Young Lovers Are Big Spenders: I'm not sure the passion fades as we get older, but it seems like the wallets get tighther.

"According to a report by the National Retail Federation (NRF), young adults ages 18 to 24 accounted for the largest percentage of holiday spending. The NRF found that this age group planned to spend more on Valentine’s Day then any other age group, almost twice as much as 25 to 34 year olds." (eMarketer)

Maybe Movie Critics Do Hold Sway: "A USA Today study of movies released in 2003 found that the grades handed out by critics had a significant relationship to the money the movies grossed. In general, the better the reviews, the higher the box office. Even a half-star meant millions of dollars more for a movie's total take." (USA Today)

I wonder if Mel Gibson read this article before reading these reviews?

Pill Poppers: I've gotten to the bottom of all the animus Western Europeans showed Americans before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

They were off their meds.

"Because of a combination of low-price drugs and accommodating doctors, Western Europeans take more tranquilizers and antidepressants than practically anyone else in the world, according to the International Narcotics Control Board, an agency financed by the United Nations." (WSJ - Subscription Required)

I Don't: This is every man's worst nightmare.

"At this weekend's Indiana Pacers-Washington Wizards game, a woman's reaction to a man's marriage proposal stuns an expectant crowd ... Then, as the crowd expected the man to pop question, the woman turned away from the man, and sprinted full speed across the basketball court .... But the stunt surprised the groaning crowd as a message saying, 'She said No!' appeared on the arena's scoreboard." (NBC10-TV)

Watch the video and feel his pain. (Turn off your pop-up blocker)

Now for all I know the would-be groom is a real loser but nevertheless, I can't think of anything more horrifying than having someone turn down your marriage proposal in front of an arena full of people. Wait, it was a Washington Wizards game so there couldn't have been that many people.

(Thanks to Sean for the link)


(c) 2004, NBC10.com

Monster Makeover: People marvel at the transformation actress Charlize Theron went through to go from Hollywood starlet to serial killer for her Oscar nominated role in the movie Monster.

Judge for yourself:

*Before
*After

Courtesy of The Tonight Show

My Lunch With Anthony: I had lunch with DC Mayor Anthony Williams today. He seemed like a pretty regular guy.

Yes, there was a motorcade of sleek black cars parked outside the restaurant. Yes, a DC police officer and mayoral aide hovered nearby as we waited for our food to arrive. And yes, people craned their necks to get a glimpse of us, well the mayor, not me.

Williams ordered tuna on a roll with mustard and red onion along with a cranberry juice.

Had he not been the mayor of our nation's capital, I don't think anyone waiting in line with us to buy lunch at the Au Bon Pain near my company's DC office would have given him a second thought.

I was tempted to ask his honor why he hadn't purchased a bag of the Terra Chips (one of my favorites) to go with the sandwich but in these times of heightened security, it's really not wise to approach a public figure brandishing a Southwest Tuna Wrap.


DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams

Men In The Glass Booth: If you're dashing through Grand Central Station over the next few days you may wonder what those people diving for the small rubber ball are doing in that big glass box.

They're playing squash in the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions. We're not talking America's pastime.

"The big idea is to promote squash in America. Even though the sport is known for its 'grace, quickness, accuracy and power,' it pretty much falls flat on its face here in the U.S., where it receives 'little or no television coverage ... and even the thickest sports section rarely finds room for it.'"

"Indeed, of all the great players whacking that ball around Grand Central, not one of the 32 competitors is an American." (via Reveries)

It's actually an interesting sport to watch live since player and ball move at light speed in a space the size of a large meat locker.

While squash isn't sweeping the nation, it is a favorite of the prep school crowd so get there early if you want to catch some of the action. The NYC-bound Metro North train from Greenwich is likely to be packed with spectators.


© 2004 Debra Tessier via SquashTalk.com

Things I Just Don't Need (Part 11): Here's the 11th in an occasional series of things companies try to sell me that I just don't need.

Draganfly Innovation's Predator

"Draganfly Innovation's scaled-down Predator looks just like the Predator B you have seen on CNN ... With personal use in mind, Draganfly offers the base Predator as an aerial platform. Simply add our Eyecam wireless video system or digital still camera and you will be ready for those aerial surveillance missions ... Draganfly has successfully and completely scaled down a military marvel to make the form and function of this Unmanned Aerial Vehicle available for personal use." $749.95 On Sale!

So what are the non-governmental uses for this gadget? Oh, I don't know -- Peeping Toms? Am I just being paranoid or is making this craft readily available to any nutjob with a credit card a little disconcerting?

View the thrilling video here.



© 2004 Drangonfly Innovations Inc.

Distracted Drivers: Apparently, there is a law on the books in NY State prohibiting people from driving while watching television.

Let me repeat that.

It is illegal to drive while watching television. Pretty scary that some knuckleheads need a law to tell them that watching DVDs on their in-car video monitors -- while good for the kids in the back seat -- might be a tad distracting for the driver.

"Andre Gainey found out the hard way that in the state of New York it's illegal to drive while watching porn."

"Police said the 35-year old man from Clifton Park, New York, was watching a adult movie called "Chocolate Foam" on Tuesday night while driving his Mercedes Benz in the town of Schenectady when he was spotted by an officer at a stop light."

"Gainey was charged with a public display of offensive material, driving with a suspended license and driving while watching a television." (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

"NHTSA studies report that 25 percent to 30 percent of all vehicle accidents reported to police are caused by driver inattention or distraction." (Detroit News)

Run for your lives. One study predicts that more than 400,000 in-dash DVDs will be sold by 2007.

Update (2/23/2004): Here's what can happen when you're asleep at the wheel. (via NewYorkish)


David Coates / The Detroit News

Attention Getting: When you're Donald Trump, any attention is good attention.

"The bombastic billionaire -- whose catchphrase "You're fired!" is a highlight of his reality show -- is getting bombarded with the phrase wherever he goes. And surprise -- he loves it!" (The National Enquirer via NewYorkish)

As Remy at NewYorkish points out, however:

"Okay, fine: instead of telling him he's 'fired,' try telling him that he's the tackiest billionaire on the planet and his nest-of-a-hairdo makes small children cry."

Ah yes, The Donald's hair. Don't get me started.

Best Hot Chocolate: You still have time to slurp up a variety of molten lava that passes for hot chocolate at City Bakery. They're in the middle of their Feburary hot chocolate festival so now's the time to order a cup with or without homemade marshmallows that float atop the goo like an iceberg at sea.

While City Bakery is my favorite, there are plenty of opinions about where to find the best hot chocolate in NYC and analysis of the fine art of hot chocolate brewing.


Gothamist

Powerful Data: Try this on for size: Every power outlet in every home is also a conduit for data. Plug your computer into an electrical socket and you can use it to surf the Web with no other cables or cords attached. Talk about opening up the pipe.

"In a broadband world dominated by cable and DSL, the vision recently put forth by top U.S. telecom regulator Michael Powell of a high-speed Internet connection in every electrical outlet may seem a bit far-fetched."

"But now that they've overcome some of the technological hurdles that plagued past experiments, power companies and networking providers are out to prove that BPL (broadband over power line) can be a viable business." (Wired)

Remains to be seen if cost and tech obstacles can be overcome.

(Thanks to Madhu for the link)

Stick A Fork In Him: From Howard Dean's blog on the evening he finished third in the Wisconsin primary:

"We Are Not Done"

"Speaking to supporters tonight in Madison, Dean re-avowed his commitment to changing America, providing health care for every American, taking our country back from corporate special interests, and defeating George W. Bush in November. He thanked us for taking the campaign as far as we have, and for giving Democrats the courage to stand up to the Republicans."

Point well taken but the best way for Howard Dean to continue helping Democrats stand up to Republicans is to back a presidential candidate who has a chance of beating a Republican.

Howard Dean: It's time to step down. Do the right thing. You're done.

Update (2/18/2004): Dean ends presidential campaign.

The Biggest Joke: How low can we go when it comes to reality television? The Littlest Groom on Fox is getting pretty close.

The Station Agent it ain't.

I love reality television. The faux drama, the personality conflict and the chance to laugh with and at the contestants makes reality television worth watching.

But a show about "little people?" Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to laugh at a group who probably have taken their share of crap already.

Update (2/18/2004): America spoke with its television remote and message wasn't good for the Littlest Groom. Now if you're big, fat and obnoxious, that's a whole different story.

Movieoke: Now we can make fools of ourselves acting out movie dialogue in front of a group of smashed bar patrons when we're not cracking highball glasses with our horrendous rendition of "My Way." Actually, sounds like fun.

"Frustrated actors have a new outlet for their creative urges that until now was only available to their singing cousins -- Movieoke, Karaoke's cinematic sibling."

"The weekly affair takes place in the Den of Cin, a basement space below an East Village pizza parlor and video store that offers a huge selection of films to act along with...Guests select a specific scene from a movie that is then projected onto a big screen, while a monitor in front of them shows the scene along with subtitled dialogue." (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Shake It: How's this for gratitude? Outkast's smash hit "Hey Ya" exhorts people to "shake it like a Polaroid picture." That's more free publicity than you can shake a stick at. Polaroid, on the other hand, makes it clear on their Web site that such shaking is a no-no. As CNN reports, here's the problem:

"Polaroid said its film should be laid on a flat surface and shielded from the wind, and that users should avoid bending or twisting their pictures. Of course, 'lay it on a flat surface like a Polaroid picture,' doesn't sound nearly as cool." (CNN)

(Thanks to Jess and Gawker for the links)

Action Figures On The Fringe: Forget the standard super hero -- there are action figures on the fringe that are a lot more interesting and, in the case of serial killers, downright unsettling.

An article in today's NYT business section about Goth action figures mentions a number of other action figures focused on a particular "subculture."

"Only a few other figures on the market try to represent a subculture with unknown characters. David Gonzales has done it with his successful Homies, which he has described as Chicano buddies from East Los Angeles, figures that have moved from gumball machines to toy stores and have sold more than 100 million units. The Mullet Heads, 1980's figures with mullet haircuts from Achy Breaky Toys, and the Mini Moshers, punk rockers from the Stronghold Group, are other such figures. But since they were introduced last summer, Mr. Varner's Gothic figures have been among the more successful products, retailers who carry them say."

At the risk of turning this post into a dusty sociology treatise, I'd guess there's something about an action figure that can turn outcast into icon.

Subculture Action Figures:

*Goths
*Punk Rockers
*Mullet Heads
*Homies
Other Unexpected Action Figures:

*Vincent Price
*Ann Coulter
*Jimmy Houston - Bass Master
*Run DMC
*Seattle Hipster
*Librarian
*Barista
*Philosophers A. Giddens and M. Foucault
*Rodney Dangerfield
*Donald "Rummy" Rumsfeld
*Uday Hussein
*Serial Killers

Bits & Pieces: A few items worth a click.

*Something Sweet
*Something Snarky
*Something Slick

No Expectation Of Confidentiality?: Charlie Suisman at MUG is appropriately ticked off that:

"The Justice Department is demanding that at least six hospitals in New York City, Philadelphia and elsewhere turn over hundreds of patient medical records on certain abortions performed there...Lawyers for the department say they need the records to defend a new law that prohibits what opponents call partial-birth abortions. A group of doctors at hospitals nationwide have challenged the law, enacted last November, arguing that it bars them from performing medically needed abortions." (NYT)

To their credit, hospitals are withholding the information even though one Justice Department attorney claims "individuals no longer possess a reasonable expectation that their histories will remain completely confidential."

Charlie is looking to publish that attorney's home telephone number to make a point and I can't say I blame him. I know Charlie Suisman. He's an honorable man. If this is pushing his button, it's pushing a lot of other people's as well. (via NewYorkish)

The Road To Tori - (Part 5): Another Sherman joins the fun. I've put aside all thoughts of sibling rivalry so I can graciously support my brother's contribution to the "send a wedding gift to Tori Spelling" program.

After reading about the citrus trumpet I bought for the Hollywood starlet from her online wedding registry, he sent me an e-mail which said in part:

"I read your nugget on Tori and followed the link to the registry. I couldn't control myself. I bought her and Charlie (her husband) the slotted spatula."

He also wrote Tori the following note:

"My brother Howard sent you a lemon trumpet. I don't know what they are, or who you are, but always the competitive one, here goes. My gift is $1 more. Good luck."

I'm sorry I had to subject Tori to this familial one-upmanship but she's better off for it. A citrus trumpet and slotted spatula -- not a bad haul.

(Editor's Note: The post above was originally posted on Thursday, Feb 12, but was inadvertently deleted so I'm posting it again)

Never let it be said that we're a selfish society. A few other people have also sent gifts to Tori Spelling. It does my heart good.

Tori's Other Gift Givers:

*Choire at Gawker (Apple Corer)
*Jeff Edelstein at The Trentonian (Flexible Spatula)
*The gang at Jewsweek (Vegetable Scooper)

Previous Tori Coverage:

*The Road To Tori - (Part 4): The Eagle Has Landed
*The Road To Tori - (Part 3): California Here We Come
*The Road To Tori - (Part 2): Go'in To Memphis
*My Wedding Gift To Tori


© 2003 Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Love: The advertised topic of The Week magazine's latest panel discussion was "Love," timed to coincide with Valentine's Day this Saturday.

To be honest, though, I showed up to see how long it would take one of the panelists, Farrah Fawcett, to disassemble.

I know that's cruel so I apologize in advance. It's just after having seen her appearance on Late Night with David Letterman a few years ago, the thought of getting a ringside seat to another babblefest was more than I could resist. It was also a chance to meet - in person - a number of bloggers I've been reading online for a while. The bloggers were a blast to talk to. Farah, well, she did her best and even had a few moments of insight.

Publishing big guy Harold Evans (aka Tina Brown's better half) moderated the discussion which also featured novelist and "culture critic" Edmund White and "Fear of Flying" author Erica Jong. The program included an odd but interesting telephone call-in segment during which romance novelist Jackie Collins and Italian film director Bernardo Bertolucci checked in from their part of the world with thoughts and observations on love. It was like listening to an installment of Mike and the Mad Dog: "Bernardo on the car phone in Rome, you're on the FAN."

Rather than bore you with excruciating detail, here are a few of the more memorable quotes:

Harold Evans: "All babies begin without loving anyone but themselves."
Eric Jong: "And many of them stay that way."

Bernardo Bertolucci said he has a passionate love for the cinema -- so much so, that he couldn't control himself when he met French movie director Jean-Luc Godard.

Bernardo Bertolucci: "I was so emotional, I vomited on him."

Edmund White's key to relationship bliss is something he calls "The 90/10 principle." In other words, "You do 90% and the other person does 10%" to make the relationship work.

Farah Fawcett explained that she "learned a lot about men from my son," something she confessed might have been a bit backwards in terms of dealing with the other men in her life.

White had the last word in my mind when he said "Love is codependent."

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Google For My Grandmother: If my grandmother Sophie were alive today, she'd take one look at the latest version of Google and call it: "A shtik naches." That's Yiddish for "a great joy."

That's right, Google now has a Yiddish version. You'll need to download a character translator to get the full Yiddish effect. Don't be a putz, check it out. (via Jewish World Review)

Up Against The Wall: The WTC memorial is getting all the attention (good and bad) but I nearly forgot that there are still a few simple and touching 911 remembrances hidden in New York's nooks and crannies.

I was walking through a tunnel connecting the 14th street and 17th street entrances of the Union Square subway station when I noticed white labels (used to address envelopes) stuck up in rows along one of the long, white tile walls.

Each label had typed on it the name and residence of someone killed at the WTC during the terrorist attack. People dashing down the corridor took a detour to check it out.

Pretty simple and pretty moving.

Pasta Perfect: Stefano, who claims to have eaten at least some of the pasta in all of the 340 bowls pictured here, must not be a believer in the Atkins diet.

The Rome resident, who began his quest in January 17, 2003, also says he weighs 67 kilos, which I think is about 150 pounds, and is 175 centimeters tall -- which is over 6 feet. Either my math is off, he hasn't bulked up from the carbs or he's simply blowing smoke.

Stefano is also a pasta snob. When asked what he thinks of pasta outside of Italy, he scoffs:

"I think that's not pasta. Quality of grain is lower, you are not able to cook it, and your recipes are far away from ours. I believe everyone should taste once in his life a pasta made by an Italian." We should all be so lucky.

Find out more about Stefano and behold the object of his desire. (via TMN)

More About Pasta:

*NYC Italian Restaurants
*Thomas Jefferson's Pasta Machine
*History of Pasta
*Pasta Museum

(Editor's Note: A few Italian restaurants on my list are Frank and Via Emilia, both reasonably priced.)

The Road To Tori - (Part 4): The Eagle has landed. Today at 10:09 a.m (EST) my wedding gift for actress Tori Spelling, a citrus trumpet, was delivered to what appears to be Tori's home, according to UPS.

It was signed for by a "D. Irvin" with the location of the drop-off described as "Guard," which probably means the guard house at Tori's palatial manse.

I'm pleasantly surprised since I thought the gift would not arrive until February 11th. I might even get points for punctuality.

This weekend I described my largesse to my brother (actually the gift with tax and shipping cost $11.48 but it's the thought that counts) and when he stopped choking, he expressed some concern that I might get a telephone call from the Feds asking why I was stalking the starlet. I'm not the stalking type.

As I've said before, I'm not even expecting a thank you note -- although that would be nice. If not, I'll satisfy myself with the simple joy of giving.

Previous Tori Coverage:

*The Road To Tori - (Part 3): California Here We Come
*The Road To Tori - (Part 2): Go'in To Memphis
*My Wedding Gift To Tori


© 2003 Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Prima Donnas On Parade: Prima donnas have descended on NYC in force this week. They're pampered peacocks who sashay down the runway to the admiring glances of media, fans and hangers on.

You can catch some of them here...


©2004 Westminster Kennel Club

...and the rest here.


spring 2003 collection of Narciso Rodriguez in New York
(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

Skirting The Issue: I'll fight to the death to protect freedom of expression but this just isn't right.

"Yesterday, in what future generations may look back on as the birth of the Male Unbifurcated Garment movement, some 100 men in skirts marched from the Guggenheim Museum to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to proclaim their rights to women's clothing."

"'We're not transvestites, homosexuals or cross-dressers,' said one marcher, David Johnson. 'We don't want you to call us Jean or Sally.'"

"'We're men,' said Mr. Johnson, a retired global studies teacher from Poughkeepsie. 'Men who want the right to wear a skirt.'" (NYT)

Related: A history of men in skirts.

The Road To Tori - (Part 3): California here we come. Today at 2:12 a.m my wedding gift for Tori, a citrus trumpet, touched down in Vernon, CA., according to UPS.

Looking at this map, Vernon is only a hop, skip and jump from LA so things seem to be going according to plan.

With actual delivery not scheduled until February 11, I'm guessing the trumpet will be stored at a UPS warehouse until it's ready for the last leg of its journey. I have every confidence that UPS will keep this gift safe and sound.

Here's a route the gift might take, although who knows how many stops the UPS driver will have to make before reaching Los Angeles.

The weather in LA looks good for the next few days so that's a relief.

The anticipation is killing me. Stay tuned.

Previous Tori Coverage:

*The Road To Tori - (Part 2) Memphis
*My Wedding Gift To Tori


© 2003 Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

The Road To Tori - (Part 2) Memphis: The $6 citrus trumpet I bought Tori Spelling as a wedding gift has moved one step closer to its final destination. According to the Willams-Sonoma Web site, item #3543386 has been shipped.

I now have a UPS tracking number and from the best I can tell, the package was in Memphis, TN between 2 pm to 4 pm on February 6th. It is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles February 11th.

I just realized something mortifying. I forgot to ask for gift wrapping and I left out a word in my gift card. I hope Tori and her fiancée can look beyond these inadvertent flubs and see the gift as the sincere show of affection that it is. They seem to be in a state of pre-marital bliss so I'm going to put these negative thoughts out of my mind.

I'll keep you up-to-date on the package's progress.

Previous Tori Coverage:

My Wedding Gift To Tori


© 2003 Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Required Reading For Homophobes: From an article in the NYT.

"Indeed, scientists have found homosexual behavior throughout the animal world."

"This growing body of science has been increasingly drawn into charged debates about homosexuality in American society, on subjects from gay marriage to sodomy laws, despite reluctance from experts in the field to extrapolate from animals to humans. Gay groups argue that if homosexual behavior occurs in animals, it is natural, and therefore the rights of homosexuals should be protected. On the other hand, some conservative religious groups have condemned the same practices in the past, calling them 'animalistic.'

"But if homosexuality occurs among animals, does that necessarily mean that it is natural for humans, too?"

The answer is yes.

"And that raises a familiar question: if homosexuality is not a choice, but a result of natural forces that cannot be controlled, can it be immoral?"

The answer is no.

City Spelunkers: Here's a collection of photos from the urban underground. Although the people taking them won't identify their location, it appears that many may be from Brisbane, Australia. (via TMN)


Sleep City

Tunnel Of Rage: I was halfway through a cell phone conversation with my mother-in-law when the taxi taking me home from the airport blew its right tire in the middle of the Queens Midtown Tunnel.

We rumbled to a stop and no matter how much he tried, the driver couldn't get the cab to move an inch. We didn't panic. After conferring for a few minutes, we decided the only thing to do was to change the tire so he unloaded the trunk and got to work while I directed traffic.

That's when things went bad.

You just can't imagine the vitriol and invective that came rushing from the mouths of drivers put off by having to slow down and scoot around our car.

"That's illegal," one shouted.

"Move your fucking car," screamed another.

In a moment of misguided civility, I actually tried to reason with these morons explaining that we had no choice but to change the tire. When that didn't sink in, I decided to match them curse for curse. It was actually quite cathartic given the long week I'd had.

Through it all, the poor cabbie -- squatting near the back wheel -- fought with the lug wrench to make the repairs while trying to avoid having his butt clipped by a passing motorist.

About 20 minutes later we sped off into the night with one more reason to hate NYC drivers.

Update (2/7/2004): Check out the mayhem yourself with these bridge and tunnel Web cams.


Queens Midtown Tunnel

My Wedding Gift To Tori: I was reading an item on Gawker about the online wedding registry of Victoria "Tori" Spelling, former 90210 star and daughter of TV kingmaker Aaron Spelling, when it occurred to me that I too could participate in this joyous event.

I visited Tori's list on the Williams- Sonoma Web site and found the perfect gift for a man of my modest means -- a citrus trumpet. It was a steal for $6.

I couldn't help myself. I had to buy it for Tori and her fiancée Charlie Shanian so I filled out the online form with my credit card number and mailing address. You can't send a wedding gift without the appropriate note so I dashed off something in the fields provided.

"Victoria: You don't know me but I got caught up in the giving spirit and decided to buy you the citrus trumpet. Here's to squeezing all the joy you can out of married life. - Howard."

With a final mouse click, my gift was on its way. I hope she gets it. I'm not even expecting a thank you note.

Update (2/6/2004): The Road To Tori - Part 1: I'm following the journey of the Citrus Trumpet using Williams-Sonoma's online tracking system. As of 8:52 pm (EST), the gift (Item #3543386) is "In process."


© 2003 Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Dinner & Divorce: Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema has lots of advice for people trying to find that special spot to take their sweetheart for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner.

He's also got a tip or two for locating a quiet restaurant where you can lower the boom on a spouse who's just not making the grade, no matter what the day.

Here's an exchange from today's installment of Ask Tom, Sietsma's weekly online discussion group.

"Need a quiet table...: Tom, you've helped people who asked for restaurant suggestions where they were going to propose. How about suggestions for a nice, quiet restaurant where I can tell my spouse that the marriage isn't working, and that I want a divorce?

Tom Sietsema: Oh, dear. Do you really want to do this over dinner?

Pick someplace quiet, with well-spaced tables. Melrose comes to mind. So does Corduroy."

I'm suprised Tom didn't offer up one or two exquisite eateries for the meeting with your lawyer and accountant to prepare for the big confrontation.

It wasn't long before some other people reading the discussion transcript jumped to the helpless victim's defense.

"Divorce over dinner?: I am hard pressed to think of anything quite as cruel as pretending to take someone out for a nice dinner and then announcing you want a divorce.

Do you plan to make this announcement over your pre-dinner drinks, and then allow your poor spouse to choose between suffering through dinner or walking out? Or to pick a fight over appetizers that will culminate with your big announcement over dessert?

My only consolation is that your spouse might one day replace you with someone less heartless.

Tom Sietsema: No comment."

And then there was this comment from another angry reader.

"Tackyville?: Oy, I can't believe the diner who wants to dump his/her spouse in public. That is so tacky. No wonder the marriage isn't working... at least one of the partners is a coward who needs a 'quiet table' to insulate him/herself from the other spouse's heartbreak (or perhaps relief?).

Tom Sietsema: Ah, I see we've struck a nerve here!"

Tom's nothing if not perceptive.

(Thanks to Jess for the link)

Stubborn Cell Phone Users: So this is a surprise? New Yorkers have decided they can't live without their cell phones when they want them and how they want them.

"New York drivers hung up their cell phones for a while but are back to using hand-held models at nearly the same rate they were before the state banned them, an increase a new study blames mostly on a lack of publicity." (Newsday)

The study focused on upstate drivers. Can you imagine the flak that would have come from interviewing NYC drivers?

Not to be too flip, there may be very good reasons to keep drivers hands off the hand-held phones and on the steering wheel.

"The study did not address the effect of the cell phone ban on car crashes or related injuries. But a 1997 study in the New England Journal of Medicine said the hand-held phones posed about as much of a problem for drivers as drunken driving. The study found the chance of an accident was four times greater when using a hand-held cell phone."

A Crimp In My Kishkas: I didn't realize until today that one unfortunate consequence of the "mad cow" scare is that it may be a while before I can once again nibble on that delicacy of delicacies - kishka.

In response to the reports of cattle contamination, the USDA halted the human consumption of cattle intestines. These intestines, however, are the casings used to create the shell for kishka, a Polish stuffed sausage my grandmother used to fill with wonderful ingredients and smother with gravy.

"The ubiquitous kishka, a favorite at Polish festivals, will have to adopt a new casing for the blood, beef or barley that is the stuffing for this delicacy, depending on the chef."

"And lest anyone think they can skirt the USDA regulation by buying imported small intestines, think again."

"The USDA sent letters this month to 10 beef-exporting countries, including Australia, Argentina, Canada and Brazil, warning their shipments would be cut off if they don't adopt the Bush administration's regulations." (Reuters)

I know eating kishka sounds about as appetizing as running a cheese grater across your forehead but I guess I'm just a victim of my proud cultural heritage.


© 2003 Marina's International Deli

The Blame Game: "Miramax Films co-chairman Harvey Weinstein was quoted on Sunday as blaming the timing of the release of 'Cold Mountain' for the film's failure to win an Oscar nomination in the best picture category." (Reuters)

No Harvey, the movie was awful. Be a man and move on.

Bright Lights, Bad Feelings: Sarah Jessica Parker is having a hard time fighting through her grief as the star of Sex and the City confronts the show's final days of shooting.

Bleary-eyed residents of the West Village, however, are doing cartwheels at the thought of an end to the bright lights and other commotion that keeps them awake during nighttime filming of this and other television programs.

Looks like some of the neighborhood crowd have even planned a send-off for the Sex and the City gals tonight. (via Gotham Gazette)


Splash News via Evening Times:© 2004 Newsquest

Diamond Gym: If you've got about $24,000 a year to put to your pecks (or abs or any other part of your body), you can join this new NYC gym.

"The invite-only E Club, a 6,000-square-foot private gym within the massive new Equinox fitness center in the Time Warner Center, will cost a minimum of nearly $24,000 a year, with memberships limited to a select 200 people with bulging wallets."

"And to keep out the riff-raff - those members at the adjacent Equinox who pay a mere $1,800-a-year for a standard membership - there are retinal eye scanners, the same used at the Pentagon, at the entrances to the pricey inner-sanctum." (NYP)

And here I thought having a treadmill in my bedroom was the lap of luxury.

The Queer Eye Factor: "In the weeks following an episode of the Bravo/NBC hit show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy—in which five gay men, known as the Fab 5, make over a low-maintenance straight man—many businesses whose products are featured have seen a significant sales boost." (Fortune)