Personal Farewells in 2009

On a personal note, as the final hours of 2009 tick-tock into oblivion...

... I want to pause and remember, (in alphabetical order):


My loyal supporter, puppeteer NORMA BIGLER

My friend and neighbor PAUL CARPENTER, also known on this blog as The 92 Year Old Man.

My wonderful, magical doggy OSCAR MADISON.

May they all Rest in Peace...

Hell's Kitchen on New Year's Eve

Here's what Hell's Kitchen residents need to know on New Year's Eve from NYTimes City Room.

Last Day of 2009

Happy New Year!

And a Happy New Decade, too!

Good Health, Happiness, and Peace for the future...

Cheers,
Todd

Too Many Irons in My Web Content Fire...?

At the impending new dawn of a new decade... I've been wondering to myself if I have too many irons in the Internet fire...

I have a few Blogger blogs, FaceBook, Tumblr blog, Flickr page and Twitter... And keeping up with ALL of this content on a regular basis is, frankly, making me weary...

I've tried to blog daily here on "Postcards from Hell's Kitchen" and the "And I Quote Blog"...

Postcards has never had a specific focus... And is more of a hodgepodge blog... One friend remarked the other night that he notices that I've been investing less of myself in it lately... Yup. Guilty as charged! Blog malaise.


Sometimes during a workweek, it's all I can do to post a link or embed a YouTube video...

So my question of the day? What to do, what to do...?

I'm thinking, maybe a take it a day at a time... If I feel like blogging, then blog... If I find a quote worthy of uploading it, upload it...

If I don't... then, don't and that's perfectly OK too... That might make it all feel like less of a chore...

Hm, I'll give it more thought...

(Any experts know what happens to a website ranking, and by search engine bots, if its content is updated less often? Just wondering...)

Wednesday's Words: More Buzz Words for 2009

See the NYTimes piece on Buzzwords for 2009

Wise Latina Woman

Great Recession

Cash for Clunkers

Death Panel

Tea Party


Grant Barrett of Wordnik did a great job of pulling these together.

Why Would A Fella Want a Girl Like Her?

Alice Ghostly and Kaye Ballard in Rodgers and & Hammerstein TV Cinderella.

Why I Love Me MoMA

This an hour long tv documentary... Only for the serious art lovers amongst youse...

Affirmative!

Anyone of you, my loyal blog readers, want to give me a sweet little belated Christmas present??


Robot B9

Only $25,000...

The NPR Story about B9 was quite nice...

But, they got it so wrong about the Robinson's spacecraft. Everyone knows it was a saucer, not a rocket... Puh-leeeez!

Hallelujah Chorus Comically Close Captioned

A rare mute monk order from Molalla Oregon performing the Hallelujah Chorus. PGMC Holiday 2007 Thanks GMCLA...

St Francis de la Sissies, apparently.

Great Site: Tim Burton

This is the really cool web site for that exhibit I reviewd a few weeks ago...

Check it out:

Tim Burton Exhibit at MoMA

Here's To You...? Not Me.

Am at the Helldersburg McDonald's for breakfast.

Everyone at Helldersburg House was still nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads...

Here's what it says on the side of my McD's giant soda cup this morning...

"Here's to You: A toast to your wisdom, clever drink buyer - you have selected a classic fountain beverage, precisely mixed for maximimum refreshment."...

Perhaps Helldesburgians believe such drivel. Not me...I'm from New York frackin City. (Cue: Alisha Keys)

Oh, I need to be home.

Meanwhile, I'll spare you the "magic" printed on the back of the hoity "McCafe'" coffee cup...

In Helldersburg, this is luxury...

Greetings from Helldersburg

Hoping everyone, everywhere had a great Christmas. Heard it was the first White Christmas in NYC since 2002... Ho, ho, ho.

You Better Not Pout!

You Better Not Pout!

... Merry Christmas to All!

(Publicity photo circa 1985, by Roy Blakey. 

Enhancements by Lisa Shaw, 2009)

Wednesday's Words: Buzz Words for 2009

See the NYTimes piece on Buzzwords for 2009

Octomom

GayMarry

NetBook

Birther

Sexting

Grant Barrett of Wordnik did a great job of pulling these together

Tuesday's Word: Christmasochist

Christmasochist - Someone who continues to subject themselves to Christmas activities -- Secret Santa, caroling, going to Helldersburg...

Source: UrbanUp

Christmas Schmaltz on a Ritz...

Get a Load of This...



Clip Discovered by Nicomar

Hell's Kitchen this Morning

 

A snow covered morning on West 55th Street.

Snowball Fight in Times Square

I didn't take this...

A Times Square snowball fight last night...

Photo by Columbia James on TwitPic.

Fun!

Nine and a Half Inches

We got 9 and 1/2 inches (of snow).

That is the total from the storm that is apparently now over with...

... According to Weather Underground...

New York's State of Mind

It's all relative, I guess...

But, despite what they say below... We're quite happy here in Hell's Kitchen...

Personally, that's my own NY State of Mind...

You don't like it, well it shove it...(Said with great happiness)

Study: New Yorkers Are the Most Miserable People in the Country

WASHINGTON (AP/ 1010 WINS) -- Do you feel like the unhappiest person on Earth? Well, if you live in New York then you probably are.

A new Centers for Disease Control survey says New Yorkers are the unhappiest people in the entire country. Seeing as misery loves company, both New Jersey and Connecticut are also in the top 5 of unhappy states, joining Michigan and Indiana.

The top 5 happiest states, according to the survey are Louisiana, Colorado, Hawaii, Florida and Tennessee.

The places where people are most likely to report happiness tend to rate high on studies comparing things like climate, crime rates, air quality and schools.

The happiness ratings were based on a survey of 1.3 million people across the country by the CDC. It used data collected over four years that included a question asking people how satisfied they are with their lives.

Probably not surprisingly, their report in Friday's edition of the journal Science found the happiest people tend to live in the states that do well in quality-of-life studies.

Ranking No. 1 in happiness was Louisiana, home of Dixieland music and Cajun/Creole cooking. (Part of the happiness survey occurred before Hurricane Katrina struck the state, and part of it took place later).

Rounding out the happy five were Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona.

At the other end of the scale, last in happiness -- is New York state.

Study author suggested the long commutes, congestion and high prices around New York City account for some of the unhappiness.

The research was supported by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council.

Google Countdown

Google has a fun little search treat at the end of the year.

If you go to the basic page for Google, make sure the search box is empty and click on the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button... You will see large numbers counting down under the search box.

It is a countdown to new years...

Nightmare Santas

Apparently there are a few sites that collect freaky strange Santa pictures...

Mental Floss does a tip of the Santa hat with their Top Ten.....

And then, there's Sketchy Santas.

Would you wanna climb on any of these laps??

Ho, ho, ho?

More like: Ahhhh, ahhh, ahhh!

Wednesday's Word: Pornament

Pornament, noun,

Definition: a very naughty decoration for a Christmas tree.

Adapted from Urban Dictionary

AIDS Quilt Mystery Solved?

When I saw the AIDS Quilt on display in Rockland County a few weeks ago, they had photo materials for an AIDS panel on display that they said they could not identify. Apparently the materials were found in in one of the Quilt's offices with no identifying information.



I put the shot on my Flickr page with a description asking for more information...

It looks like a blog reader/Flickr follower nicknamed Nicomar got it right when he remarked that there was an adult film actor with that name Pierce Daniels.

Nicomar's Google searches pictured a much newer actor more recently using that moniker...

I just googled around myself and found this reference to the original Pierce Daniels.

Looks like a match to me...

The shot on the left is found credited to H.I.S.

My shot from my Flickr page of the mystery man from the AIDS Quilt is second...

What do you think??

Birthday September 05, 1958
Astrology Virgo
Birthplace Fresno, California, USA
Date of Death Saturday, July 08, 1995 (details)
Years Active 1985-1994 (Started around 27 years old)


Source: IAFD

(Further Googling show's his image on a box for a VHS tape titled "Rodeo")


I'll leave the folks at the "NAMES Project Foundation" to continue their detective work...

Pierce Daniels, Rest in Peace... You should have an AIDS patch with your name on it, soon!

And I Thought My Place Was Small...

At 500 square feet, my Hell's Kitchen studio apartment is almost ten times the size of this guy's place. Imagine...

"To me, it's all about location," said Eddie Rabon, 24, who lives in a microscopic Hell's Kitchen abode. "I'm in an amazing neighborhood, and the money I save on rent alone lets me really enjoy New York for what it is. My apartment is a place to hang my hat and catch a few hours of sleep. That's it."

55 sq. ft., Hell’s Kitchen

When freelance event planner Eddie Rabon talks about his itty-bitty pad — just one square foot larger than a Rikers Island jail cell — the excitement is clear in his voice.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s a great neighborhood in the greatest city. It’s about $800 a month. You won’t find that price anywhere else in this area. I feel like the money I save not having to get on the train to get around because I’m in the center of everything is worth it.”

Rabon said the longest wall in his apartment is 121/2 feet, and that includes the apartment door. At its narrowest spot, he can spread his arms and almost touch both opposing walls. He said he has trouble turning around in his little shower, and said taller friends have been unable to close the bathroom door if they need to sit.

“The bathroom has an airplane sink turned lengthwise,” he said. “So I can’t actually fit in over the sink

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/small_price_to_pay_yk3QVpgdWYWTBnEhJ0QPXN#ixzz0ZnFowgGX

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Judy Garland is still magic!

How the Stritch Stole Christmas

This might be a little too Broadway insider humor-ish for some of you outside the area... But, you'll get the general idea...

How the Stritch Stole Christmas. As in Elaine Stritch.

MoMA: Gabriel Orozco

Gabriel Orozco seems to be an interesting fellow...

And a complex and fascinating artist judging by the exhibition at MoMA bearing his name.

I saw a member preview today, but the public exhibit officially runs December 13, 2009 – March 1, 2010.

While Tim Burton's exhibit on a different floor at MoMA has contrived creations that border on the macabre, Orozco questions death while painting checkerboard upon a real human skull (pictured)...

He also has a fascination for circles... And a penchant for painting on a variety of media. Besides human skulls, monetary notes are adorned by his colorful strokes.

This past year at MoMA has been extraordinary. I have another few months to enjoy the facilities as a Member... Although, barring any unforeseens, I'll likely re-up...

The Fantastic Mr Fox Puppets

Fantastic Mr. Fox Puppets at Bergdorf Goodman windows, Dec 2009

Mid-Week Thoughts

Glad to hear that FaceBook finally sets up specific and important Privacy controls... Maybe I'll decide to friend my colleagues at work, and a few more of those Conservative Republicans I grew up with in Baltimore... LOL.

The Daily News story on two naked lesbian teachers is bound to have the crowd at the Rubber Room waiting at the door... LOL.

Glad that someone has taken over as the Watchman of Strawberry Fields. Forever.

I've never seen Glee. Should I?

The New York Times uncovers urban artist BNE. If we can call his tags art? Or is it just silly graffiti? He's no Keith Haring, that's fer sure.

It seems As the World Turns is to become more like The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Barbara Walters finds Glen Beck fascinating? Phooey I found something more fascinating to watch. Thanks.

Wednesday's Word: Rimy

rimy

PRONUNCIATION:
(RY-mee)
MEANING:
adjective: Covered with frost; frostlike.

ETYMOLOGY:
From rime (frost), from Old English hrim.

USAGE:

Todd loves winter and prefers his outdoor surfaces to be especially rimy.


SOURCE: WordSmith.org

Popeye Rates a Google Doodle.

SpongeBob SquarePants may have been a recent Macy's balloon...

But, Popeye the Sailor Man's muscled arms, and strength-building cans of spinach can be seen on Google’s home page today.

Today is the birthday of Popeye creator E.C. Segar, born 115 years ago today.

Segar was a newspaper cartoonist, and Popeye was first seen in Segar’s comic strip “Thimble Theater,” starring the sailor, his skinny girlfriend Olive Oyl, her brother Castor Oyl, and, eventually, their burger-munching pal Wimpy, and Popeye’s rival for Olive, the hulking brute Bluto.

The adventures of Popeye in the comic strips were tall tale telling about the creepy Alice the Goon, the Sea Hag, and others.

But the character of Popeye is best remembered for the series of classic cartoons that the great animator Dave Fleischer made in the 1930s.

Tiger Woods Remix

Pre-Dawn Photo Expedition

Weekend Tweets

Rudolph the Red Nose turns 70! http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/42198 less than a minute ago from web

I say YES. But "Obama Says No to Creating Jobs through Legalizing Drugs, Gambling or Prostitution" http://bit.ly/73Izei 4 minutes ago from web

10 web trends to Watch in 2010: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/03/cashmore.web.trends.2010/index.html 5 minutes ago from web

Post offices no longer incl FBI wanted List: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121097002&sc=fb&cc=fp 7 minutes ago from web

Mayor Bloomberg is dropping a key part of his plan to make thousands of the city's big buildings more energy efficient. http://bit.ly/7d4bbV 9 minutes ago from web

I forgot how some people really like Christmas: http://sandalsandsocks.typepad.com/soapbox/ @soxer99 12 minutes ago from web

Chaz Bono gratitude list? http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-30/welcome-to-manhood-chaz-bono/?cid=hp:beastoriginalsL3 28 minutes ago from web

Dumplings were 1/3 size I was expecting. The noodles in soup were overcooked, & they only had metal spoons instead of squarish china 1s. :-( 33 minutes ago from web

Still have a headache 35 minutes ago from web

Nasty wet rainy snow mix. Stopping for some Cantonese noodle soup and steamed shrimp dumplings... Perfect. about 1 hour ago from txt

Gigantic, wet, gloppy, snowflakes... about 3 hours ago from txt

Lookin' at the rain outta this Starbucks window onto 8th Avenue... Venti half caff at hand.... about 3 hours ago from txt

Headache, headache go away.... about 4 hours ago from txt

Misty rainy enuf that I will abort earlier plan to see some Xmas sights now... Will grab something for lunch & head home. Headache, too. about 8 hours ago from txt

T-Mobile Sidekick just did an "update" on itself... Hm. I wonder what Microsoft Danger is up to now? about 11 hours ago from txt

Slept 12 hours last night. Well, prolly 11 and a half actually... about 11 hours ago from txt

Latest on the NYC Window Gate nonsense.RT @cityroom Ban Them! No, Paint Them Legally! http://bit.ly/5QNHu1 12:00 PM Dec 4th from web

RT @Ralph Marston You'll contribute something 2 life 2day. Choose to make it such that you'll always b thankful 4 having passed this way. 11:58 AM Dec 4th from web

Joel Grey as a Kid

Joel Grey on Eddie Cantor in 1954.

Is White a Color?

The Fountain Gallery asks: "Is White a Color?" in their ongoing show their Hell's Kitchen Gallery...

Pictured is: Gary Brent Hilsen, Marshmallow, 2009, Acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"...
$600.

Here's his bio blurb: Trained in fashion design and illustration, Detroit-born Gary is primarily a self-taught painter. He holds a B.A. degree in liberal arts from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and he first came to New York in the 1980s with an eye toward working in costume design. While he took classes at Fashion Institute of Technology, several galleries sold his work. He returned to Michigan and came back to New York in 2000. Gary's paint application technique gives his acrylic paintings the texture of watercolor or oil, mediums in which he also works. He is legally blind but continues to paint and he is inspired by listening to music as he works.

You gotta wonder what he was listening to as he completed this masterpiece...

Celebrity Sighting: Heather

Caught Heather Graham, yesterday afternoon, at the Minskoff stage door. Signing autographs...

I stopped cuz the Paparazzi was all lined up with camera's poised. I had NO IDEA who this was.

Had to ask a young guy standing next to me... Oy!

Wednesday's Word: Fug

fug

noun: Stale, humid, and stuffy atmosphere, as in a crowded, poorly ventilated room.

ETYMOLOGY:
Of uncertain origin, perhaps from fogo (stench).

USAGE: Especially in the winter, many of his co-workers keep the window's tightly closed, the heat blasting, and the atmosphere is quite uncomfortably and unhealthfully fug.

Source: A.W.A.D.

AIDS Awareness Day

Today is AIDS Awareness Day... Pause... Reflect... And/or pray.

It's December!

Welcome to Dysfunctional Family Appreciation Month...!

The Fantastic Mr. Fox is Fantastic

I saw Fantastic Mr. Fox last weekend...


Fantastic. Simply fantastic.

Brilliant stop action puppetry technique.

A Raoald Dahl book...

Unique style.


Wes Anderson's direction was superb!

Really good.


Star-studded voices included George Clooney and Meryl Streep. Both are perfect!

So good, that I'll eventually want a DVD for my collection... And that's rare for me...