The Brooklyn Paper reports that Ratner has scrapped the airplane hangar design and has opted instead for the clamshell pictured to the left.
I just got this email with a link about the 2001 race.It was sent to me by a life-long Brooklyn resident who says that he tries to to stay engaged with
local issues and politics. He writes: "Admittedly, it is a little geeky to know
that the New York City Board of Elections publishes vote tallies on its
website…"
Some people are estimating that 200 votes will decide the election for Bill diBlasio's city council seat in the 39th district.
200 votes? Wow. That's not a lot of votes.
In 2001, I heard that Bill diBlasio won by 2,000 votes. But that was 2001. It wasn't nearly as tight a race as this one.
So, 200 votes will make or break a candidate. That's why a voting block like Borough Park is so important. The Satmar community votes according to recommendations from its chief rabbi. Whatever the rabbi says…
That said, the candidates are running hard in Borough Park—and all over the rest of the district.
So who are the front runners?
Brad Lander and Josh Skaller are running neck in neck no doubt. At the moment, Lander is trying to distance himself from his Yiddish newspaper brouhaha. I'm not sure if voters in brownstone Brooklyn are aware of it or even care about it.
Bob Zuckerman is at their tail. He just came out with a very funny animated spot that shows cartoon versions of Lander and Skaller attacking each other.
John Heyer is running close to Zuckerman as he has a strong following among conservative democrats in Carroll Gardens and possibly Borough Park.
Gary Reilly, arguably the most honest and forthright is in last place.
In a local election like this every vote really does count. It is important that every Democrat in Park Slope take a long, hard look at all the candidates and get out there on Tuesday September 15th and vote.
Gatemouth of Room 8 in a comment to OTBKB complains that I am extremely naive—even delusional—about the Lander Der Blatt ad.
He suggests that it was actually a member of Lander's campaign, who placed the ad in Der Blatt as part of the effort to win votes in Borough Park, a community of conservative Hasidic Jews of the Satmar sect.
Okay, I am taking my rose colored glasses off, Gatemouth. You and others are saying that Lander tacitly allowed the ad by looking the other way when a campaign member by the name of Fleisher (with strong ties in Borough Park) placed the anti-gay ad in Der Blatt???
Omigod!
Sure, Lander is running hard for the votes in conservative Borough Park, as is John Heyer, who is against same sex marriage and abortion. Clearly, Heyer's conservative social views are more in line with Borough Park's Jewish community.
But Brad Lander is a liberal who openly supports gay marriage and abortion. His views on Israel are progressive. He is a member of Kolot Chayenu, a Jewish congregation in Park Slope, with openly progressive views about Israeli politics. Here's what it says on their website:
Ellen Lippmann, the rabbi at Kolot Chayenu, is a lesbian for Chrissakes.
So why would Brad Lander look the other way? Is he that desperate for votes? I guess that's possible.
Is it that he has learned to play the game required to win votes in Borough Park? Also possible.
According to Gatemouth, the answer is yes:
So, can you ever trust politicians?
I was hoping so. Back in the spring of the City Council race, I was impressed with this intelligent—and principled—group of individuals, who had decided to run for Bill di Blasio's seat. I now understand that what it takes to win a political race in NYC (and probably everywhere) requires a lot of "playing the game."
Indeed, functioning in the NYC City Council also requires playing the game. Sadly, from what I've learned, life in the City Council is largely about slush funds, pandering to the council speaker, and scratching the backs of the powerful.
I suspect that what it takes to win a race is similar to what it takes to succeed in the City Council. That's why it's important to vote for someone who at least works hard to stay above the toxic and sometimes corrupt frey of NYC politics.
Okay. Rose colored glasses off, I am mulling over what this all means. Here's my question. If you are a politician: How do you run for office without playing the game? Is this sort of thing endemic to being a politician? As citizens, are we, too, supposed to look the other way as our candidates—and politicians—look the other way.
I hope not.
While Gatemouth says that it is unlikely that Lander personally authorized or had knowledge of of the contents of the ad, he does say this:
If any of this is true, I agree with Gatemouth that Lander must publicly dismiss Fleisher from his campaign ASAP, "using the strongest possible terms, or be held accountable for what appeared."
If none of this is true, that Lander has no idea who placed the ad in Der Blatt, I rescind my charge that even a smart, right-thinking candidate looked the other way when a member of his campaign "played the game."
Which of the candidates running for City Council in the 39th is least likely to play the game? It might not be considered smart politics but it is the higher road to take in a city rife with compromising political thoroughfares.
to me recommended by friends whose opinions are always worth
considering. Since both artists are playing one after the other at The
Rockwood Music Hall tonight, it's an easy path to discovery.
Art from Connecticut emailed me the other day saying that he was going
to be in NYC today to catch David Mead at The Rockwood. Art described
David as being a kind of pop balladeer with overtones of Harry
Nielson. He added that Bill DeMain was going to be playing with David.
If Art's recommendation wasn't enough, the Bill DeMain connection
certainly put this show on my radar. Bill is one half of the duo Swan
Dive. Even more, he co-wrote Keep It to Yourself, with Amy Rigby, a
song that manages to combine wheedling, attempted murder, a plausible
alibi and the bossa nova into one hilarious package. So between Art
and Bill, I have two reasons to catch David's 8pm show tonight.
Last July Pierre of The Gigometer mentioned Charlie Faye to me.
Charlie is an Austin-based musician who appears in NYC from time to
time usually backed up by the same musicians who used to back up Amy
Speace. I tried to see Charlie when she was last here in July, but the
outdoor show she was to appear at was canceled because of the summer's
ever present rain.
A listen to some of the tracks on Charlie's Myspace confirms her
reputation for playing rock, blues and Americana. I'm looking forward
to finally seeing Charlie in the 9pm slot tonight.
David Mead (8pm), Charlie Faye (9pm), The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street,
(F Train to Second
Avenue, use the First Avenue exit, cross Allen Street and walk a half
block south), no cover.
–Eliot Wagner
City Council Candidate Bob Zuckerman, who is running in the 39th district of Brooklyn to replace Council Member Bill De Blasio, released the first animated advertisement ever used in a New York City Council race.
That's an interesting milestone.
The ad, which has a funny opening with animated characters based on Brad Lander and Josh Skaller (I'm sure they can take a joke) arguing and flinging attacks at one another. The animated ad was a joint project created by Zuckerman and Andrew Arnold, a political animator based in Washington, DC, takes a humorous, lighthearted look at this competitive City Council race.
The band with the great pedal steel guitar player will be playing at Sycamore in Ditmas Park on Saturday night. I just got this email from John, who is one of the band members.
Everyone says that the one year anniversary of a parent's death is tough. And they're right. More than anything I feel a dull ache; a sad recognition that I'll never be with my father again.
Looking at the picture of him I posted yesterday that I took at the New Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in September 2007 makes me sad. There is so much of my father in that shot: the way he looked at art; the fun we had at the museum after those chemo sessions on the Upper East Side; all the good times we had visiting museums and galleries together.
He was a great appreciator of art and culture; he was ever so fun and funny to be around.
NYC just isn't the same without him. Browsing the New Yorker and the Arts and Leisure section's art and music listings I feel a dull ache. No one to say: Hey look who's in town; look what's at the opera; how's that show at MOMA?
Even watching TV, I can't run to the phone and say: did you see that on The Jim Lehrer Show? Or How'd you like that performer on American Idol? Yes, he enjoyed American Idol and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
What can I say. My Dad was cool, fun, and great to be around. And now he's not around.
At the cemetery yesterday we sat on the steps of the family masoleum. I read aloud Emily Dickinson's poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death (my dad liked Emily Dickinson).
My sister read the last page and a half of The House at Pooh Corner. And then we all recited the Kaddish together in English. You're supposed to have a minyon (ten people, sometimes men in that Jewish sexist way) but we're not religious anyway.
All of us said said a few words and we had a few moments of silence.
Driving home from the cemetery, past the Unisphere and the old World's Fair grounds I remembered what Hugh had said standing next to a tree on the tiny lawn of the masoleum.
"I have a long list of things I want to talk to Monte about."
Here are Scott Turner's endorsements for Mayor, City Council and Public Advocate. These are strictly Scott Turner's views and not the views of OTBKB. Keep that in mind, folks. I haven't decided whether I am endorsing. though I probably will. Good to hear Turner's thoughts, of course.
Greetings, Pub Quiz Voter's Guide Perusers…
Because New York is so unlike anywhere else — doing all it can to ignore the vast majority of New York that's exactly like everywhere else. The big election day is a week from today, September 15th. The Primaries. With republicans numbering in the very tiny numbers, it's the Dems' primaries that are often the final say.
With that in mind, we present the Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz 2009 Voter's Guide.
It's different from most Voter's Guides:
Brooklyn's 33rd City Council District: Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer, or anyone else named Ken. Diamondstone and Baer are straightshooters, excellent AY stance, and environmentally sound
Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer
Brooklyn's 35th City Council District: Letitia James.
The bravest politician in NYC these past five years, speaking the truth
to power. Her chief opponent is bankrolled by Forest City Ratner.
Letitia James
Brooklyn's 39th City Council District: Josh Skaller. Hands down. When you say "why can't we ever get somebody good
into office?", it's Josh that you're wishing for. Smart, brash,
compassionate and uncompromisingly principled, Josh is it. Also, an
elected official whose name sounds like a scrubbing pad is nothing to
sneeze at.
Josh Skaller
Public Advocate: Norman Siegel. Also hands down.
Siegel is a fighter, and won't let the office atrophy like Betsy
Gotbaum, the current PA. Bill de Blasio is a leaning tower of
Bloombergian accommodation and Mark Green bundles the worst aspects of
"liberalism." Eric Gioia ripped Con Ed a new one for the Queens
blackout a few years ago.
Norman Siegel
Comptroller: who knows? Here's the one not to
vote for: David Yassky. Brooklyn has gotten soaked from Yassky's
Schumeresque fence-sitting. All of the candidates in this race are
part and parcel careerists, blandishments, exaggerators,
moustache-wearers, maybe-child-sweatshop workers and
money-from-real-estate-developers takers.
Mayor: Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella.
How many times can we say it? Avella's the one. You hear all the
candidates say "I'll stand up to special interests." Avella has, with
no regard for his political career. Avella surfs on The Right Thing To
Do wave, constantly coming to Brooklyn from Queens to support Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's
fight against the Atlantic Yards projects. There a politicians blocks
away who won't do that. Forget about "electability." Choose the one
you believe in. If you love New York City and wanna stop it's
out-of-control careen down the Bloomberg Road to Ruin, vote Avella.
Tony Avella
Of course, in the general election, a
three-way tilt between Avella, the Rev. Billy Talen and Bloomberg would
be a death-cage match for the ages. In that race, we'll go with the
Two out of Three Ain't Bad option, with the Moneyed Mayor no longer
mayor
As
part of the NY400 Celebration commemorating the Quadra-centennial of
Henry Hudson's voyage into New York Harbor, the Dutch government is
sponsoring a visit by a flotilla of 20 historic Dutch "flat bottom"
boats. These traditional Dutch sailing vessels are similar to the
sloops that cruised New York's waters throughout the 19th and early
20th centuries.
The flat bottom boats will homeport while in New
York at Atlantic Basin in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Many of the crew members
— about 120 or so — will live on board the boats during a two week
period providing them an opportunity to interact with local residents
and enjoy local restaurants, stores, and sites.
Date: September 13, 2009
Location: Atlantic Basin, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, south side of Pier 11 (see map on downloadable flyer).
Access: Enter by foot on Pioneer Street or by car via Bowne Street
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00PM
Description:
The
flat bottoms will return to Atlantic Basin after a day in the Harbor.
The public will be able to watch these historic boats enter Atlantic
Basin and tie-up and hoist their ceremonial colors. Crew members will
disembark the boat and be greeted by NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky and
invited guests, including Councilmember Sara Gonzalez , Rep. Nydia
Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, along with other
community leaders and groups. After welcoming remarks the public will
be invited to mingle with the crew and enjoy a light repast from local
Red Hook eateries.
More information about the boats can be found (in Dutch) at www.spts.nl.
Also,
PortSide NewYork is producing a Vistor's Guide to Red Hook + the Dutch Flat Bottom Fleet for the event. Click here for full details on the guide (which will be going live on September 9) and event or use the following link:http://www.portsidenewyork.org/PortSideRedHook+FlatBottomFleetGuide.pdf
Sadly, it seems pretty clear that someone associated with one of the
other campaigns or some kind of political entity is
working pretty hard to attack Brad Lander (candidate for City Council inthe 39th district) with a wild and crazy fake ad
in a Yiddish newspaper and weird emails (with plenty of mispellings)
about his appearance on the Dov Hikind Radio show. Hikind is a assemblyman in the 48th district which includes Borough Park (part of the 39th).
Even Gatemoth, who doesn't much like Brad Lander, has decided that the "Media Watch" attack email was false. I could have told him that and I never even listened to the radio show. But Gatemouth listened to the radio show in question online and came to his own conclusions.
Today Gatemouth eats crow and writes on Room 8:
This space was
previously used to solicit a copy of recording of Saturday night's Dov
Hikind radio program to check out whether an email report of the show's
contents was accurate. When soliciting the info, I posted my own
suspicions that the assertions made within were unlikely to be true.
When someone provided the recording (a link of which is here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/cwel4v), I took the solicitation down.
A
bout of insomnia has caused me to listen to the contents; as I
suspected, the veracity of the allegations in the email ranged from
arguable to unveriable, although this may because I was half
asleep. However, everyone I've sent the recording to who listened and
emailed back agreed with my conclusion.
There were some curious
and/or questioanble remarks, and some dead air where assertions of a
dubious nature were left without comment–perhaps I will address some
of this in the week that remains of this campaign; perhaps not;
however, I did not find any great smoking soundbyte.
Certainly, there is enough to chew upon in this campaign without distorting reality.
THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED: Many grains of salt. That's what you need in these last days of the City Council race in Brooklyn's 39th district. People are flinging all kinds of crazy accusations about and you have to be careful what you believe.
Politics: it's wild and crazy and nasty and strange. Strange.
Strange. Strange. And there's a whole lot of curious stuff going on.
Much of it has to do with Borough Park, which is part of the 39th district. The candidates are vying for important votes in that community, which is largely made up of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews.
That said, who is fulminating this politics of attack? Is this sort of thing just par for the course during any race? I am assuming that the fake ad in a Yiddish newspaper and the following weird emails about the Dov Hikind Radio Show has nothing to do with the candidates and their campaigns.
Yesterday I got a very strange email from someone calling themselves Media Watch about Brad Lander. It was obviuosly ridiculous (the mispellings alone invalidate it in my opinion).
Clearly someone is sending weird emails to bloggers. Gatemouth of Room 8 received the following email on Labor Day. NOTE: Gatemouth has since concluded that the email was absolutely ridiculous. I could have told him that. Again, the mispellings… Who wrote it? See Gatemouth's column at Room 8.
To: Gatemouthnyc(at)hotmail(dot)com
Brad Lander pledged to support getting public tax dollars for the
private schools.
Brad Lander pledged on-air to join Dov Hikind on a
Support-the-Settlements trip to Israel and the West-Bank.
They tried to play down Lander's position gay rights and play up the
position of for gay rights of John Heyer who is getting lots of local
Hassidic support and appropriate his position against gay marriage.
Brad Lander was on the Dov Hikind Radio Show Saturday night (9-5-09).
Gatemouth had this to say In the Huffington Post and on the blog Room 8
lf this were indeed true it would qualify as pretty amazing stuff,
since among other things, Mr. Lander's campaign has consistently
maintained that Israel is not a legitimate issue in this race, but if
this email is correct, the Mr. Lander has managed to evolve from the
lunatic left to the rabid right in a matter of a few short months. The
schools position would be news to his supporters at the UFT and the
other stuff would imply Mr. Lander sees no difference between marriage
and civil union.
Frankly, it is so mind-boggling as to make me dubious.
Therefore,
I am laying down both an appeal for help, and a challenge. The appeal
is to everyone out there. Can someone provide me with either a
transcript or a recording of this interview?
The challenge is to Mr. Lander and Assemblyman Hikind.
I
am asking that you provide me with either a recording or a transcript.
I am forwarding a copy of this column to Liz Benjamin, Azi Paybarah and
all the other candidates in this race. I believe at least some of these
candidates will join me in this request.
If by Wednesday at
6:00 PM a transcript or recording is not provided to the public, I will
assume that everything in this email is true and post an analysis. I
trust others will be making similar inquiries shortly after I've posted.
And who was responsible for placing an unauthorized Brad Lander ad in the Yiddish language
newspaper Der Blatt? The ad said it was "Paid for by Brad Lander for City
Council,” and it falsely claimed that Lander is against gay marriage; the article used homophobic and extremely offensive language.
Lander sent out this message almost immediately:
We did not authorize, place, see, or pay for the ad. As soon as the
campaign became aware of the ad last week, we publicly made clear we
did not have anything to do with it, denounced its gross and outrageous
content, and wrote letters to the NYC Campaign Finance Board calling
for an investigation of how it was placed (available here)
and to Der Blatt calling for a comparably-placed retraction. I am
extremely angry that these homophobic statements were, in any way,
associated with me or my campaign.
My consistent and strong support of marriage equality and LGBT rights
are widely known, including in Borough Park. It has been a public
issue in the campaign, on our campaign website, and in multiple pieces
in the Orthodox Jewish press and blogosphere.
And Today City Council
Speaker Christine Quinn and Empire State Pride Agenda Executive
Director Alan Van Capelle, sent out this press release to make it clear that Brad Lander had nothing to do with the ad in Der Blatt. Here's their
press release:
For Immediate Release: Monday, September 7, 2009
Statement of Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle
New York — Today New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and
Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle released
the following statement regarding the campaign for the NYC Council 39th
District seat. Both Quinn and Van Capelle have made no endorsement in
the 39th District and are supporting no candidate.
“Homophobia has no place in our city and no place in any campaign for elective
office. The content of the ad placed in Der Blatt is offensive to all
New Yorkers. I know Brad Lander and am confident that he had absolutely
nothing to do with the ad. I was pleased that he took immediate action
to denounce it. Any attempt to use this ad against Brad is just plain
wrong. I urge all candidates to stop using homophobia for any personal
gain, and to engage in a discussion of the issues that are important to
the daily lives of voters in the District,” said New York City Council
Speaker Christine C. Quinn, New York City’s first openly gay City
Council Speaker.
“The contents of the ad in Der Blatt are
hateful and demeaning to our community, New York and especially our
families. I have reviewed this matter closely and I have personally
spoken with Brad. I believe his assertion that he and his campaign had
no knowledge or participation in placing this ad. Political attacks
against Brad, an ardent supporter of marriage equality, are unfair,
unwarranted and have no place in this campaign. When we lob charges of
homophobia that are without merit, we fundamentally undermine the
meaning of term when it is actually warranted," said Alan Van Capelle,
Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda. ESPA and Alan Van
Capelle have not endorsed in this race.
OK, this video is at best underexposed. But still, it will give you a
chance to hear the expressive voice of Sydney Wayser. If you like it,
you can always go down to The Rockwood Music Hall at 7 pm tonight and
see Sydney and her band. Not a bad way to end the long Labor Day
Weekend.
Sydney Wayser, Rockwood Music Hall,196 Allen Street (F Train to Second Avenue, use the First Avenue exit, cross Allen Street and walk a half block south), 7pm.
–Eliot Wagner
My dad died last September 7th at 4:15 p.m. I was with him when it happened. He
was in hospice in the sunny living room of his 27th floor Brooklyn Heights
apartment with its view of the Manhattan skyline he adored.
For most of the day he moaned softly. At 3:45 or so, my sister
played one of his favorite records, scratches and all, on the
phonograph: Kinderszenen or Scenes from Childhood by Robert Schumann.
I know he loved that piece because just three weeks before we listened intently to this LP in his bedroom.
Just before he died he took three labored breaths. But there was no fear, no panic in his eyes.
Monte Ghertler, legendary advertising
copywriter and creative director, author, songwriter, connoisseur of
art, literature, music, philosophy, birdwatching, opera, and
thoroughbred horse racing, died peacefully in his Brooklyn Heights home
on September 7, 2008 surrounded by loving family members. Devoted
husband of Hillary, father of Louise and Caroline, father-in-law of
Hugh Crawford and Jeffrey Jacobson, grandfather of Henry and Alice
Crawford and Sonya Jacobson, Cousin of Joan Fisher and former husband
of Edna Ghertler, Monte leaves behind many family, friends, and
admirers who will never forget his way with words, his intellect and
many interests, his love of books and music, his great sense of humor
and his irresistible personality.
Photo of my dad taken by me at the New Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in September 2007.
Jus got an email from Doug of Pinataland. They'll be playing at Banjo Jim's in the East Village on September 11.
I got this note from Tricia Vita, administrative director of the Coney Island History Project about all the excitement surrounding the Coney Island Bell, which was raised from the ocean floor by diver Gene Ritter on September 3, 2009.
She writes: "Yesterday was just wonderful. It was my favorite day of the entire
season. Everyone felt so happy and optimistic. After each person rang
the bell, everyone would spontaneously cheer. I hope the bell brings
Coney Island good luck! We're going to need it."
"This following set of photos was taken on Sept. 5, the first day of the Bell's
display at the Coney Island History Project. and its second day on land
in 98 years!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27583836@N08/sets/72157622271706420/
"The
historic Coney Island Bell which once welcomed visitors on Dreamland's
iron pier was raised from the ocean floor by diver Gene Ritter on Sept.
3 after nearly 100 years underwater. The Bell will be on special
exhibition Labor Day weekend (Sat-Mon) 1-6pm and next weekend (Sept
12-13) 2-6pm at the History Project under the Cyclone roller coaster.
Also on view will be period photos of Dreamland and the Bell. For more info visit http://www.coneyislandhistory.org/news/?p=203
"A
hose system was set up to keep the Bell constantly wet since it has
been underwater for 98 years!. The Bell has its original ringer and
people are invited to "Be a Part of History…Ring the Bell!" ($1
donation toward preservation efforts)
"Gene Ritter, the diver who
found and raised the Bell, has brought it to the History Project to be
displayed for the next two weekends. Gene is a Coney Island native and
diver whose group "Cultural Research Divers" puts on educational
programs for school kids at schools, the pier etc. www.researchdivers.org/
"Beginning
today (Sunday), Gene will also have other artifacts found at the
Dreamland pier dive site such as bottles, china, lamps etc. on display.
(see photos) Diving equipment will also be on view for people to see
or try on."
I went to Met Food to buy a Yahrzeit (Memorial) Candles. They have them on a low shelf right near the dishwasher detergent.
A Yahrzeit Candle is a special memorial candle, which is traditionally lit for deceased relatives for whom one recites the Mourner's Kaddish.
It is a Jewish custom to light a Yahrzeit candle at sundown on the eve of the anniversary of your loved one's death. I lit mine a little late: at 12:20 am. And it is sitting in the center of our dining room table. I feel like I should put a photograph next to it or something.
According to custom, one should also light a candle on the sundown preceding the start of Yom Kippur, Succoth, Passover and Shavout.
Special Yahrzeit candles, like the one I got at Met Food, can burn for 24 hours. It is a candle in glass not unlike the colorful Santeria candles you see in the Santeria shops on Fifth Avenue.
Only one Yahrzeit candle needs
to be lit per household. Some people use an electric bulb instead of a
candle today for safety reasons.
Apparently there is no special prayer that must be recited while lighting a memorial
candle. Every time I look at it I think about my dad. I am inspired to read a poem or a psalm or maybe look at one of his letters. Psalm 121, 130,
142 is suggested. I took out the copy of "The House at Pooh Corner" that we read at my dad's funeral last year. We read the last page and a half, the part that begins:
"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred…"
My dad loved that section of the book and suggested that I read it at my high school graduation, which I did.
So what is the meaning of the Yahrzeit candle?
According to About.com:Judaism:
I listened to my iTunes a lot this summer and I wanted to share my favorite music this summer…
1. My number one favorite new musical discovery and listen this summer was: The Adrian Hibbs Project
Gosh I love this guy's music. I "discovered" him on Block Island where this summer he played at the Spring House bar on Friday nights. . But he used to live in Brooklyn and was a regular at the now defunct Black Betty in Williamsburg. In the winter he lives in New Orleans where he performs regularly. The Adrian Hibbs project only has a four song EP (available at CD Baby) But I love it. Especially the song: "Compromise."
2. My number two favorite listen this summer was:
Schumann: The Songs of Robert Schumann, Vol. 07 – Dorothea Röschmann & Ian Bostridge
The Myrthen songs by Robert Schumann are so beautiful they make your heart ache. This was a CD I got from my dad.
3. My number three favorite listen this summer was:
Beautiful singing and pared down arrangements on a group of poetic and powerful songs.
4. My number four favorite listen this summer was:
This 53-year-old Argentinean composer has written soundtracks for "Brokeback Mountain," "Che," and "The Motorcycle Diaries." His music is a fusion of traditional Latin and ambient music.
5. My number five favorite listen this summer was:
The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed
What can I say. It's a chillingly awesome record.
Special Mention: One of my favorite songs was "Don't Forget Me" sung by Neko Case on her new album Middle Cyclone (another favorite album of the summer. The song is by Harry Nillsson.
Here's my review/think piece on Amy Sohn's new novel, Prospect Park West in this week's Brooklyn Paper.
Another Slope Swipe From Amy Sohn
So, can Park Slopers take a joke?
Absolutely.
The characters in the book are so busy being Gawker archetypes —
celebrity mom, sexy bad mom, former lesbian mom, frumpy supermom — that
they never take the time to laugh at themselves or make real
connections with each other.
And Park Slope is about making connections. You can’t step off your
stoop without having a conversation with a neighbor, a friend, a local
politician or a stranger.
Sohn, who used to pen a racy — and notorious — sex column in the NY
Press, also wrote for the NY Post where she once famously ogled the
penis sizes of various local baseball players. As the de-facto anti-Mom
of Park Slope, she aroused plenty of ire in her New York Magazine
“Mating” column when she wrote:
“Here in my neighborhood, Park Slope, I am constantly encountering
insane stay-at-home moms. And I have come to the all-too-un-PC
conclusion that stay-at-home motherhood, despite the way our culture
lionizes it, is bad for the child and bad for the mom. And bad for
society. It’s just plain bad.”
Sohn went on to say that most of the SAHMs she knows are really
miserable in a “neurotic, soul crippling, Zoloft-inducing, Yellow
Wallpaper-type way.” She also said that they have no opinions and spend
their time “talking about poop and pancakes with kale and Veggie Bootie
and natural Cheerios versus regular ones.” Nice.
Most shockingly Sohn recommended that college-educated women outsource their childcare:
“Childcare should be the province of immigrant women trying to get a
leg up. I do not believe it is ‘better for the child’ to be with his
mother. I believe it is better for the child to have a mother with some
modicum of a life — whether it’s volunteering, graduate degree, or
part-time work.”
So it should come as no surprise that Sohn’s fictional characters
are so similar to her public persona, isolated and angry and defining
themselves by choices they make about their clothing, their marriages,
their parenting styles and their careers.
It’s Park Slope as seen from a blog, not a stoop. And it feels like
a sexist war zone where what you wear to shop at Met Food or which
stroller you buy is referendum on your worth as a human being.
While the novel is full of jokes at the expense of Park Slope moms,
who are savaged by Sohn for being fat, ugly and uninteresting, the book
rarely shows anyone having fun or being self-aware.
And speaking of self-awareness, there actually is a culture of self-criticism
and satire within Park Slope that is alive and well — and completely
left out of Sohn’s book. How convenient.
What about Edgy Mother’s Day, an annual literary reading featuring
local authors like Mary Morris, Sophia Romero, Jenny Offili, Jill
Eisenstadt and, yes, Amy Sohn reading stories about motherhood without
sanctimony?
How about satiric bloggers like Blog Nigger and F—ked in Park Slope, the blog with the motto, “Embrace the hate”?
People in Park Slope do, in fact, laugh at themselves and think it’s
ridiculous that strollers cost $700. They actually make fun of the Tea
Lounge, the Food Co-op and all the other people, places and things
mentioned in the book. When the novel works well, it does so because
Sohn grounds it in an up-to-date Park Slope landscape.
But what about the places and activities that Sohn doesn’t mention —
places that really make Park Slope tick — like the Community Bookstore,
Old First Church and Snice; the various book, running, bike and writing
groups; the community board, Civic Council and political clubs; cool
musical venues like Barbes and Issue Project Room; and essential local
landmarks like the Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum?
Amy Sohn’s “Prospect Park West” isn’t the eastern strip of the real
Park Slope because her characters lack a sense of humor about
themselves and a meaningful connection to their community.
Which isn’t to say that there’s not a lot to satirize about this neighborhood.
Plenty of us are annoyingly obsessed with real estate and celebrity culture.
Many of us watch the sex go out of our marriages as we devote
ourselves too vigorously to our children, our jobs and the logistics of
our daily lives.
Some of us exhibit strange — and exasperating — parenting habits,
like talking incessantly to our children or letting them sleep in our
beds until they’re 5.
Yes, Sohn does a good job of satirizing the Food Co-op, a certain
strata of frumpy mom, and even the fishbowl culture of Park Slope that
sometimes resembles a very small town.
She uses the Park Slope Parents Web site as a great narrative device
when Lizzie discovers a post about a couple looking for neighborhood
swingers — an actual post from a few years back. In the book, the
response on the list-serv is pretty Puritanical, though, in reality,
members had a lot of fun with it.
I also appreciate that Sohn puts to bed the sexist notion that
sexless marriages are always a woman’s fault. Probably the biggest
insight in the book is that men, after fatherhood, become less
interested in sex. And it’s not because their wives are a turnoff — but
because the pressures they face at work and home are a buzz kill.
“Rebecca saw what she’d been doing wrong all the time: She had been
trying to go through the front door when he wanted to be approached
from the side. He needed to be approached through the door marked
‘Father’ because the one marked ‘Husband’ was locked.”
But there are also lines in the book that really cross the line,
like the one about “adoption being the ultimate form of recycling.”
And while there aren't a lot of Park Slope mommies who dress like Angelina Jolie when they go to the playground, the women around here are as beautiful as anyplace else. I am, in fact, astounded at how many beautiful mothers there are in Park Slope. (note: this graph was left out of the article int he BP).
The real-life Park Slope just isn’t so mean spirited—and ugly—as Sohn’s.
Where’s the warmth and community spirit of moms like Susan Fox and
Rachel Mauer, who run Park Slope Parents and Kim Maier, executive
director of the Old Stone House?
How about dedicated community leaders like PS 321’s principal Liz
Phillips, Bobby Finkelstein, who runs the after-school program at Beth
Elohim and Nancy Romer, organizer of the Brooklyn Food Conference?
Or glamorous moms like author Elissa Schappell, who writes the Hot
Type column for Vanity Fair; Suzanne Donaldson, photo editor of Glamour
Magazine and Kathy Malone, founder of the Brooklyn Indie Market.
This Prospect Park West is made up of really interesting women, with a wide range of interests, passions and styles.
But the other “Prospect Park West” is too busy wanting to be the hit
show, “Sexless and the City” or “Actually Very Desperate Housewives”
rather than be a true mirror on a neighborhood that is still dying for
a real fictive takedown.
In “Prospect Park West,” the characters are at each other’s throats
and are only looking out for number one. In other words, they lack a
connection to community and the sense of how they affect the world
around them.
Oy. The City Council race in the 33rd district. From my very first candidates forum/debate at St. Francis College, I could tell that this was a seasoned group with a lot of political baggage and history with one another.
Indeed, it was an interesting, contentious and even ugly race for David Yassky's seat in a district that spans parts of Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Navy Yard, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Indeed, most of the candidates were progressives who agreed on most of the issues. But their "issues" with each other were personal, historic and much about who was controlling whom in the big picture.
—Evan Thies was portrayed as "Yassky's guy" because he worked closely with David Yassky for years. Yassky however decided not to endorse in this race. A politically motivated—and not very nice—move on Yassky's part. Thies is an independent thinker and clearly someone who is not beholden to machine politics or former mentors.
—Stephen Levin was portrayed as "Vito Lopez's guy" because he was Lopez's assistant for many years and Lopez is an important mentor as is Levin's cousin Michigan Senator Carl Levin (and Congressman Sander Levin). Levin's ties to Lopez are deep and murky, but he does strike me as a smart guy who will grow as an independent politician over time. For an informative—and plenty opinionated—article about Vito Lopez's powerbroker politics, see this piece by Tom Robbins in the Village Voice.
—Jo Anne Simon has a long history in Brooklyn community politics and is seen as having ties to the Democratic machine. A well-respected disabilities lawyer, she is a tough campaigner who can be very divisive though she paints herself as someone who works well with everyone at the table. She managed to grab many key endorsements from Democratic clubs and even the New York Times.
—Ken Diamondstone has major issues with Jo Anne Simon, who used to be a friend, because of her ties to "the Democratic machine." He can get plenty angry on the subject of Simon and Levin but mostly he carried himself as a genuine progressive with a very ethical core. He seems to be in politics for the right reasons — the desire to help others and make change.
–-Issac Abraham, a community leader and organizer in the Hasidic community of Williamsburg, is at odds with Bloomberg, Yassky and many leaders in NYC politics for the way they ignore the needs of the Williamsburg community.
—Ken Baer, a leader in the Sierra Club, was also active in the fight against the Atlantic Yards and less of a political name caller.
And Doug Biviano. Ah, Doug Biviano. He was the true outsider candidate who used his campaign to formulate and articulate many important ideas about reform in city government and even national issues like war spending and healthcare. A very smart, energetic guy with interesting views, he ran a good campaign and was willing to speak truth to power and say plenty of unexpected things. I have a lot of respect for the guy.
The 33s (they're all here except for Issac Abraham):
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Stephen Levin. A classics major at Brown University, Levin has wonky good looks and a boyish, disarming
manner. His father's cousins are Michigan's Senator Carl Levin and
Congressman Sander Levin and he currently works as Vito Lopez's chief of staff. Lopez,
who is often portrayed as a Darth Vader figure in Brooklyn politics
taught the 29-year-old Levin about "knocking on doors, talking to as
many people as possible, the
importance of having a command of the issues, and having empathy for
the people," Levin told me. A pragmatist, Levin believes "that for for
every problem there is a solution that is not readily apparent."
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Doug Biviano. Expect the
unexpected from Biviano, who is a civil engineer with BS and MS degrees from Cornell
University. Biviano works as a superintendent in a Brooklyn Heights
apartment building and in 2008 was a New York State Coordinator for
presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich , whose politics of peace are a
strong influence. Biviano has lived the skier's life in Colorado and
sailed the Inter-Coastal Highway with his wife installing solar panels
on a boat he barely knew how to sail.
Breakfast of Candidates: Jo Anne Simon.
Her career trajectory from teacher of the deaf to disability rights
attorney can make you feel like a slacker and
wonder how she had time to become such a strong voice in community
politics, the female Democratic District Leader and State
Committeewoman for
the 52nd Assembly District. A proponent of the art of listening, she
believes that there's a place for all viewpoints at the table and that
"someone who is elected to office can work with everyone."
Breakfast-of Candidates; Evan Thies.
A former aide to City Council Member David Yassky, Thies also worked in
Hillary Clinton's upstate senate office and for Andrew Cuomo. Raised in
New Hampshire, public service was the family business and his
grandmother was appointed by NH governor John
Sununu to be the state's Commissioner of Health and Human
Services. Struck as a child with Fibromatosis, a chronic disease, he
was
home-schooled during the worst of his illness. When he was 11, he and
his mother wrote and passed a bill about his disease.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Ken Diamondstone: A lover of diner food, Diamondstone runs an affordable
housing business with an emphasis on "nice spaces for low prices." He
could have made a killing in the real estate biz but instead stuck to
his principles. Affordable housing is clearly Diamondstone's passion
and through his
business he has been able to translate ideals into action. He is
also a member of three local Democratic clubs and was an early opponent of
Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project. For Diamondstone, who is
openly gay and lives with his longtime partner, Joe, the rights of the
LGBT community is high on his list of
priorities. But so is the environment. As chair of the Brooklyn Solid
Waste Council he was involved with the Zero Waste Coalition and passage
of NYPIRG's Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Ken Baer.
He majored in psychology and sociology at Kent State University during
the turbulent 1960's and was actually attending the school when four
students were killed by National Guard during an anti-war demonstration
in 1970. At the time, he lived with "a
bunch of vegetarians" and tried to stay out of the Vietnam War as a
conscientious objector (CO). It was during college, that Baer became
aware of food and environmental issues: "answering questions on the CO
form got me to thinking about killing humans and animals…so I became
a vegetarian," he told me. A longtime member of the Park Slope Food
Coop, Baer is also a member of the Sierra Club and has held various key
positions at the city and state level. He was an early opponent of the
Atlantic Yards Project and is a strong believer in community based
development.
What a long, strange trip the campaign for City Council in the 39th district has been. As has been said by me and others, it is quite stellar group of candidates that decided to run for Bill diBlasio's seat for a district that spans Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, and Borough Park.
Look at them: Brad Lander, Josh Skaller, Bob Zuckerman, John Heyer, and Gary Reilly. Any one of them would be a fine City Councilman. But only one can have the 39th seat.
Things were very civilized back in April and May. The forums/debates were good humored and convivial. It was clear that this smart and likable group of candidates agreed on most issues.
Indeed, it was clear that they all had interesting backgrounds and experiences that qualified them for the City Council, a position that is perfect step into politics for non-politicians.
Of course, there were plenty of sharp elbows and moments of contention. Plenty.
—John Heyer was attacked for being against abortion and gay marriage. He managed to get the endorsement of a key Carroll Gardens Democratic club
and there was much sniping about the influence of Buddy Scotto, his
mentor and employer at the Funeral Home (he is also assistant to Borough President Marty Markowtiz).
–Attacks between Lander and Skaller, in my opinion, were gratuitous—and desperate—jabs (by each campaign) at two men who's views are more alike than different.
—Skaller proved himself to be an aggressive—and at times—a sharp elbowed candidate willing to play the politics of attack for points with the voters.
–Former presidential candidate and Chairman of the National Democratic Committee Dr. Howard Dean came to Park Slope to endorse Josh Skaller but ended up endorsing both Skaller and Lander.
–The Superfund for the Gowanus issue was briefly a contentious litmus test for the candiates who all (except Heyer) ultimately agreed it was the right way to go.
—Zuckerman and Reilly managed to stay out of the negative frey for the most part. They conducted themselves with grace and enthusiasm for much of the campaign and focused on the issues that mattered to them. That said, Zuckerman did lead the charge against Heyer's anti-gay marriage views and that, in my opinion, was worth noting in a district that is largely progressive and pro-gay marriage.
So here we are just a week and a half away from the election. We've seen these guys under pressure; we've seen what they're willing to do to win the race. We've seen them speak their hearts and minds, we've seen them on good days and bad. And now it's up to the voters in the 39th to decide.
The 39ers
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Gary Reilly. At 34 he's not quite the youngest of the 39th candidates (John Heyer beats
him on that score) but this intelligent and likable man is plenty wet behind the ears and full of
enthusiasm about public transportation and other issues that affect voters.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Bob Zuckerman. A long-time politico, Zuckerman is currently
executive director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development
Corporation and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy. He remembers the night
Richard Nixon was elected in 1968 (he was 7-years-old) and one of his
heroes is Harvey Milk.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Brad Lander, Lander has two master's degrees and
a BA from the University of Chicago. He made his mark running
community organizations like the Fifth Avenue Committee and Pratt
Center for Community Development, advocating for affordable housing and community sustainablility.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: Josh Skaller. A former computer music composer at
Harvard, it was Howard Dean's presidential campaign that jumpstarted
his interest in electoral politics. As president of the Central
Brooklyn Independent Democrats, he learned to facilitiate dialogue and
manage strong personalities. Running on a community empowerment
platform with a strong interest in the environment and smart
development, Josh is proud to be refusing donations from real estate
developers.
Breakfast of Candidates: John Heyer: An assistant to Borough President Marty Markowitz, Heyer is the only candidate for City Council born in the 39th district. A
fifth-generation Carroll Gardener, his twin passions are politics and
theology. He works as a funeral director at Scotto's Funeral Home and
his knowledge of the history of the neighborhood runs deep though he is
only 27-years-old.
Breakfast-of-Candidates: David Pechefsky. The Green Candidate, Pechefsky worked for 10 years in the central staff of
the New York City Council. With a master's degree in public policy and
experience advising local governments in Africa, Pechefsky knows how the
City Council works from the inside out and has ideas about how it could
better serve the people of New York City.
Remember this article about Jamie Livingston's Photo-of-the-Day in the Guardian last year. Well, now this article is being used in an English language standardized test in Spain.
I was idly flicking through blogs when I stumbled upon a website. It was a collection of
polaroid photographs and gradually I began to realize that there was one for every day
between March 1979 and October 1997. There was no way of telling who they belonged
to, no commentary or captions, just the photos, arranged month by month like contact
sheets. There was a sense, too, that I was not supposed to be there, browsing through
these snaps of friends and family, of baseball games and picnics, but they were funny.
There were pictures of things that did not exist any more as well as car parks and
swimming-pools.
Slowly it became apparent whose collection it was – friends would come and go but one
man regularly popped up over the 18 years documented, doing ordinary stuff like eating
dinner or unusual things in faraway countries. In one picture he is proudly holding a
skinned goat, in another he is on stilts. A lot of the time he looks serious while doing
ridiculous things. During the 80s there are lots of pictures of him playing music with an
avant-garde street performance outfit called Janus Circus. There are pictures of TV
screens – ball games, Frank Zappa’s death, president Carter, Reagan and Clinton.
Then, in 1997, events take a dark turn. There are pictures of the photographer in
hospital, then with a long scar across his head. He is gravely ill. For a short while his
health appears to improve and he returns home. In October there is a picture of a ring,
then two days later a wedding ceremony. But just a few weeks after that he is back in
hospital with some friends from the early photos. On October 25 the series ends. The
photographer has died.
Of course I was not alone in discovering this remarkable site. Since the end of May it
has been passed from blog to blog across America. “The first I knew about it was when all
my other websites started to closing down under the strain,” says New Yorker Hugh
Crawford, who was responsible for putting his friend’s pictures on line after his death.
“Initially it was not meant to be looked at by anyone. A group of us were putting on an
exhibition of the photos and the site was a place where we could look at the pictures while
we talked on the phone.”
The photographer’s name was Jamie Livingston. He was a film maker and editor who
worked on public information films, adverts and promo videos for MTV. Taking a single
photo every day began by accident when he was 22 and studying film with Crawford at
Bart College, in upstate New York. “He’d been doing it for about a month before he
realised he’d been taking a photo about one picture a day, and then he made the
commitment to keep doing that,” says Crawford. “That’s what he was like. There are some
people who have flashes of brilliance and do things in a huge rush or creative burst but he
was more of a steady, keep-at-it kind of guy and he did amazing stuff. Part of the appeal of
the site is that Jamie was not this amazing-looking guy. He led an incredible life, but
there’s an every man quality to the photographs.”
There are a lot of visual jokes, funny shots and fluted self-portraits, but the plan was to
take one picture and keep it no matter how it turned out. Once they found themselves
walking with a circus of elephants through the heart of New York, late at night. Crawford
turned to his friend and suggested this could be the picture of the day. “He was like, “No, I
took a picture of my lunch, it’s already been taken,” laughs Crawford. […]
Only one mystery remains about Livingston’s life: “There’s one woman who appears a
lot (in the earlier photographs) who seems to have been a girlfriend but no one knows who
she is,” says Crawford, much of whose own life story is told within the pictures as well.
The more famous the pictures become, the more likely it is that one day he’ll find out.
© The Guardian 13.08.08
1) When looking at the photos, the writer
a) felt confused.
b) felt like an intruder.
c) saw they were focussed on places.
2) The protagonist of the photos
a) had a boring life.
b) had a varied life.
c) lived close to celebrities.
3) As far as the photo collection is concerned, Hugh Crawford
a) admits that its use didn’t turn out as planned.
b) claims that he published his friend’s pictures without permission.
c) is unhappy about the attention it is getting.
4) According to Hugh Crawford, taking a photo on a day-to-day basis
a) proved Livingston’s huge talent.
b) showed Livingston’s commitment.
c) was Livingston’s dream.
5) According to Hugh Crawford, when making his collection,
Livingston
a) didn’t like being given advice by others.
b) didn’t like taking surprising photos.
c) wouldn’t go back on what he decided.
A young raccoon looks for food in the bushes in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
When he gets tired of the attention he climbs out of sight.
I saw this coming home on Labor day weekend, on the walking paths, near the Vail of Cashmere.
This video was sent to me by Efrain Gonzalez. I’m not sure if he is the videographer but I think so.
Here's is this week's Smartmom from the award winning Brooklyn Paper:
Smartmom, Hepcat and the Oh So Feisty One got home from California
last Thursday at 7 am. They’d taken the redeye from Oakland and
Smartmom didn’t sleep a wink. Instead, she’d spent the entire night
alternating between 36 free channels of DirectTV watching mostly the
House and Garden channel and CNN.
Arriving home, she was exhausted — and nervous — about the state of the apartment after last week’s report of Teen Spirit’s raucous party. That’s why she told OSFO to go in first and report back.
“Everything is fine,” OSFO shouted down the stairs.
Phew. The apartment was tidy. All the dirty dishes had been put
through the dishwasher and all the dirty clothing that Diaper Diva said
she saw covering the hallway floor was in a big blue IKEA bag in Teen
Spirit’s bedroom.
Later, Smartmom told Teen Spirit what Diaper Diva had said about the
messy condition of the apartment. Naturally, he questioned her
judgement.
“Well, you know how neat she is,” he said.
Indeed, Diaper Diva and Bro-in-law are compulsively neat. Not like
the relatives over on Third Street who tend to be a bit more, er,
creative in the housekeeping department.
Smartmom was thrilled to be with Teen Spirit again. And she felt
like the time apart had done them a world of good. She had long talk
with him about his job, his plans for the year and a little about what
his friends are up to.
It was one of the best — and longest — conversations they’ve had in
eons. He also played three new songs for her and she was overjoyed.
They were so good, she wanted to cry. But she didn’t let on. Instead
she looked down at her lap and took in the magic of his music.
The two weeks that Smartmom, Hepcat and OSFO were in California were
the first time Teen Spirit had ever stayed by himself in the apartment.
It was kind of a learning experience. Sure, he did all the typical
adolescent faux pas: he threw a party and caused a stir when a dozen
beer cans got tossed from the fire escape.
But a lot of good things happened, too.
Teen Spirit decided that he wants to learn how to cook.
“I want to be like Dad, the way he has a whole bunch of specialties,” he told Smartmom.
He also realized that he needs to learn some of the basics likes how
to boil eggs and rice. In general he needs to get better acquainted
with the kitchen.
“I never found the can opener,” he told Smartmom. “I mean, you left
me all those cans of baked beans, but I couldn’t find the opener.”
Male kitchen blindness strikes young.
Smartmom handed Teen Spirit three can openers that were in a
utensils jar on the counter. But she felt bad that his bean craving had
gone unmet.
Teen Spirit is learning about other important stuff, too, like, where to get a check cashed when you don’t have a bank account.
“These are life lessons,” Smartmom told him this morning when she
showed him where sign to on the back of a check, his first paycheck.
“My dad always used to say, ‘Remember to write “for deposit only” on the back,’” Smartmom told her son.
After their conversation, Smartmom decided that this Gap Year
University thing was going to be great. He thinks so, too. He told her
that doesn’t feel ready for college and that when he’s ready, he’ll go.
In the meantime, he says, he may want to take a course in Roman history at one of the city community colleges.
Smartmom smiled inwardly. She knows it’s super important not to meddle and to give him plenty of space.
Room to grow. That’s what she’s going to give him. Plenty of room to grow.
A young raccoon looking for food in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Photo by Efrain Gonzalez.
I saw this post about a lost American Girl Doll on Park Slope Parents. If anyone sees Josephina wandering around the neighborhood please let me know. She may be a bit disoriented. She thinks it's 1824 in New Mexico.
