Just wave on through

RFID subway pass? Sure, New York says Citigroup is planning to pilot the use of contactless payment systems in the New York subway.

Selected customers of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be able to pay for a train ride at the subway entrance by tapping or waving a payment card at a turnstile reader, much like London's Oyster card scheme allows for the Tube. MTA riders currently pay their fares by sliding credit card-like MetroCards.

So is this what the MTA will be spending their surplus on instead of fixing the existing lines or building new ones? Probably...what a waste.

The black clouds steadily rolled in to darken the future

Alito Expected to Be Confirmed Today By JESSE J. HOLLAND

WASHINGTON (AP) - Samuel Anthony Alito Jr., the son of an Italian immigrant and a longtime lawyer, prosecutor and judge, is poised to take his place as the 110th Supreme Court justice behind what is expected to be the most partisan victory for a high court nominee in modern history.

Alito and Roberts are expected to lead the nine-member Supreme Court into a new conservative era following the retirement of O'Connor, the court's first female justice and a key moderate swing vote on issues like assisted suicide, campaign finance law, the death penalty, affirmative action and abortion.

Something tells me that, along with the day Bush was elected for a second term, we the people will look back on today as another dark turn for our country. Unfortunately, Alito will sit on the bench much longer than Bush will be in office.

The denim made me do it!

There's venom in denim... CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian state plans to ban students from wearing denim because it is linked with having a good time.

"It is associated with weekend wear, with recreational time. It's just unacceptable at schools and we are trying to lift the standards," a spokesman for Western Australia state Education Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said.

The ban on denim in Western Australia's secondary schools will be imposed from 2007.

This just struck me as interesting since a dress code is also beginning to be enforced in my office. Before now, there had always been a pretty casual policy and now we've been asked to reserve that devilish denim for Fridays. Grrrr!

Maybe I'm a little obsessed...

but I just love "24" and found this interesting Slate piece that I thought other fans might like.

Also, I encourage all to play Twelve-Pack of 24, or 24: The Drinking Game. When any of the following things happen during the course of an episode, drink:
1 Jack kills someone
2 The double agent calls the terrorists
3 The techies solve the problem just in the nick of time
4 Jack does it his way instead
5 Someone is tortured
6 The terrorists speak on the news.
7 A weapon of mass destruction is first revealed or deployed
8 Someone who works for CTU dies, is taken into custody or otherwise forced to leave
9 A terrorist commits suicide
10 They do the three-way split-screen thing (no, 2- and 4-way don't count)
11 Jack's love life interferes
12 Someone reveals information just before they die

I think this game might need a few additions so feel free to chime in with suggestions.

:(

Jan. 24 called worst day of the year
British psychologist calculates ‘most depressing day’
By Jennifer Carlile, Reporter MSNBC

LONDON - Is the midwinter weather wearing you down? Are you sinking in debt after the holidays? Angry with yourself for already breaking your New Year's resolutions? Wish you could crawl back under the covers and not have to face another day of rain, sleet, snow and paperwork? Probably. After all, it's Jan. 24, the “most depressing day of the year,” according to a U.K. psychologist.

Dr. Cliff Arnall's calculations show that misery peaks Monday.

Arnall, who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, created a formula that takes into account numerous feelings to devise peoples' lowest point.

Go here to find the formula and read the rest of the article. Hmm...maybe that explains my crankiness as of late. That or the lack of people reading my blog *sigh*.

The forest will give us the answers...

I'm not one who usually indulges in "reality TV". There's nothing really real about it and, in most cases, it just brings out the worst in people. However last season, a few weeks into the show, I got reeled in by "Rock Star:INXS". Maybe it was the music (more rock and less pop than American Idol) or some good-looking wanna-be rock guys taking their shirts off and wearing tight pants. I had a few favorites throughout but my ultimate became Marty Casey, who had a rocky start but finished as the runner-up to J.D. Fortune.

Before appearing on "RockStar", there was Marty Casey and the Lovehammers. Thanks to Marty's hard work and talent, the band landed the job of opening for INXS on their current tour and today they come out with their very own album. It features the catchy hit single, "Trees," made famous on the show. Definitely worth checking out!

A Blow for "Design"

In 'Design' vs. Darwinism, Darwin Wins Point in Rome NYTimes.com ROME, Jan. 18 -

The official Vatican newspaper published an article this week labeling as "correct" the recent decision by a judge in Pennsylvania that intelligent design should not be taught as a scientific alternative to evolution.
"If the model proposed by Darwin is not considered sufficient, one should search for another," Fiorenzo Facchini, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Bologna, wrote in the Jan. 16-17 edition of the paper, L'Osservatore Romano. "But it is not correct from a methodological point of view to stray from the field of science while pretending to do science," he wrote, calling intelligent design unscientific. "It only creates confusion between the scientific plane and those that are philosophical or religious."

Isn't this the kind of thing we all NEED to know?!

Price For Stamps Goes Up Posted: 1/7/2006 Starting Sunday (Jan. 8) it will cost you more to send mail. The price for mailing a first-class letter will go up to 39 cents.
A federal law passed in 2003 requires the U.S. Postal Service to put more than three billion dollars into an escrow account by October of this year. And, with rising costs, another rate hike is likely next year. The last rate increase was back in 2002.

OK, correct me if you think I'm wrong but Angelina Jolie being pregnant with Brad Pitt's child has been all over the news and the internet. Even those who are not generally knowlegable of pop culture nonsense seem to know it. But the USPS raising the price of a stamp, which actually affects everyone in the country, is announced barely above a whisper?

You hear the darndest things...

I found this on Overheard In New York and just had to post it:

Wednesday One-liners for the Thespians

Girl on cell: No...Well yes, you can call me back, just not between the hours of 8 and 10PM...Why do you think? It's Jack Bauer Power Hour!....Uh, times 2. It's going to be motherf*cking terrorist-kicking time. That whispering bad ass mofo is going to be going on strong tonight for 2 hours. Praise Jebus!...Bam! Pop! Pow! Jacky should be the father of my children. I will however totally call you directly after the show.

--1st Avenue & 5th Street

There are plenty of other gems on there today, too such as the "Women Have Needs, Wednesday One-liners" section. Enjoy!

Welcome Back, Jack!

Disclaimer: I plan to talk about the events which occured in episodes aired this evening. If you haven't watched it yet , and don't want anything spolied, please browse my other posts or come back after you've experienced it for yourself.

Well, they've done it again. Tonight was the 2-hour season premiere of "24" and I was as shocked, amazed and riveted as I have been previous seasons. Eighteen months have passed since Jack was forced by circumstance to fake his own death. The beloved ex-president, David Palmer gets shot in the first 15 minutes drawing you right back in to the pace of the show. Other characters we've come to know have also been "taken care of". Jack's been forced out of hiding, there's a hostage situation and of course, shenanigans in the White House. Some new faces include a mentally unstable first lady, another unfortunate woman who's become involved with Jack, and strangely enough a potential love interest (or 2?) for Chloe. What I'd like to know is "Where is Sean Astin?".

All in all, I'd say the premiere lived up to the standards set by the last 4 seasons. Another dynamic plot with interesting twists and more action than most movies or shows can ever hope to provide. Jon Cassar does a brilliant job once again, not only as c0-executive producer, but also the primary director.

I am very much looking forward to another 2 hours tomorrow. Any other fans out there caring to weigh in ?

Let's get some perspective, shall we?!

Funny enough, I read James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" before the whole scandal broke and enjoyed it. It's an amazing story about an alcoholic drug addict who hits rockbottom and goes to rehab. A very small portion of the book also deals with James' criminal history which is now being argued to be "misstatements and fabrications" by The Smoking Gun. The author, both on his website and on Larry King Live, sticks by his story saying, "...it is a book about drug addiction and alcoholism. There is no dispute as to whether I was a drug addict or an alcoholic, whether I spent time in a treatment facility. And that's what the book is about. And it's helping a lot of people. It's affecting a lot of lives, and I don't think details that are being disputed at this point will change the effect that it's having. At least I hope not" - excerpt from Larry King Live interview

James Frey was under the heavy influence of alcohol and drugs from his early teen years until he went into rehab when he was in his early 20's. The events in the book take place between 15 and 25 years ago. Yes, he may have exaggerated some things but as an author writing his perception of his own story, shouldn't we cut him a tiny bit of slack?

On the other hand, look at all of the lies and deception that our president and government have been guilty of. A needless war, thousands of needless deaths, torture of detainees, warrantless wiretaps, invasion of privacy, and countless others. Those are the things people should be outraged about. So how about some perspective, people?!

Blogger's holiday

Ok, ok so maybe it's really cheesy but I've been made aware by my fellow bloggers that it's De-lurking Week. So for heaven's sake, leave a comment on something, anything. This means you!

Lestat: The Musical?

I was checking Craigslist for Cake tickets when I stumbled upon this post. I recall hearing something about a play based on Anne Rice's work, and more specifically, on Lestat's story but I figured since they couldn't get it right in the movies, especially in Queen of the Damned, what chance did a musical have?
In any event, if it doesn't totally bomb in San Francisco, maybe I'll go see it when it comes to Broadway beginning March 11th.

Is Daniel really that bad? Part Two.

"The Book of Daniel" premiered on Friday night with 2 episodes back-to-back. I missed the first 20 minutes or so because I was on the phone making last minute plans for the "Baby (Shower) Bash" I was co-hosting on Saturday (I may say more on this later). The show was...eh. It was wasn't very funny or very serious. Like most new shows finding their footing, they tried to cram a lot into the initial episodes to set the stage. One thing that bothered me was the over-usage of Jesus' character. Seems to me he should appear less often and at more poignant moments rather than every time Daniel is alone and about to pop another Vicodin.
Chances are I'd watch it again if I were home on a Friday night, but hopefully that won't be the case too often.

Is Daniel really that bad?

Plenty of Behavior Worthy of a Prayer Session By NED MARTEL NYTimes.com

It's the raucous, not the meek, who are inheriting the earth in NBC's prime-time provocation, "The Book of Daniel," which has its premiere tonight. And the flock of the Rev. Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn), an Episcopal minister in Westchester County, N.Y., seems to be following his outrageously wayward lead. Their errant behavior has a few NBC affiliates in the heartland debating the supposed disrespect in depicting churchgoers who indulge in worldly delights.

Daniel gobbles Vicodin to endure all that the Lord giveth and taketh away. His gay son, Peter (Christian Campbell), actually beds a bishop's niece, albeit in the backseat of that church elder's luxury sedan. Not that the bishop herself (Ellen Burstyn) can cast the first stone: she's the sideline lover of Daniel's father, himself a bishop whose wife is lost in the drift of Alzheimer's disease.

I may just have to see what all the fuss is about.

Out of the mouths of babes...

I found this on Craigslist and just had to post it. It's kind of funny and a little scary at the same time.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

( 1 ) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if
you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she
should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

( 2 ) No person really decides before they grow up who they're going
to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out
later who you're stuck with. -- Kirsten, age 10


WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

( 1 ) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person
FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10

( 2 ) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get
married. -- Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)


HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

( 1 ) You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be
yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

( 1 ) Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8


WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

( 1 ) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to
know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long
enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

( 2 ) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that
usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. --
Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

( 1 ) I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the
newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead
columns. -- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

( 1 ) When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

( 2 ) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to
mess with that. -- Curt, age 7

( 3 ) The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should
marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. --
Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

( 1 ) It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need
someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

( 1 ) There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? --
Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is.....

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

( 1 ) Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a
truck. -- Ricky, age 10

This is a shande!!!

Hold the Mustard, Maybe Forever By ANDY NEWMAN - NYTimes.com
The Second Avenue Deli has survived turbulence and tragedy in its 51 years. The decline of the Jewish enclave on the Lower East Side did not kill it. The broad-daylight murder of its beloved founder, Abe Lebewohl, in a robbery in 1996 shut it down but briefly. Dietary fashion campaigns against artery-clogging fare like brick-thick pastrami sandwiches and fat-saturated potato latkes seemed only to make the lines of defiant fans longer. But the deli seems to have met its match in that implacable beast, the real estate market.

This is a shande!!! Like many New Yorkers, I can't really believe this is happening. Granted, I don't go to this deli very often but so what? It's where you take friends who've never had really good Jewish deli. I once went out of my way to go there for their delicious matzo ball soup for a sick friend. I've gone with people from out of town who loved it. Like Jackie Mason said, ""It's almost like wiping out Carnegie Hall". I wonder if they can maybe get landmark status. It'll be a really shame if New York loses this piece of it's living history.

First, Squinty retires and now this...

Jets' Loss Is Chiefs' Gain; Deal for Edwards Is Near NYTimes.com - After a lost season and several weeks of speculation, the Jets and Coach Herman Edwards were close to parting company last night, only a day after Edwards said he planned to return to the Jets for a sixth season.

I know I've only been a Jets fan or, for that matter, watching any football for 2 seasons but I'm sad to see Squinty retire and to think of Herm leaving.

I'm a sucker for a quiz...

Happy Birthday, Grams

My grandmother, Blanche, was quite a character. She was outgoing and dynamic, caring and funny. Wherever she went, she was bound to run into someone she knew. A true yenta - she would talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. She was determined to learn your whole life’s story in the first 10 minutes of meeting you and probably would have made a great district attorney. This may be best exemplified in that she interrogated and then “picked up” a certain gentleman (my step-dad) for my mother by luring him into conversation at a Las Vegas Night in a temple on Christmas Night with a picture of her then 3-yr. old granddaughter.

For those of you who knew her, you surely each have plenty of stories that can make you laugh just to think of them. Maybe you remember playing cards or mah-jongg with her, spending time in Atlantic City or Coney Island, or simply having coffee and a nosh. I remember her going apple picking in the rain; teaching me to do the Lindy and dancing at every opportunity; and forever trying to recruit suitable boys for me to “settle down with”.

Everything she did was done with her whole heart. She was a great collector of cut glass, cups and saucers, tchotchkes, and she saved every card she ever received. She made the best latkes. She was a lover of animals-especially cats and whether or not she had one in her own home, she had many strays which she fed and took care of. But above all, her heart belonged to her family.

My grandparents were married for 60 years and had many wonderful times together. They met when they were only teenagers and truly carried out their vows of “for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health”. They traveled extensively, had many friends, raised a family, and drove each other crazy, but all was done out of love.

Although I could never adequately describe my grandmother or how I feel about her, my best summation would be to say that she was a one-of-a-kind, classy, warm, tough broad who said what she thought and meant what she said. We were all very lucky to have known her and she will forever remain in the hearts of those whose lives she touched.

She would have been 84 today. What you've just read, I wrote upon her death but couldn't bear to actually give the reading at her funeral. I simply placed a copy in her simple pine box (as is Jewish tradition) along with a pack of Parliaments (her brand), some pictures and a few other things for the journey. We were extremely close and I miss her very much so I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday, wherever she may be.

And they say dogs are man's best friends?

Police Say Cat Called 911 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Police aren't sure how else to explain it. But when an officer walked into an apartment Thursday night to answer a 911 call, an orange-and-tan striped cat was lying by a telephone on the living room floor.

Aw, is that from the Cutie Room?

The Cute Factor By NATALIE ANGIER NYTimes.com

If the mere sight of Tai Shan , the roly-poly, goofily gamboling masked bandit of a panda cub now on view at the National Zoo isn't enough to make you melt, then maybe the crush of his human onlookers, the furious flashing of their cameras and the heated gasps of their mass rapture will do the trick.
"Omigosh, look at him! He is too cute!" "How adorable! I wish I could just reach in there and give him a big squeeze!" "He's so fuzzy! I've never seen anything so cute in my life!"

You may think, from the beginning of this article, that it is yet another piece on the Panda Mania of 2005. But read a bit further and you'll see that it's really about "The Cute Factor". I once had a conversation with a friend which determined that "pretty much baby-anything is cute". And maybe there's some validity to that.

Cute cues are those that indicate extreme youth, vulnerability, harmlessness and need, scientists say, and attending to them closely makes good Darwinian sense. As a species whose youngest members are so pathetically helpless they can't lift their heads to suckle without adult supervision, human beings must be wired to respond quickly and gamely to any and all signs of infantile desire.

The human cuteness detector is set at such a low bar, researchers said, that it sweeps in and deems cute practically anything remotely resembling a human baby or a part thereof, and so ends up including the young of virtually every mammalian species, fuzzy-headed birds like Japanese cranes, woolly bear caterpillars, a bobbing balloon, a big round rock stacked on a smaller rock, a colon, a hyphen and a close parenthesis typed in succession.