No Crossword No Peace

 

Douglas Quenqua of the New York Times investigates puzzles gone missing and their up-in-arms solvers.  An excerpt:

…the loss of a crossword is the loss of a ritual. Kitty Florey, 66, a writer and editor from Hamden, Conn., said that her morning routine — a cup of tea, a single slice of toast and crosswords with her cats — was still suffering from the loss of the New York Sun crossword, and she wonders what the future will bring.

“It’s an interlude I have come to take for granted, and if it were wrenched away, I’m not sure what I would do with that hour between sleeping and showering,” she wrote in an e-mail message. “Probably stare into space wondering why I bothered to get out of bed.”

Some newspapers have resisted the temptation. The Chicago Tribune, for example, ended its Sunday magazine but preserved its puzzles, fearing the wrath of the puzzle people.

Despite the specter of unusually well-worded cancellation threats, editors who are forced to eliminate content say that puzzles make obvious targets…

The rest of the article here:   http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/fashion/12puzzle.html

High Line

 

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/11/fashion/20090712-street-feature/index.html

I was here a couple days ago.  I wore a short blue H&M dress with little flowers that I bought because it reminded me of one that I had in 7th grade, and white squared clunky Kenneth Cole sandals from like 10 years ago.  The high line is as good as he says it is.  I liked that they did the whole thing in wildflowers.  The always-good fries at Pastis afterwards.  I saw a strawberry shortcake with whipped cream there that was magazine-cover quality.  And there’s a little concrete garden just north of Pastis if you get takeout.

Religious School Grads Likelier To Have Abortions

Unwed pregnant teens and 20-somethings who attend or have graduated from private religious schools are more likely to have abortions than their peers from public schools, according to research in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

The research study examined how personal religious involvement, schoolmate religious involvement and school type influenced the pregnancy decisions of a sample of 1,504 unmarried and never-divorced women age 26 and younger from 125 different schools. The women ranged in age from 14 to 26 at the time they discovered they were pregnant. 25% of women in the sample reported having an abortion, a likely underestimate.

 

Results revealed no link between a young woman’s decision to have an abortion and her religious involvement, frequency of prayer or perception of religion’s importance.

 

Rates of abortions were higher for women educated at private religious schools. The type of religious school was not a factor – Catholic schools had similar rates as other religious schools.

 

Data for this study came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a school-based study of the health-related behaviors of students in grades 7 to 12. Add Health was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and several other agencies.

 

Great Neck Frustration

 

He is totally right about everything, but he needs an ark, not a bus.

Kids Unsafe And Frightened In Great Neck

 

Great Neck residents are reportedly frustrated and frightened by conditions that stem from illegal housing.

 

Mayor Ralph Kreitzman and Capt. Sean McCarthy of Nassau’s Sixth Precinct say that they’re aware of drug use and illegal housing in the area, but refuse to take immediate action.

 

Between George Street and Potters Lane, dozens of men stand in groups in front of a deli all day and disrupt the community by drinking alcohol and urinating in public, selling and using drugs, and harassing girls and women.

 

“I’m concerned mainly for the safety of the kids,” said one resident, who has four school-aged children. “They’re afraid and I’m afraid.”

 

Great Neck resident, Sean, 11, told the mayor that the loitering men keep him from walking alone to the deli.

Residents point to illegal housing in the neighborhood as the source of the trouble. There are houses that are occupied by more than 20 people who fill the structures, from the basement to the attic. These houses are extreme fire hazards and put our fire fighters at risk. Remember the fire fighters who died in the Bronx due to illegal housing configurations.

 

If you witness illegal activity, fill out an affidavit statement and complaint form, available at village hall.

Rabbi Aryeh Spero of the Iranian Jewish Center-Beth Hadassah Synagogue, said he will sign an affidavit.

　

-Information from Newsday article by Timothy Robertson

 

Murder City

Blackout

 

Rumor has it that a Morningside Heights public elementary school student has died from swine flu.  The child was apparently known to be in critical condition for days before the mayor finally decided to close the school.  If the city and the media continue the news blackout on swine flu deaths, the rumors will continue to fly.

The Post has finally identified one of the dead as Danita Lee, 55, of Queens, who attended the FEGS career placement center in the Bronx.

City Councilman John C. Liu of Queens says the Bloomberg administration has failed to disclose enough information. “The cloak of secrecy is not alleviating anyone’s fears, whether they’re real or perceived,” he said.

I Answer Random Tweets – 2

 

Q: KadeejiaDenise: Why? Why the hell am I awake right now. I work in the morning.

A: Because too many things are spinning around in your mind. Try reading something mindless to take your mind off of things and have a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt before you go to bed. Don’t consume caffeine after 4PM.

 

Q: JayShel: It’s after 2 in the morning and I just got done making desserts for tomorrow! I’m tired but I can’t sleep…does that even make sense?

A: It completely makes sense. You can actually get too tired to sleep. But you can get 80% of the value of sleep by just quietly lying down in a dark room with your eyes closed. Just don’t look at the clock and at some point you’ll probably fall asleep.

 

Q:  Jersey1127: The next time you see you are losing followers, it may be because you don’t follow back. If I don’t interest u why should u interest me?

A: Because I might be more interesting than you. For example, a lot of people find Johnny Depp interesting. But he would probably only find a subset of those people interesting to him. And Johnny Depp might be interested in Maya Angelou. But Maya Angelou might not be so interested in Johnny Depp.

(I’ve found that when people preface something with “Now, this is really interesting…”, it never is.)

 

Q: lyns4: does everything really happen for a reason?

A: No, hardly anything happens for a reason.

 

Q: Catyren: My life is so boring right now. I got up at 11 and watched Ice Age 1 and 2. I need a hobby. Any suggestions?

A: Photography.

 

Q: alemeow: is the explanation gonna be good enough? high expectations for the final season of Lost

A: It will be at least just good enough.

 

Q:  NouveauCheap: #lost fans: Jacob’s nemesis is a shape-shifter and has been every single “ghost” we’ve seen in the entire series. Yea or Nay?

A: Nay. Claire and Christian Shepard are together and both dead at the same time. So unless the nemesis can be two entities simultaneously, nay.  Also Jacob and his “nemesis” call each other “friend”.  They are friends not enemies.

 

Q: uncleAndrew: remember on lost when karl was being brainwashed?on the video”god loves u as he loved jacob” quickly flashes. this proves jacob is gods son!

A: I remember. But notice “loved” is past tense. This could indicate that Jacob is a fallen angel. Or, God never loved Jacob and he doesn’t love you either.

 

I Answer Random Tweets

Q: ThatGirl911: Why r ppl from Queens dying of Swine Flu?????? hmmm should I be worried
A: Because the mayor won’t close the schools and the media won’t report accurately on the spread of the virus. Yes.

Q: robertmolinaro: If the NYC Health Department is saying that if you have flu you probably have swine flu then shouldnt everyone that has flu be tested?
A: No, because many people who have the swine flu have a relatively mild case and do not require hospitalization.

 

Q: tessie909: How serious is da swine flu really?
A: It probably won’t kill you. But it could. Especially if you’re younger than 61 years of age

 

Q: yvettedownunder:wonders why schools get closed for swine flu but adult workplaces aren’t?
A: Because kids are a lot better at spreading disease than adults are. And kids have less immunity to viruses. And government readily has the ability to close public schools, but not workplaces in the private sector.

 

Q: CassieST: Is it just me, or is this Swine flu hysteria getting out of hand? Don’t we want natural immunity in the population anymore?
A: It‘s just you. But I was thinking that maybe the CDC wants people to catch the virus now, so we can get immunity before it mutates into a more dangerous version. But my mother says that is too Machiavellian a viewpoint.

 

 

Wrongful Death Suit

Steven Trunnell, the husband of the first U.S. resident to die from swine flu, has sued the owner of the Mexican pig farm where the virus reportedly originated.

Trunnell said that his wife, Judy Trunnell, 33, did not have underlying ailments that contributed to her death, despite Texas health officials reporting that she had a respiratory condition.

“She was in perfect health,” attorney Marc Rosenthal said.

Judy Trunnell taught special education at an elementary school. She was eight months pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital with flu symptoms. Doctors were able to save her baby daughter after Judy slipped into a coma.

Her death came about a week after that of a Mexico City toddler who became the first person to die in the United States from swine flu.

News reports traced the first cases of swine flu to the Mexican town of La Gloria in the state of Veracruz, the location of the world’s largest pig farm.

Smithfield Farms Brownsville wrongful death

Flu Still Spreading

 

The link below brings up a map of concentrations of confirmed cases of Mexican/swine flu.  Use the slider to see how the disease has spread.  The disease has caused 5 deaths outside of Mexico.  It seems to be spreading quickly now in the midwest.  (The map shows ONLY confirmed cases; there are actually far, far more cases of flu than are depicted.)

Flu graphic

20 Things To Do In This Bad Economy

1. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t say “MADE IN USA” on it.

2. Pay off your credit cards before buying anything that is unnecessary.

3. Have 0, 1, or 2 kids instead of 3, 4, or 5 kids. (If you have more than that, heaven help you.)

4. Move closer to where you work or work closer to where you live.

5. Take public transit, ride a bike, or walk whenever possible.

6. If your income puts you above the poverty level, save at least 10% of your income.

7. Don’t panic; now is a terrible time to sell your stocks. Resist the urge to sell low.

8. If you live in a house that has two more bedrooms than residents, downsize to a smaller home.

9. Don’t vote for anyone who supported a bailout of private industry by using your tax dollars.

10. Take your vacation within the U.S. Consider the Smoky Mountains, the Finger Lakes, the Everglades, Cape Cod, Maine, and consider camping.

11. If you own an S.U.V., hey, hello, it’s time to WAKE UP

12. Go through your home and bring anything you don’t use to the Salvation Army. They may be able to pick up larger items. You can generally claim these donations on your taxes.

13. Buy staples and spend a little more time cooking instead of buying more expensive processed foods. If you are employed, invite your unemployed friends over for potlucks.

14. If you are a talented cook or knitter, make gifts that will be appreciated, like chocolate truffles or a bedspread, instead of buying gifts made abroad.

15. If you have access to a sewing machine, make curtains, tablecloths and other simple things, instead of buying goods made in foreign countries.

16. If you have money to invest, now is a great time to invest in American real estate.

17. Be proactive to avoid health costs. Get a flu shot, make sure your vaccinations are up to date (when’s the last time you had a tetanus booster?), get a dental checkup and cleaning, sweat for 45 minutes 5 days a week, get your cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked, have a multi-vitamin daily, have some protein with every meal, choose complex carbohydrates, etc.

18. Consider cancelling your landline and your cable tv. Do you really use them?

19. Only give gifts that are either edible or attractive and truly useful.

20. If you have some savings, but no job, this is a good time to go to back to school.

Dead Pranksters

 

“dinner theatre in Wisconsin”:

 

 til :25 -

The David Letterman Show David Letterman morning show 1980 1982 comedy bit prank pranks Late Night with David Letterman

Is This Sexy?

 

This is Stephanie Naumoska.  She was chosen as a top finalist for Miss Universe Australia.  She is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 108 pounds.  The Australian pageant judges chose her over 7000 other contestant applicants.   Health professionals have reported that her weight for her height is well below the level that medically marks a diagnosis of malnutrition.  They also report that Naumoska’s upper arms and legs exhibit muscle wastage.

Banana Splits

 

What You Need

 

What you need to eat every day:

Non-fat Greek-style yogurt
Berries
A handful of almonds or walnuts
½ grapefruit
Coffee
An apple or a pear
Tea with lemon
A multivitamin, Vitamin D, fish oil

What you need to eat a couple of times a week:

Wild salmon
A glass of red wine
Broccoli

What you need to add whenever possible: pepper, cinnamon, tomatoes or tomato juice, onions, garlic

What you need to include in your diet: skinless turkey breast, skinless chicken breast, avocado, olive oil, eggs, spinach, fish, shellfish, mushrooms, pumpkin, carrots, brown rice, brown rice crackers, artichokes, asparagus, purple grapes, beets

 

What you need to do 5 days a week:

Dance or walk briskly for 45 minutes

 

What you need to do 7 days a week:

Get 8 hours of sleep

Hope

You should always proceed with extreme caution when confronted by an unfamiliar banana.

 

Steps to take upon banana home invasion that can be gleaned from this instructional video:
1. Leap quickly to-and-fro; should the banana attack, you will be too quick for it to land a punch.
2. Get right down on the banana’s level when you speak to it.
3. Try diplomacy.  Meet one-on-one with the banana.  Stay calm, keep your voice low but menacing as you attempt to reason with it.
4. Look plaintively at nearby lackadaisical humans in order to impress upon them the dire nature of the situation.
5. File your nails on the new carpeting while contemplating your next move.

 

couple more danes:

 

more about “That’s Teddy“, posted with vodpod

 

Doga

Physical Culture

Bonding With Their Downward-Facing Humans

By BETHANY LYTTLE

Published: April 9, 2009

Nationwide, classes of doga — yoga with dogs, as it is called — are increasing in number and popularity.

Dogs Meditating

Maria’s Story

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30105077#30105077

 

 

 

 

 

Kremkaus Write And Shoot

More pix as well as a write-up from the March 30, 2009 Webster Hall Glasvegas Show at http://www.readjunk.com/reviews/livereviews/glasvegas-webster-hall-nyc/

I went to this show and yes, there were some sound problems, but it was fun being up front.  James Allan handed my friend his beer near the top of the show, and his guitar pick at the end. (Yes, she’s extremely cute.)

Allan works hard for the money; he obviously works at his craft and the band put on a great show.  Allan has some powerful pipes and dark lyrics which the Manhattan crowd sang back to him word for word.  New York hearts Glasvegas and, it seems, vice-versa.

The band had support from high-energy Joplinesque opener Ida Maria. I watched a clip from her set on youtube today and laughed when I heard myself talking at the tail end.  The internet is a strange place.

put yer cellphone away already

Bryan Kremkau Matt Kremkau