Sometimes I wonder ...

... what the hell is wrong with white people? And I'm white! It's easy for white folks to say "Oh, it's satiric! See, this is actually making fun of what some ignorant people think about the Obamas" but what this really does is play into those ignorant people's prejudices and, most of all, it offends black people. If The New Yorker did a cover of John McCain in a Nazi uniform, I'm sure most white people would be offended -- and rightly so. So how is this different? Hmm?

For shame ...

Incompetence and Corruption Haunt Crane Work

Hey city government -- get your act together and stop bending over for all the big developers!!

MLB 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium

It'll Never Be the Same ...

Tonight NYC is hosting its first Major League Baseball All-Star game since 1977. But that's not really what makes it such a big deal. This will be the last major event held at "the house that Ruth built" before it's torn down at the end of this season and the Yankees move to their new beautiful stadium next year.

64 All-Stars and 1 Baseball Monument

That means, besides the rest of the regular baseball games for this season, there'll be no more rock concerts or Papal masses or graduation ceremonies, etc. held there. I guess if the Yanks make it to the World Series then maybe those games will become the last major events at the old stadium but, based on how the team has performed over the last few seasons, I wouldn't count on it.

The old Yankee stadium's days are ticking down, the sand in the hour glass almost all gone. And New York City baseball will never be the same.

So here's to you Yankee stadium. The Babe and the Scooter, Yogi and Reggie, David Wells and A-Rod all did you proud. When you're gone and New Yorkers are filing into your replacement, they may find it more modern and user-friendly. But I'll miss you, ya old dump, because, well ... your seedy greatness can never be replicated. Seedy greatness is what made you, for more than 80 years, part of the soul of this city. Seedy greatness is what makes New York City New York City. So let's hope tonight's All Star Game will give you a good show. You deserve it. You will be missed.

How Old is New York City?

This is still an issue for debate. According to the city government, NYC was "founded" in 1625. The Dutch sailors came in 1624 but didn't charter "New Amsterdam" until 1653. I think 1653 should be the birthday year since that's when this area was officially declared a city. Seems obvious to me.

Hmmm? I guess cities are the opposite of people: when they lie about their age, they make themselves older.

Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer - Central Park - July 12th, 2008

You Can't Go to 1994 Again

‘The Wackness’ vs. ‘Kids’: Which Is More Authentically 1994?

Obviously Kids is the more authentic 1994 movie since -- shocker -- it was actually made in 1994. But it's not like the mid-1990s was a very authentic era to begin with, nor was there anything interesting about it, culturally speaking, that makes it deserve a nostalgic paper-dollish treatment (like Boogie Nights did for 1970s LA). The Wackness sounds like history replayed as ... eh.

Back in the New York Groove

Wha? Huh? Where am I? Oh yeah, this is ... New York, New York City ... right?

At the moment my head is spinning 'round and 'round, and I feel like one big mega-relaxed blob. It's been a while since I've been this serene and calm and re-entering reality is taking some time. All of my tension and stress has dissipated and I ain't eager for it to return.

I've spent the last week swimming, reading, eating, sleeping, swimming, eating, sleeping, reading, swimming, sleeping ... egads it was great! The week was totally media-free and I can't explain how relaxing and pleasant it was. Not that I didn't miss the ol' blog but it's good to get away from the white noise of American society and just ... chill. I mean really chill. And chilled I am.

That said, Zen from Debonair Debacles was inspired by my 1994 nostalgia entry from a couple of weeks ago and wrote a great post about her own memories of that odd yet strangely memorable year. You should definitely read it since she knows so much more about the music of that year than I do.

Mr NYC Off to an Undiclosed Location

Like Dick Cheney, I am going into hiding. Fortunately it's not because terrorists are looking for me (at least I hope not), it's just a good old fashioned vacation. I may be able to blog at some point from my place of rest but, otherwise, I will return in top form on July 12. Sadly I will miss the free Bon Jovi concert in Central Park that night but please go and have fun and tell me all about it. Cheers!

Is This the Most Popular Man in NYC?

According to the New York Observer he is.

The Man Who Plays Pat Kiernan on TV

And he's - gasp! - Canadian!