who volunteered for military service. He showed up when assigned to duty and he served with honor and distinction. He also knows the horrors of war and the responsibilities of leadership. And I am confident that next January he would restore the judgment and maturity to our government that nowadays is sorely lacking...
“After 9/11, America stood proud, wounded but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world. But in just 34 months we have watched with deep concern as all this good will has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations....
“You can't be a war president one day and claim to be a peace president the next depending on the latest political polls. When our national security requires military action, John Kerry has already proven, in Vietnam, that he will not hesitate to act. And as a proven defender of our national security, John Kerry will strengthen the global alliance against terrorism while avoiding unnecessary wars.”

Al Gore
“I’m going to be candid with you. I had hoped to be back here this week under different circumstances, running for re-election. But you know the old saying: you win some, you lose some. And then there’s that little-known third category...
“Take it from me, every vote counts. In our democracy, every vote has power. And never forget that power is yours. Don’t let anyone take it away from you or talk you into throwing it away...
“I sincerely ask those watching at home tonight who supported President Bush four years ago: did you really get what you expected from the candidate you voted for? Is our country more united today? Or more divided? Has the promise of compassionate conservatism been fulfilled? Or do those words now ring hollow? For that matter, are the economic policies really conservative at all? For example, did you expect the largest deficits in history, year after year? One right after another? And the loss of more than a million jobs? By the way, I know about the bad economy. I was the first one laid off...
“I also ask tonight for the consideration and the help of those who supported a third party candidate in 2000. I urge you to ask yourselves this question: Do you still believe that there was no difference between the candidates?...
“We have to be crystal clear about the threat we face from terrorism. It is deadly. It is real. It is imminent. But in order to protect our people, shouldn’t we focus on the real source of this threat: the group that attacked us and is trying to attack us again: Al Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden? Wouldn’t we be safer with a president who didn’t insist on confusing Al Qaeda with Iraq?”

 

If you look at my Friendster profile, you will see that one of my favorite hobbies is "Brainstorming Ideas for Novels I Never Have Time to Write." This is also true for screenplays. Sometimes I’m not sure if a particular idea would work better as a novel or as a screenplay but when I visualize ideas they often play in my mind like a film. Anyway I wrote a couple of screenplays in 1998 but currently hate everything about them. I know I can do better and over the weekend I started to jot down some notes on a new idea. It’s original in the sense that this particular story has never been done before, yet if I were to give you the pitch, you’d say, "Oh, it’s just like ..." That’s because in my brainstorming process I have a tendency to focus on a well-respected film - take its basic themes and structure – but then completely change the situations, settings and characters. So instead of being about "X", it’s about "Y". Anyway we’ll see how this one develops.

Since our office air conditioning was busted, we were given this giant industrial fan to use until the A.C. can be fixed. The fan is positioned right next to my desk and the best part is that it’s whirring drowns out most other sounds. Phone rings? Sorry, can’t hear it. Someone’s trying to get my attention? Sorry, can’t hear you. Someone complimented me on my haircut this morning and thought I was dissing them by not responding. But I wasn’t being rude, I didn’t know that she said anything! It’s a very Larry David / "Curb Your Enthusiasm" situation.

I was asked this morning who will profit from the proceeds of the 9/11 Commission report, currently available in a bookstore near you.  My theory is that Tom Keane, Lee Hamilton and the rest of the commission is going to use the proceeds to take a nice relaxing vacation in Tahiti.

On the speaking schedule for the Democratic Convention tonight : Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton. In other words, it’s nostalgia night. (Or in Hillary’s case, the future?)

Mini film reviews...

I saw "Bad Santa."  My opinion of that movie can be found in its title.  And my opinion ain't "Santa."

Saw the first 20 minutes of "Malibu's Most Wanted" on HBO.  Would have watched more but my attention span was too short.  Did like the bit where the rabbi asks the kid "What theme do you want for your Bar Mitzvah?  Star Wars?  Baseball?  Superheroes?"  And the kid replies "An O.P.P. theme!"  Cut to the bar mitzvah where the 13-year old is grinding with some hootchies to the tune "I got an O.P.P., Yeah you know me!", as the horrified guests look on.

And speaking of strange bar mitzvahs, the Daily News ran a story yesterday on people who give bar mitzvahs for their dogs.  They dress their dogs up in mini-yarmulkahs and mini-tallises.  I know it's a sign of affection for their pets but I still think these people have too much time on their hands.

Attended a doubleheader yesterday for the Brooklyn Cyclones.  They lost the first game.  Then they were losing the second game and we decided to leave early.  Shortly after leaving, the Cyclone came back and won the second game.  So typical!

And yes, as I'm sure everyone is wondering, my barber got back from his vacation and I finally got that haircut yesterday.  Now I'm shorn for the summer.

Had some strange dreams over the weekend.  On Friday I dreamt I was a member of the press and was flown to Baghdad to cover the next court appearance of Saddam Hussein.  Then last night I had a dream that Manhattan became engrossed in riots similar to those in "Gangs of New York" and everyone fled to Brooklyn.

Democratic Convention starts tomorrow.  Yay!

"Phil’s Spin Zone" returns to more serious political commentaries...

After months of research, interviews, and stiff resistance from the Bush administration, the 9/11 Commission released their final report yesterday. They concluded, "This was a failure of policy, management, capability and above all a failure of imagination." Rather than going after individuals, many government agencies were blamed including both the Clinton and Bush administrations. The commission issued many recommendations that they believe will improve our intelligence capabilities and I believe those recommendations should be taken seriously and implemented as soon as possible. Unfortunately, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said that there wouldn’t be time to consider the changes until next year. How is it possible that in the face of all these color coded threat warnings, that Hastert and others can be so indifferent to our shortcomings? That he dismisses the commission’s recommendations as "another layer of bureaucracy" ignores the fact that this was a bipartisan commission that explored every angle of the 9-11 tragedy to the fullest extent. They are legitimate and they deserve the trust and respect of the U.S. Congress.

Today is the 1-Year anniversary of James Davis’ assassination. Davis was a Brooklyn City Council Member who was murdered last year inside of City Hall by a deranged member of his entourage. I admired Davis and was fortunate to have met him on three occassions. The first time was shortly after his election to the City Council. I was eating lunch in a Fort Greene diner when he came in to shake hands and introduce himself. The second time was at a Parks ribbon cutting event where I took pictures of him going down the slides. The last time I saw him was at Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. His assassination last year was shocking and has led to enhanced security measures inside of City Hall.

This is my 200th blog posting.  Hoo-ray!!!

David Wright’s Met debut... 0 for 4. But he was defensively sound and the Mets won the game. Of course, they only won because the Expo first baseman dropped a routine throw, but we’ll take whatever wins we can get.

Convention mania is heating up. The Democrats hit Boston next week and "Phil’s Spin Zone" will provide a complete recap of what happens inside the Fleet Center. Then the Republicans come to NYC in late August, at which point I will avoid Manhattan like the plague.

Last night I got my butt kicked in a hardcore game of Scrabble. It had been many years since I played and my opponent showed no mercy. All the high-point letters were used against me... Zs, Qs, but sadly no Os. Revenge will be mine though. Oh yes, revenge will be mine.

There’s this great cartoon circulating the internet spoofing Bush and Kerry. It’s quite bipartisan as each candidate -- thanks to animated photos and voice impersonations -- trades character assassination accusations to the melody of "This Land is Your Land." View it here! 
 
Just as soon as the Mets start winning, the Mets start losing. It’s going to be one of those years. They lost their second game in a row to Florida last night, putting them back under .500. But they’re only three games out of first place in the crowded and mediocre NL East. Tonight they call David Wright up from the minor leagues? Will he meet the expectations or will he be yet another of their over-hyped prospects? Stay tuned.

For those wondering how I’m doing in Fantasy Baseball (and I’m sure you’re ALL wondering), my team "Thugz Inc." is in 7th place in a 12-team league. But I’m within striking distance of 6th!

 
Check out this link from the NY Daily News about the park event that I talked about yesterday.

We renamed a park today in the Cypress Hills / East New York section of Brooklyn.  Formerly Verona Playground, it will now be known as George Walker Jr. Park.  Walker was a community activist who fought against the proliferation of drugs on his block.  He helped the City seal off a condemned building that became a drug haven.  Once the building was knocked down, it was converted into the playground that now bears his name.  It was a nice event, with Walker's family in attendance.  My favorite part came after it was over though.  It was another hot sunny day so we turned on the spray shower and I ran through it, clothing and all!  I spent the rest of the day soaking wet but it was worth it.

In honor of George Walker Jr., I believe the following quote from Ali G. is appropriate... "Drugs.  It's not something you should do.  It's something you should don't."

Today is the last day at work for one of my co-workers, Paul Thomsen. He is off to Kansas where he will be pursuing his Ph.D. in military history. Paul is also a historical writer and he has a novel coming out in September. It’s called "Rebel Chief : The Motley Life of William Holland Thomas" and it’s about a white man in the 19th century who became the chief of an Indian tribe. I am plugging his book especially because Paul was good enough to list me in his acknowledgments. So, preorder it here!

Look  at  the  pretty  colors  and  sizes...
 
Enough playing with the new Blogger toys now.  Back to business.
 
Well, it's confirmed.  The reason VH-1 left out so much in their "I Love the 90s" series is that they are planning for a sequel, "I Love the 90s, Part II" or something like that.  Remember when channels like MTV and VH-1 actually played music videos?
 
Very slow weekend.  Attended the Siren Music Festival and a Cyclones game at Coney Island but the music sucked and the Cyclones lost.   And my barber is still on vacation so no haircut for me.
 
Tonight it's time to enjoy one of my guilty pleasures.  No, not that...  I'm talking about "Da Ali G Show" on HBO.    Check out this exchange from last season's first episode.  Ali is interviewing former Attorney General Richard Thornburgh...
 
Ali: What is legal?
Richard: Well, I think most conduct most of us engage in on a day-to-day basis is legal.
Ali: So, what is illegal?
Richard: What is illegal is what the elected representatives of the people define as crimes.
Ali: What is barely legal?
Richard: Well, that's where you get into technicalities and you have trials.
Ali: 'Cause me saw dis film called Barely Legal Three and it was about these two naughty college girls and them have done their own work and then as punishment they had to have a three-header with their supervisor, this teacher. Is that to do with the law?
Richard: Uh, it's hard to say. That's probably governed by the rules of the institution, the college.

The first order of business is to clarify something that I wrote in "1995". I mentioned that I helped to write the musical, Sing. This is true but "help" is a vague word. I was part of the committee that came up with the concepts, themes and settings of the show. The bulk of the writing was done by Danielle Weinstein and Rachel Levine and they deserve credit for it. Happy, Danielle? :)

And now the conclusion of my own "I Love the 90s"...

1998

1998 was the year of the Syndicate. What's that you say? The Syndicate was formed by me, Dave and Ben who had just returned from Beijing. This triumverate evolved into an oranized crime group, thugging and pimping our way across campus. But while all that fun was going on, there was some seriousness too as my father had a serious quadruple heart bypass operation near the beginning of the year. Fortunately all went well with it. I also made my film debut, performing in Dave's student film "Time." I had the lead role, of a college student diagnosed with leukemia. Dave got an A and my performance was acknowledged as a big part of it. I then made my electoral comback getting elected Secretary of the Class of '99. So what if I was running unopposed? Everyone else feared going up against me! In May I said goodbye to many of my Class of 98 friends who were graduating such as Bartow and Briar. Jon and I would have to carry the nVo mantle ourselves. The summer of 98 was relaxing. I spent some of it working on Weiner's congressional campaign. I also worked on two screenplays and visited Vassar in July where both Ben and Dave were staying there for the summer. In the fall, I headed back for my senior year. Ben, Dave and I were unable to get a TH or TA in the room draw so we settled for a suite in Main that was promptly renamed TH D-Funkt. We spent the year feuding with our neighbors, The Turkish Harem. One time those girls snuck into our living room and created a maze of yarn in it, ala "The Parent Trap". I also got to know my fellow class officers, Becky, Marivel and Jill. Together, we decided that our old class account e-mail password would be '3L1J', representing our ethnicities... three Latinas and one Jew. We interviewed for our class council and appointed a wide variety of personalities including Homeskool!  We planned the campus-wide Halloween party and it was awesome.  I dressed as Sting, the former WCW wrestler.  Also that year I took a swing dancing class with Kristin. And more intramural softball. 1998 was fun. 

1999

"And tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999." And I did. With most of my serious academic work out of the way, my final semester at Vassar did resemble a big party. The year began with a cocktail / housewarming party in my suite. Which was followed by many parties in the THs. And weeknights at the Mug (where I found out they served free sodas!) Then I served on the committee to find a commencement speaker and we wound up getting James Earl Jones. Awesome choice. I also had a political career to finish and I did that by serving as Chair of the Board of Elections. Jon was my assistant chair and we had a great time. I only had to disqualify one candidate and he brought me before the school's judicial board because of it! (P.S. I won the case.) Another of my jobs was picking who would do the annual commencement musical. After one Sarah Ackerman told me that she didn't have time to do it, I wound up with two proposals - "Pippin" and "The Fantasticks". I picked "Pippin" as I thought the themes were more fitting for a commencement. Then it was senior week with the booze cruise, the winery brunch, the Star Wars Episode 1 premiere, the lazer tag and other events I can't remember. Before I knew it graduation weekend arrived and so did the family. Saturday was a fantastic day culminating in the bonfire where I burned the books I hated most. But on Sunday it rained, putting a slight damper on the actual graduation ceremony. Then it was back to Brooklyn and the very next day I interviewed with the Parks Department. Got hired two days later. Started two weeks later. And a new era began. Blah blah blah. Work work work. The decade ended amid Y2K anxieties and a New Years Party at Jill's place.

Hope everyone enjoyed my look back at the 90s!

VH-1's "I Love the 90s" has been pretty good but there have been some glaring omissions, including stuff that they advertised would be included. So far they've covered 1990-1995 and there's been no Seinfeld, no Friends, no ER, no Beavis and Butthead, no My So Called Life and no Simpsons. Maybe they couldn't get the rights to show the clips? Maybe they're already planning for "I Love the 90s Strikes Back"? It's odd.

To the anonymous person leaving comments - identify yourself! E-mail me if you'd prefer.

And now the series continues...

1996

1996 began with an awesome New Years Eve with high school friends while seeing a They Might be Giants concert in NYC. Then it was back to campus during a snowstorm. And for months it snowed and snowed. Very depressing. I didn't see grass until April. I went home for spring break and spent it shoveling snow. But in late March I was elected president of my dorm! In a three way race, I got 53% of the vote. My two opponents lived on the same floor so they split the votes of that floor while I carried the other three floors. Now that's strategy! Best part of being elected president was picking the best room in the dorm for myself for sophomore year. I picked a big double, right by the center stairwell and with windows overlooking Noyes Circle and opening onto the mushroom. I think I declared political science as my major sometime around then. Upon returning to campus for soph year, I was busy giving orientations to the new freshmen, enforcing (and choosing when not to enforce) house rules, and planning social events. Like jello wrestling! Yes, that was our big party. Outdoor jello wrestling. Besides the cold, I remember participating in a house president battle royale. Also in 1996, the nVo was formed. That's the New Vassar Order consisting of me, Jon, Bartow and Briar. We sat together in Mr. Born's class on the American Presidency, had lunch afterwards and soon started attending pro wrestling events! The history of the nVo, featuring all of our exploits, can be found on the nVo history page.

1997

1997 began with another New Years party with high school friends but as our lives were diverging on different paths, it would be the last time I would see several of them. Back to Vassar to finish my term as Noyes President. My next step was running for Vice President of the VSA. But I lost to Tara, a friend and a house officer who had worked for me. So that sucked. I rebounded by getting elected Treasurer of the Jewish Union but that was just a consolation prize. Most fun of 1997? The Mens Seder. In 1996, the Mens Seder consisted of me, Bartow, Moshe and Getnick, taking over the Jew House, downing bottles of Manischvitz, eating a full tray of chicken each, watching porn and making crank calls to our friends. Getnick had so much fun that he flunked his finals and had to drop out of Vassar. In 1997, the Mens Seder was expanded to 15 people. No porn or phone calls but plenty of Manischevitz. Our party then proceeded to the Mug wearing red Turkish fezzes. In the summer I worked for Councilman Weiner and then returned to Vassar for junior year. Many of my good friends were JYA - Jessica in London, Ben in Beijing - so I became closer with Dave, the nVo guys, and a bunch of underclassman who lived on my floor. Although I originally had a small single, I got to move into another huge double for myself when someone moved out. It was also during this semester that I made my debut playing and managing an intramural softball team. Our team name? Nobi's Horde of Doom.

Oh and to those of you who wanted juicy gossip, sorry. Too many people I know read this thing.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the conclusion of this series - 1998 and 1999!

More from my own "I Love the 90s"...

1994

1994. The year of college applications. The process of looking at schools, visiting them, applying to them and interviewing for them seemed like it completely consumed me for the entire year. And that includes taking the SAT and doing all the prep work for it including Saturday sessions of The Princeton Review. The first college that I visited actually took place in late 1993 - SUNY Binghamton. The rest of my visits took place in the summer of '94 and they included Princeton, Brown, Amherst, Vassar, Haverford, UPenn, Cornell and Wesleyan. I wound up applying to all of the above except for Haverford and UPenn. Princeton was my first choice and I applied Early Action but was deferred into the regular pool of applicants. Of the other choices, I was most impressed with Vassar. Elsewhere in 1994, I rejoined the legitimate student government by winning an election for Vice President. This was also the year I felt the most comfortable in my social skin, spending time with a great group of friends including Joslyn, Lisa, Dan K, Dan H, Adam, Lauren, Jessica, Melissa and others establishing ourselves as the "second floor" crowd. And I should also mention visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. right when it first opened.

1995

What a year this was. The end of high school. The summer transition. The start of college. The year started with some sad news as my Grandma Rose passed away, my last remaining grandparent. Then with college applications in the mail, I was able to relax and participate in Sing! (an original musical production). I helped write the script and had several roles in the show including Elvis! Then I was casted in another musical, "The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd." In the spring I was disappointed to get a rejection letter from Princeton but happy to get an acceptance letter from Vassar. It was clear that I much preferred Vassar to the rest of the schools that accepted me so (once the financial aid details were worked out) I made the decision to move to Poughkeepsie! The rest of senior year included a weekend trip to Quebec City, a prom on the Spirit of NY cruise ship, and a graduation at Madison Square Garden where I again got to speak! The summer was spent working for Anthony Weiner again and preparing for the big move. Many weekends were spent with the parents at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens and Things. Then in late August it was off to Vassar! I was glad to have Jess with me from H.S. to help smooth the transition. Once there I quickly made friends with my own hallmates in Noyes House and with Jess's hallmates in Davison House. In October, Hillary Clinton came to campus to speak at freshman parents weekend. I also had one roommate, Otis, drop out after only six weeks and another roommate, Jon, replace him. Oh, and Jon brought his loud bird with him. It was an exciting semester!

Stay tuned tomorrow for 1996 and 1997 - juicy Vassar gossip!

My personal version of “I Love the 90s” continues...

1992

The year started with my seeing the movie “JFK” and becoming utterly convinced that Kennedy was killed in a coup de tat orchestrated by Lyndon Johnson. I even read a poem that I wrote about it aloud to my English class. And for this high school freshman, thus began my political career. It was followed by my election to the position of “Sophomore Senator” for the next year. I beat an Asian kid who could barely speak English by a very significant margin! I also entered the working world, doing a summer internship for Chuck Schumer. But the best political news for me was seeing Bill Clinton get elected President. To see a Democrat win the White House for the first time in my life was euphoric. And speaking of euphoria, I fell absolutely head over heels for this girl who sat next to me in English class, named Joslyn. I would carry a serious thing for her throughout my four years in high school. Quite an interesting history there. Elsewhere in 1992, I went on my last family vacation to California. This time we visited San Diego as well as L.A.

1993

After interning for Chuck Schumer in 1992, and being one out of a gazillion interns in the office, I decided to go somewhere where I could be of more use. So in the summer of ’93 I began working for then-Councilman (now Congressman) Anthony Weiner. Having just been elected to the City Council, I was Weiner’s very first intern and would continue to go back for many exciting summers to come. Back at school, I decided to prematurely run for President of the Student Alliance. It was an ambitious and, in hindsight, stupid move to run against an upperclassman and I got my ass handed to me. Bitter till the end, I decided to become a little revolutionary. Since student government has no power anyway, I banded all of the other election losers together and we formed our own little counter-government, challenging the real one’s legitimacy at every turn. Such fun! Since I had some free time I decided to enter the world of drama. I auditioned for my school’s production of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and came in second for the lead role of Eugene Jerome. Although disappointed, I went on to audition for the next musical “Hello, Dolly!” and this time was casted. I played a dancing waiter, the court clerk and several other ensemble roles. Clearly I was casted for acting skills though, and not because of singing or dancing! But most importantly in 1993, the family finally got cable TV.

Stay tuned tomorrow for 1994 and, the most significant year of the decade for me, 1995.

Every night this week from 9-11, VH-1 is showing “I Love the 90s”, a celebration of pop cultural events throughout the decade. I completely enjoyed “I Love the 80s” as that decade comprised my childhood. My brother even taped the show onto DVDs and I’ve watched it over and over for the past year and a half. VH-1’s “I Love the 70s” program didn’t thrill me as much since I was barely alive in that decade and don’t remember much from the 2 years and three months that I did see of the 70s. But the 90s was quite the decade for me as it covered junior high, high school, college and the working world. I can’t wait to see how VH-1 depicts it. Tonight they will be covering 1990 and 1991, tomorrow will be 1992 and 1993, and so on. So what I thought I’d do with this blog is to take two years per day and summarize what happened in MY life during those years. My own personalized version of “I Love the 90s.”

1990

1990 can be summarized by two words. Bar Mitzvah. Having never gone to Hebrew School, I was tutored at home every Monday night by Rabbi Eli Orgel. He taught me how to read Hebrew and about Jewish culture. It culminated in a perfect reading of my haftorah that completely impressed the synagogue’s resident rabbi, the congregation, and my family and friends. To this day it might be one of the proudest moments of my life. And the reception on the next day was so much fun, held in the same reception hall where my parents were married. The weekend lived on throughout the decade through the wonders of Paris Video. I also spent the year attending the bar mitzvahs of my friends – Joel, Andrew, Ryan, Howie, David, Eric, Eli, and I’m sure there were others. 1990 was also notable for the junior high school experience. What an awkward, peer pressure environment that was. Basically, if you didn’t wear Champion sweatshirts and Nike Air sneakers, then you just weren’t considered “cool.” I spent much of the year struggling to conform so that I too could be part of the cool crowd. My crushes that year included Jaime, Stacy and Debbie. The end of the year class trip was to Boston. And oh yeah, I wore my hair completely spiked.

1991

In 1991, I ditched the spiked hair and decided to comb it normally. And in my last six months of junior high, I succeeded in becoming part of the cool crowd. Naturally it would only last for a few months until graduation, officially ending the ridiculous junior high social structure. That year I became very globally aware as the Persian Gulf War broke out. Although Gulf War I ended in a month, it was the first war for my generation and we were worried that it would expand into something much worse. We also went on a great class trip to Montreal and Quebec City. But unfortunately, my Grandpa Murray died that year. Our junior high graduation was held at Brooklyn College where I gave a speech, thus beginning my affinity for public speaking. That summer was my last completely free summer of my childhood where I didn’t have to work. The family vacationed to Los Angeles, visiting my aunt and uncle who lived there at the time. In the fall, I began Murrow High School! I remember being physically exhausted after the first day and asking “Do I have to go back tomorrow?” But I loved Murrow and did indeed go back.

This weekend I committed myself to cleaning my apartment. So much useless junk has accumulated over the past few years and it must be purged! Particularly since I am considering moving to another place one of these days and do not want to have to deal with all the junk at the last minute.

I have a fun idea for this blog. Stay tuned tomorrow and throughout the week to see what it is.

Van Voorhees Ballfield Ribbon Cutting 

So it's been a sobering week. The unexpected loss of a friend in the prime of her life caused reflection on appreciating each day and enjoying the small, seemingly insignificant moments that comprise "life." All too often I find myself worrying about the future at the expense of appreciating the present. Maybe this will help put things in better perspective.

Yesterday, we had a ribbon cutting for a new synthetic turf ballfield in Brooklyn. (a picture is included above this post) I was concerned about the prospect of a very hot day. Thursday was brutal and the heat would have been magnified on the turf surface. Fortunately, Friday cooled off a bit and it was a pleasurable day. (Wendy, I guess you were right after all about the cool front - although it's hot again today!)

Saw some good movies this past week. "In America" was a nice surprise, about an Irish family that moves to Hell's Kitchen NYC in the early 1980s, after the accidental death of their son. The girls who played the 10 and 6 year old daughters were adorable. Best line was when the 10 year old said to her father, "Don't call me 'little girl.' I've been carrying this family on my back for the past year." I also enjoyed "Cold Mountain" and "The Terminal". Both were a little slow and dragged in their middles but the stories and fine acting made up for it.

I was going to get a haircut today but my barber of 15 years is on vacation and I won't let anyone else do my hair. So it will have to wait until next Saturday.

Currently playing on my XM Satellite Radio - Milli Vanilli, "Blame it on the Rain"

I want to extend my warm welcome to all of the new visitors to this blog. Many of you are likely finding this page by doing google searches for Erin. Yesterday alone, there were over 125 visitors to this site (far exceeding the typical 20-30 hits I get per day.) The entry about her can be found a little further down this screen at Monday, July 5. Feel free to add to the wonderful comments that have already been left there.

Hot. So hot. And the air conditioner at work is barely working. Don’t... know... how... much... longer... I... can...

(collapses at desk from heatstroke)

A slight breeze awakens me as I grasp for the water bottle at the other end of the desk. So close, yet so far. Can't... quite... reach... ah, got it! Gulp... gulp... gulp. Ah... Still hot though.

John Edwards has been selected by John Kerry as his Vice Presidential running mate. Although the choice is not terribly surprising, it may have been the best choice that Kerry could have made. Edwards gained prominence during the primary campaign and most Americans seem to have a positive opinion of him. The worst that can be said about him is that he’s inexperienced. Then again, so was George W. Bush. Looking at Kerry and Edwards together, one is reminded of Abe Lincoln (Kerry) and John F. Kennedy (Edwards). Or at least I’m reminded of them.

The New York Post has lots of egg on its face this morning. Their headline read “Kerry’s Choice : Dem picks Gephardt as VP candidate”, with a big front page photo of Kerry and Gephardt together. Dumbasses. They credited an unnamed source who was either misinformed or had the Post completely played. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Post was deliberately tipped off in the wrong direction just to make them look bad. After all, they never resist an opportunity to bury the Democratic Party in their front page headlines.

Godspeed to Kerry and Edwards!

Erin Schlather, 1977-2004 

It pains me to write that one of my classmates from Vassar, Erin Schlather, passed away over the weekend. She was involved in a single car accident on Saturday morning in her hometown of Ithaca, NY. I have some wonderful memories of her. She was exceptionally kind, funloving, intelligent, and always had a smile on her face. Whether it was hanging out in Noyes House, or taking Bob Brigham's seminar on the Vietnam War, I was lucky to have known her.

Click here for the obituary.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Actually, the entire notion that America was born on the 4th of July is a myth. The Founding Fathers voted on adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 2. In his letters, John Adams wrote that July 2 would be celebrated by future generations. The Declaration wasn't signed on July 4 either. That was a gradual process that occured over several months. But don't let those facts get in the way of the celebrations!

The best part of the 4th of July has got to be the hot dog eating contest at Coney Island. It's become so famous that this year, ESPN made a one-hour show out of it. And for the fourth year in a row, Kobayashi from Japan, a man thinner than ME, won the thing. He broke his own record by eating 53 and a half dogs in 12 minutes. His prize? A years supply of hot dogs.

The Mets swept the Yankees this weekend! Friday nights game was an 11-2 blowout. Yesterday they won 10-9 and today they won 6-5. The best part of today's win was that it happened on George Steinbrenner's birthday. Take that!

And finally, Roger Federer won the mens title at Wimbledon, defeating Andy Roddick in 4 sets. Roddick was ahead when the rains came, forcing a delay. When play resumed, Federer took over and established himself as the undisputed #1 player in the world. I remain partial to Maria Sharapova though. Doesn't the trophy that she's holding in the picture below look like a huge Passover Seder plate?

Maria Sharapova, 2004 Wimbledon Champion 

Congratulations, Maria Sharapova! The 17-year old triumphed at Wimbledon this morning, confounding my expectations by upsetting Serena Williams. At a score of 6-1, 6-4, it wasn't even close. Afterwards, she proved to have a highly engaging personality, delivering a heartfelt and humorous interview to the BBC reporter. She even tried calling her mom on her cell phone in the middle of Centre Court but complained that she couldn't get a good signal.

So last month I got this thing called “SiteMeter” put on my blog. It’s fascinating. It tells you how many hits this page gets a day, what time zones the hits come from, what the domain addresses are that access the page, and other fun stats. For example, the most popular domains are AOL, IP addresses, Road Runner, “NFor”, Verizon and Optimum Online but there are some other unique ones that I noticed such as “harvard.edu”, “sanantonio.gov”, “sunoil.com” and “buckeye-express.com” One never knows who is lurking in the heart of the internet!

There were two great womens semifinals at Wimbledon yesterday. Maria Sharapova beat Lindsay Davenport in 3 sets. For Sharapova, it is her first grand slam final and it already establishes her as a better player than fellow Russian hottie, Anna Kournikova. Impressive as she is, she is likely to be overwhelmed in the final by Serena Williams who defeated Amelie Mauresmo in her semi. When healthy, Serena is the best player on the womens tour and she should destroy Sharapova. Doesn’t mean I won’t be rooting for an upset though! On the mens side, the semifinals were delayed by rain and will be completed tomorrow. However, its on track to be a Roger Federer / Andy Roddick final. They are the top two ranked players in the world and it should be an amazing match. I’m all set for Breakfast at Wimbledon!

For the first time since last December, new photos were released of Saddam Hussein. Finally, the networks have footage of Saddam other than those of his being inspected for lice! Freshly cured of his lice infections, Saddam appeared this morning before an Iraqi court. The big bushy beard is gone, replaced by a thin white beard. Those present reported that he remained defiant, claiming that he was still President of Iraq and that the trial was nothing more than theater. If it is indeed theater then I believe we can call this play “The Execution of the Dictator.” If anyone can come up with some snappier titles, let me know!

Matt Drudge, from The Drudge Report, often takes small rumors and blows them up into major headlines on his website. Therefore, take this news with a grain of salt, but he reported yesterday that a “high level source” believes that John Kerry is very seriously considering naming Hillary Clinton as his running mate. The article can be read here. I doubt this will happen, but if it does I say it would be very good news for Kerry. Yes, Hillary is a polarizing figure but the Democratic base loves her. In 2000, New Yorkers stood on lines that stretched outside of the polling site, around the block, just to vote for her. With the country split 50/50, the election will be determined on turnout. If Hillary gets Democrats into the polls in droves, it can only help Kerry. Those who hate Hillary are probably likely to vote for Bush anyway. Plus, naming Hillary would give Kerry’s campaign a lot more media attention that it otherwise would. That being said, he’ll probably pick someone safer and someone who won’t eclipse him in popularity. The names John Edwards, Richard Gephardt and Tom Vilsack are named as likely candidates. Although each can help deliver crucial states to Kerry, none particularly thrill me. An official announcement is expected on Tuesday.

One of my co-workers is visiting the new Museum of Sex in Manhattan this weekend. She is excited about some Asian exhibit. I told her to let me know if they had any “hands on” exhibits.