A Warming Friday

We're having a hot Friday in NYC today. Gonna climb to 55F. And it's supposed to be humid.

Add to that all the heat that will continue to run in these big old pre-war buildings that I spend most of my workday inside of, and know that it pretty well spells m-i-s-e-r-a-b-l-e.

Wishing everyone a nice Friday and a great weekend ahead...

As for me, I can't wait to get home from work later, have a cool shower, and then stretch out on the couch and relaaaaaaaaax...

Cheers...

Privacy Alert: They're Watching You!

OMG! Another of Bush/Cheney's tricks unfolding now in the name of paranoid National Security?? Like those wiretaps of theirs??

Driver's License information is now widely available on the Internet?

I found my name there, too much private info, and my picture!

In order to stop this, you must locate your record and then click the block to not participate.

Not only in the USA, this is even accessing through various International databases, as I was able to find Keith, Roger, and Gareth on there. Including their pictures.

Go to Privatize your Driver's License information now and de-activate it by following the directions...

You'll feel better after you do this. Or you'll be mad.

Don't blame the messenger! LOL

How Stop Action Films Are Made

This is silly fun from a filmmaker that I subscribe to on YouTube:



A quick documentary from Carl.

Wednesday's Word: Netophobe

1. Netophobe
netophobe- (net-uh-fohb) one who fears or hates the internet, noun. (Origin) from the modern abbreviation of the word internet net and the word phobe-a common form used to create a personal noun from the word phobia-derived from the Gk -phóbos, adj. fear, panic.

Usage-

I am not a netophobe, I just think you should be careful on the internet.

My friend is so technotarded about the internet that he has become a netophobe. 

Source: Urban Dictionary.

Barbara Walters' Lap Dance

Last night, I fired up the DVR and watched the Barbara Walters special from Oscar Night. Why? I dunno. So dreary, but it did have it's moments with Mickey Rourke and Anne Hathaway...

Why were the Jonas Brothers there? I couldn't bear to watch that piece... But, in it's segment intro I didn't hear anything sounding like "full disclosure" that Disney owns both the bros. as well as ABC News. If not, then what was the Oscar link? Did they do an Oscar nominated theme song or whaa? Help me here.

These Barbara Walter things get hokier and hokier... Maybe it's my large flat panel HDTV format that makes it all look even MORE ridiculous.... Panning and zooming cameras through bookcases and around varied furniture while Walters intros each segment. And all those candles lit on one set for her made me want to grab a fire extinguisher...

Ok... So there were the requisite self-effacing references about Barbara's reputation for making stars cry...

I couldn't bear her delight in herself when she pointed out to Hathaway that she had had a difficult year.... This was after the star had just said the same thing. Oh, Barbara, you are such a master of the obvious.

How embarrassing for Hugh Jackman to have to perform a lap dance for her
at the end of the show?? She asked him to do it. Put him on the spot. Ugh!

It was reverse sexist, ageist and eerily kinky... But most of all: completely embarrassing... For her, for him, and especially for the audience.

Barbara... Just STOP!

(Message composed on my T-Mobile Sidekick 2008 mobile device).

Quote of the Week: America

"America was discovered accidentally by a great seaman who was looking for something else; when discovered it was not wanted; and most of the exploration for the next fifty years was done in the hope of getting through or around it. America was named after a man who discovered no part of the New World. History is like that, very chancy." The Oxford History of the American People (1965)

One Word Answers

Got this from Truthspew.

One word answers...

1. Where is your cell phone? Hip
2. Your significant other? Huh?
3. Your hair? Casual
4. Your mother? Mother
5. Your father? Dad
6. Your favorite thing? SideKick
7. Your dream last night? Spaceship
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? Serenity
10. The room you’re in? Studio
11. Your fear? Fear
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
13. Where were you last night? Here
14. What you’re not? Mean
15. Muffins? Nope
16. One of your wish list items? Millions
17. Where you grew up? Baltimore
18. The last thing you did? Cook
19. What are you wearing? Hoody
20. Your TV? HDTV
21. Your pet? Chihuahua
22. Your computer? Acer
23. Your life? Perfect
24. Your mood? Happy
25. Missing someone? Nope
26. Your car? None
27. Something you’re not wearing? Earrings
28. Favorite store? TraderJoe
29. Summer? Humid
30. Favorite color? Blue-green
31. Why did you laugh last? Julie
32. Why did you cry last? Inauguration
33. Who will repost this? Dunno
34. A place I go over and over: Work
35. Someone who emails me: Many
36. Place I would rather be right now: Here

I Said This...

I found myself leaving the following comment on another blogger's blog and thought it beared repeating:

"New York *IS* a wondrous city! I just had a week off from work. Some people asked if I was going away...? I always say: Why would I want to go away from New York City?"

-- Todd HellsKitchen

Oh My God: Mieng Ka Na

OMG!

Heaven!

At WonDee Siam, that little hole in the wall place with the loong lines outside on 792 Ninth Ave between 52/53...

This dish, Mieng Ka Na is on the Specials menu... It's a cool minced pork in peanuts, lime, onion, and Gods knows what else. Served on a bed of healthy chinese broccoli greens...

I had mine "medium spicy" and it was a perfect epicurean temperature for me. But, I know many of my friends wouldn't have been able to swallow that hot and might prefer mild...

A neighbor raved about this dish to me the other day... I'm glad he did...

Tunneling Through to a Wonder Land

I enjoyed Coraline.  But then I like puppets and macbre stuff and enjoy this genre of stop-motion animation...

See it in 3D. It's the best use of 3D without going over the top in that campy novelty way that many earlier 3D movies have. One of those was the last 3D movie I saw: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Here is the Coraline Official Site

Girl goes in a colonoscopic tunnel and comes out in a sort of Alice's Wonderland. Alice doesn't live there anymore unless you include all the people with button eyes...

Good voice work...

Don't know why the studio buried this in February? I guess they chickened out in releasing it as a holiday film because it's a bit provocatively violent for a season to be jolly.

Don't miss the effect at the end of the credits...

Dear Pottery Barn Sir or Madame

I keep reading that major corporations comb Twitter and the web regularly for customer feedback. So, here's some from me... A local Blogger with a high Google Rating and chance for my piece to wind up in Search Engine Results...

Why is your webpage so cumbersome?

Here's my deal... I decided I wanna take my day off and buy about a $1,000 worth of lamps. I'd seen them in a local NYC showroom a few days ago when I was passing through that neighborhood...

So, I go online now to see what time that store opens... Cuz a) I wanna get in/out quickly with no hassle and ease of getting a cab home... b) Cuz some stores open at 9, 9:30 or 10 or or 11 or later. And I've noticed in passing that this particular store has been closed a LOT over recent months for renovations and inventories and stuff...

So I go to your PotteryBarn.com website.

Search block. I put in a zip code... Nuthin. The thing can't intuit a zip and at least give me a Store Locator box if not the store itself??

So I annoyingly dig around on there and find the teeny weenie store locator link. I click.

I input the zip. And get a listing. There's the store... But: Directions only. No active link with store hours or info as to whether they deliver or nuttin...

But there is a local phone number, I call it expecting a recording with Store Hours, at least!?

Nope...

The frickin number is BLOCKED for private calls. NO WAY I'm unblocking my cel to have my private number inputted into your marketing memory banks.

Why are things so difficult for me to have the privilege of giving you people a thousand bucks today? And in this economy?

So, after my rant here... I plan to do a little shopping around for other options...

You might just very well lose me...

Ah well... I tried.

I thought you'd like to know...

My Oscar Predictions 2009

Here are my 2009 Oscar Predictions. Drumroll please.

But these are just about everybody else's Oscar prediction too, it
seems. Cancel Drumroll, please:

Slumdog. Winslet. Ledger. Cruz. Dir. Danny Boyle (Slumdog). Wall-E.

I'm not convinced Rourke will triumph over Penn, though. I saw both
performances and personally I'd vote for Rourke. But Penn may be more
politically correct among voters. A tie would be lovely.

I fully expect Hugh Jackman to be a charming and affable host. Loved his
hosting at Tony Awards over the years...

(Message composed on my T-Mobile Sidekick 2008 mobile device).

Outta Sight: Artists Outside the Mainstream

Went to see Outta Sight: Artists Outside the Mainstream at the Fountain Gallery over the weekend.

Their Mission: "The product of a unique vision, Fountain Gallery is a not-for-profit cooperative run by and for artists living with mental illness. Beginning with a handful of artists in the summer of 2000, the Gallery has grown to include nearly 40 artists, supported by a small professional staff and numerous dedicated volunteers. These gifted artists are members of Fountain House, an internationally renowned organization dedicated for more than 50 years to improving the lives of individuals living with mental illness. By exhibiting visionary art, achieving commercial success and generating public dialogue, the Gallery is making a vital contribution to the New York arts community and working to change common misconceptions about people living with severe persistent mental illness. Our logo depicts a ripple effect in the water - a metaphor for the impact Fountain Gallery has had on its members and staff, friends and the community at large".


Keith Pavia Pictured is his Gift from God, 2004.

Feastfully Yours

Well... If I don't gain 20 lbs on this week off from work, I'll be surprised.

Brownies at Amy's Bread are to die for. I stop for one every time I pass by the store and there isn't already a line at the teeny counter. I've had a couple of those rich babies so far. I eat it so fast, that I don't even remember to photograph it til it's gone!

I ate the Lumberjack breakfast pictured at Galaxy Diner yesterday morning. All that food for about $10 bucks! (Yes Gareth and DAAve this is where you and I had lunches or dinners when you were visiting in Hell's Kitchen).

Today, I decided to splurge on a steak lunch at Gallagher's. (Yes, Danny and Brian, we've eaten there too!) See the picture of my feast today. The steak was 20 oz, but is dwarfed in the photo by all that came with it. Don't even ask me the price of that meal, I blocked it out... But I left a tip of $12 and that was a 20% tip. But you can access any NYC Lunch or Dinner menu on Menupages.com.

Gallagher's has an old world steakhouse ambience with a giant mural and knotty pine walls. The whole thing seems a bit too Republican private men's clubby-ish for me...

I DO love these one week New York mini-vacations from work.

Pass the salt & pepper, please

Placing Avery is Worth the Walk

There is a fine and respectable corporate art exhibition in the lobby of the UBS building... Just a short walk East from Hell's Kitchen.

"...a new perspective on the career of Milton Avery (1885-1965) through his relationships with his fellow artists. Placing Avery: Paintings and Prints from the Collection of the Neuberger Museum of Art, on view from February 5 to May 1, 2009, will showcase approximately 30 examples of Avery’s distinctively spare, luminous style of painting, juxtaposing his work with 30 additional pieces by his colleagues including Mark Rothko, Marsden Hartley, John Marin and Adolph Gottlieb, as well as works by artists influential to Avery like Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Henri Matisse."

Placing Avery: Paintings and Prints from the Collection of the Neuberger Museum of Art is made possible by UBS.

The UBS Art Gallery is located in the UBS Building at 1285 Avenue of the Americas (between 51st and 52nd Streets) in New York City. The B D F V trains stop at 47-50 Street/Rockefeller Center, one block away. The Gallery is on the ground floor of the building and exhibition hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.

What Do You Think This Is?

This was in a trash pile on a Hell's Kitchen side street. Someone later rescued it before trash pick up... It's solid wood, painted white, with three hinged doors with knobs and locking devices doors.

I have an idea about what it is and its purpose, but I want to know what YOU think...

Leave your thoughts in the comments to this post...



(Photo by me. Click it for enlarged view on my Flickr page).

Wednesday's Word: Fair Trade

I noticed that Ben & Jerry says they use Fair Trade vanilla... What does this mean??

Wikipedia had a post...

"Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair Trade Organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Fair Trade products are produced and traded in accordance with these principles — wherever possible verified by credible, independent assurance systems."

Sounds good to me

I Heart Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird will be on The Tonight Show tonight.

I think he's great.

Check out Andrew Bird's original sound here.

President's Day 2009 in Tweets

Will add photos to this post later... Here is my own personal President's Day Monday holiday in Twitter tweets... As usual... They are in reverse order. The first one was about 8 pm last night. The last one was about 6AM on Monday morning...

And here we go...

*Coupla Hell's Kitchen blocks are cordoned for a film shoot in a few hrs. Project name: "FAME"? WTF?

*Am @ Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble hearing wonderful Ann Hampton Callaway w/ Jay Leonhart & Ted Rosenthal. She dedicated a song to her g.f. in the audience. AHC officially "came out" the other day.

*Why can't NYC communicate to bldg Superintendents that Mon holidays are *not* trash pickup days so that gigantic garbage bags won't lay blocking sidewalks from Sunday afternoon til late on Tues nite or Weds morning when the Det of Sanitation can finally get caught up? This happens every Monday holiday! Duh!

*Just signed a bunch of political and environmental petitions on The Petition Site: http://www.thepetitionsite... Easy way to get involved!

*Some idiot in the news doused his friend with Tequila and set him on fire...?? That can't be good. Bad friend!

*Amy's Bread makes the *best* brownie. Please don't ask me how I know this.

*Five Napkin Burger is packed. I haven't ever tried it yet.

*Abandoned original Cheyenne Diner is still sitting on that lot @ Ninth & 33rd. Hope somebody rescues it soon. Not many old diners left.

*Brother Jimmy wasn't open for lunch yet so I came on up to Atomic Wings for 10 medium wings and a side salad. Forgot the pepcid tho. Yikes!

*Someone selling a game @ Toy Fair called "Fart!" "Fast & flatulent" is the motto. Um. I don't think so... You can stick that 1 up your... nevermind

*Toy Fair is jumpin! And they spot my green Buyer's badge a mile away... Many people have wished me a Good Mornin so far. I feel so special!

*Dunkin Donuts is gone from corner of 42nd and Ninth Ave? Wow. That was there a long time. Holland Bar is back in biz w/ barfly's drinkin Bud

*That Roland Burris was sleazy from get-go. He didn't mentioned Blago contacts cuz Blago wouldn't have selected him as Sen. Impeach him.

*Got 14 pair of crew socks at Kmart. They don't have gray anymore? What's up with that?

*Home now to get cleaned up and organized for the Toy Fair @ Javitz. Prolly a run to Kmart too while down there. For socks. (Glad you asked?)

*News ticker at Fox News HQ states Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg released from hospital. You go, girl!

*Walking past a Times Square KFC and thinking I'm glad it's closed this early. Otherwise I would LOVE some of that naughty Original Recipe!

*What do Hugo Chavez & Michael Bloomberg have in common? Both got term limits overturned to benefit themselves & to keep themselves in power. Lovely comparison, huh? True!

Site of the Week

I usually delete spamments... But this is one that I checked out the link and actually loved it...

TelevisionTunes.com is cool.

LambChop's PlayAlong Closer is there.

H.R. Pufnstuff is also there although they spelled it wrong.

Bewitched made me smile.

Mr. Terrific was one that I vaguely remembered and wanted to hear again. Though the show was awful as I recall.

See if your own favorite TV theme song tunes are there, too!

Gotta love TelevisionTunes.com

Leisurely Sunday on Tap

Especially leisurely Sunday knowing that I have the whole next week off. Hence, a Sunday void of anticipation anxiety. Fancy that!??

Started with the Sunday NYTimes/ breakfast thang, and followed that with a soak in the tub.

Being the multitasker I am, I couldn't help also washing the tub while at it. Now we both sparkle... LOL

Also listened to The Very Best of Diana Krall.

This will be a *perfect* vacation, as I have nowhere to go except to enjoy the city that I love so well...

Will attend a morning concert (of sorts) at Symphony Space... May stop at a coupla Upper West Side stores while at it... Need socks at Filene's Basement, and maybe some stuff at Bed, Bath, and Beyond...

I also want to get an Andrew Bird CD if they have it at the liquidating Circuit City. I still have a 75 cent gift card for Chrissake! Hehehe

A friend had a Andrew Bird tune on his FaceBook page, and I became enchanted...

Old fashioned CD, you say, Todd HellsKitchen?? Why... Yes, I haven't quite hooked into the iPod generation, yet...

I like the tangible CD going into the Bose Wave... It's permanent. Solid.

Reminds me of the LPs I had as a kid. Actually those old LPs are all still stored in my Dad's bedroom closet: Batman TV Soundtrack, The Archies, and an outrageous collection of oddball Broadway musical original cast recordings that I collected from the Edmondson Drive-In Sunday flea market as a Baltimore pre-teen and teen...

Yes, theater queens do start budding early, apparently! LOL...

My Two Cents On Latest BSG

SKIP THIS BLOG POST: If you aren't a BSG fan or if you don't like spoilers. 

I watched the latest Battlestar Galactica episode last night. 

This one was especially rich in important exposition. So now we know there is a "Seven" named "Daniel" who was boxed... 

My money is on either:  Zach Adama, the long lost brother of Lee Adama... 

*OR* it's Starbuck as a genetically re-engineered version of the boy named Daniel. 

That would explain all her unusual knowledge as well as her unusual artistic talents... 

Now, that I write it... It seems even clearer to me it's the latter cuz Starbuck was a foundling, I think... Whereas young Zach would have been born to Bill Adama and wife... And they would know their own son thus harder for that dead character to have been a skin job...

Stay tuned...

What's Up With That?

Seems to me there should be something especially weird about the wickedly notorious Friday the 13th being followed by Valentine's Day this year??

Although, they both feel the same to me...

... Just sayin...

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln.

This milestone has extra special meaning because our current President is a huge Lincoln fan...

President Obama gave a brilliant speech last night at a Lincoln event in Springfield, Il last night. The speech ran in it's entirety last night on Keith Olbermann. I thought it was a better speech than Obama's Inaugural Address.

Here, from Huffington Post is the best explanation of what I've been thinking about why Obama needs to end his bi-partisan outreach with yeaterday's turncoat Republican Commerce nominee...

Read An Open Letter to President Obama About the Republicans (From a Former Republican) by Frank Schaeffer

President Obama has done his best to exert that Lincoln-esque "Team of Rivals" method in his cabinet, and he's reached out to Republicans frequently... And Obama has been met only with the same arms folded stubbornness that is the Republican way.

Now, let's forget it, (and tax cuts) and play hardball... Batter up!

Ode to Trader Joe's

Thanks to Keith for sending this link...!

Wednesday's Word: Prostiboots

prostiboots, noun

Boots that are leather, highheeled, and thigh high; like boots found on a prostitute.

She best take off those prostiboots before someone asks her what she charges!

Source: Urban Dictionary

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