In the age of social media and Wikileaks, former Governor David Patterson provides insight into the realities of governing versus campaigning and the limitations of transparency, showing, once again, that Life isn't all Black and White -- there are more than 50 shades of grey:
From City and State 's Heard Around Town --
* On Fred Dicker's radio show yesterday former Gov. David Paterson defended Gov. Andrew Cuomo against charges his administration lacks transparency, saying that criticism of the all-night Albany session that led to the passage of the pension plan (among other things) was unstudied, and ignores the messy realities of policy-making. Paterson underscored the point with a sort-of brutal reference. "I was watching the Ken Burns World War II episode," Paterson said. "It was clear that solders were left on the field to die. If the army had given up its position on parts of the field, other people may have gotten killed," he said, likening Cuomo's strategy this legislative session to that of a war commander, in this instance, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Everything can't be squeaky clean, tied up in a bow and perfect. The good is not the enemy of the perfect. What Andrew Cuomo has been able to accomplish has been great, but it has not been perfect. Transparency can be as bad as good sometimes," Paterson said.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tuesday Morning Telly: 'So Lonely' - The Police
So Lonely" is a song by The Police, appearing on the 1978 studio album Outlandos d'Amour and released as a single in November 1978 and again in February 1980 as a re-release. The single didn't chart on the first occasion but reached number 6 with its second release. The other singles from Outlandos D'Amour, "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You", followed a similar pattern of not charting very high in 1978, but doing very well on a re-release. The video for the song depicts the band walking around the streets of Hong Kong and on the subway trains of Tokyo in 1980. More here
Monday, April 2, 2012
CODA: Le cercle extérieur considère le cercle intérieur
As a follow up to DITHOB's Inner Circle reverie and bid for fleeting notoriety, I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of the actual 2012 Inner Circle Program and share the vicarious joy (that otherwise could be shared at $750 a pop, although for a many good causes):
--Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn
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| Front Cover: Preoccupied. Art by Randy Jones 2012 |
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| Back cover: Preoccupied. Art by Randy Jones 2012 |
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| Wacky Weiner (Rockin Robin) |
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| "Secret Asian Man"(Secret Agent Man) |
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
"You Can Take All the Tea in Chiner"
The Gypsy Wolf, On the Border of Woodstock and Bearsville, NY
Oh to be there at 5:30 PM when they open for the Especial Fajitas Platter and a Corona. Listening to Van Morrison.
Photo by AMN
Legi Ergo Sum: Ongoing Thoughts About the Future of the Book
Here at DITHOB we've pondered the future of books -- we know folks will always read, it is simply a question of format. For example, we asked what will be the future of the book reading/book signing ? Will the physical tome remain as a collectible artifact, sort of like making an appearance on the NY Times website or blog, and also making it into the NY Times daily paper (since the two are not congruent)? Will their be some evolution of the author's electronic signature that will pulse, neon-like, in the corner of your e-reader? More here
SO it was with great interest that we read critic Dwight Garner's wry and interesting essay in last week's NYT Sunday Review about modern reading habits in the era of the electric book. Mr. Garner considers the future of the paperbook and causes this reader to wax nostalgic about the charms of the book: "You can’t read an e-book in the tub. You can’t fling one across the room, aiming, as Mark Twain liked to do, at a cat. And e-books will not furnish a room." He also mentions "The one bit of verse that charmed me, when read on the iPad, was Clive James’s brilliant and witty “The Book of My Enemy Has Been Remaindered.” This poem forces you to wonder: What will remainders look like in our digital future? Where’s the 99-cents bin going to be? " More here
At DITHOB, we say Legi Ergo Sum - I read, therefore I am...
-Anthony Matteo Napoli
SO it was with great interest that we read critic Dwight Garner's wry and interesting essay in last week's NYT Sunday Review about modern reading habits in the era of the electric book. Mr. Garner considers the future of the paperbook and causes this reader to wax nostalgic about the charms of the book: "You can’t read an e-book in the tub. You can’t fling one across the room, aiming, as Mark Twain liked to do, at a cat. And e-books will not furnish a room." He also mentions "The one bit of verse that charmed me, when read on the iPad, was Clive James’s brilliant and witty “The Book of My Enemy Has Been Remaindered.” This poem forces you to wonder: What will remainders look like in our digital future? Where’s the 99-cents bin going to be? " More here
At DITHOB, we say Legi Ergo Sum - I read, therefore I am...
-Anthony Matteo Napoli
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Nothin' But Boyds
The Japanese cherry has begun to bloom in front of the house, a gentle explosion in pink and white, and the early morning air today was filled with the calls of birds, birds, birds, in the Flatbush forest. Chirps. Twitters. Tweets (the organic kind). Peeps. Caws. It's an early spring that continues, like early Lin-sania, but with it becoming clearer and clearer that winter is truly behind us despite the forecast blip of rain and slightly chillier weather for a couple of days ahead. Still, no wonder the Italian-American Earth wisdom and rule of thumb has it that one never plants the tomatoes until Mother's Day.
You can't fool Mother Nature.
You can't fool Mother Nature.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Are You a "Dog" Person or a "Cat" Person?
Are there differences between "Dog People" and "Cat People"? Eric Barker of Barking Up the Wrong Tree assembles some research that suggests that in fact is the case:
"Forty-six percent of respondents described themselves as dog people, while 12 percent said they were cat people. Almost 28 percent said they were both and 15 percent said they were neither.
-Dog people were generally about 15 percent more extraverted, 13 percent more agreeable and 11 percent more conscientious than cat people.
-Cat people were generally about 12 percent more neurotic and 11 percent more open than dog people."
More at Barking Up the Wrong Tree
"Forty-six percent of respondents described themselves as dog people, while 12 percent said they were cat people. Almost 28 percent said they were both and 15 percent said they were neither.
-Dog people were generally about 15 percent more extraverted, 13 percent more agreeable and 11 percent more conscientious than cat people.
-Cat people were generally about 12 percent more neurotic and 11 percent more open than dog people."
More at Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Tales from the Outer Circle: 'The Night The GOP Got Soul'
Non-commercial, marginalized blogger that I am, I wistfully admire the cool professional work done every day by professional journalists, particularly those who cover the New York City political scene. And, as they work hard, this fortunate group also enjoy the opportunity to play hard, as members of the Inner Circle, an organization of NYC reporters and journalists, that annually puts on a black tie event, the Inner Circle Dinner, at which they trenchantly satirize the City of New York powers that be, and are answered, in kind, in a theatrical performance by the Mayor and his (and no doubt some day, her) own inner government circle of advisors and minions. Although I have never attended, I am always fascinated to learn about this event. This year, I was pleased to learn that veteran NYC political reporter Dominic Carter---who had, through a series of unfortunate personal and legal issues, experienced a fall from grace, but who apparently has now resolved/recovered/re-emerged, and is back on the NYC scene as a reporter for RNN-TV and newsblogs---will appear in this year's Inner Circle show, "Pre-Occupied", performing as former GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain.
This reminded me that earlier this year, dreaming of the Inner Circle from my Outer Circle Perch, I had written a little IC-style parody about the rise and fall of Herman Cain, based on the classic tune by The Band, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Clearly, while my ditty no doubt pales in comparison to whatever Mr. Carter and his colleagues will perform, I felt I may as well lay my own Humble Effort out there on DITHOB for posterity. Remember, folks, it is a parody laced with satire that has stepped in doggerel, but here it goes:
THE NIGHT THE GOP GOT SOUL
(To the tune of "Night the Drove Ol Dixie Down" with apologies to Herman Cain, an admittedly ambitious and interesting GOP candidate, and, of course, Jaime Robbie Robertson...)
Herman Cain is the name and I’m running for Pres-i-dent
Til Bimbo eruptions threatened/to scuttle my whole campaign
Just a year on the campaign trail, Palin’s out, and Perry’s short-term memory had just a-gone to hell,
By New Year’s Day, Bachmann too had fell, it was a time, I remember oh so well…
(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.
Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day in ‘08 she called to me,
“Herman, quick, come see, there’s a Negro president on the Tee-vee!"
Now I don't mind the fast food game, and I don't care if bimbo’s try to smear my name.
The White House’s tried the rest, now it’s time to try the best,
I say, Time to send Barack home to Chi-town for a resssssst!
(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.
Like Silent Cal before me, I will stump the land,
And tell of Solyndra and Obama-care, which my Tea Party crackers just can’t stand.
Sure, Obama’s Ivy League, proud and brave, but Godfather’s Pizza’s the flag I proudly wave,
(Big Finish:) Like the cheese below my feet that does oooze ,
I'm Herman Cain! and my candidacy's one offer you simply can’t refu-u-u--u-se!…
(Chorus and fade)
--Anthony Napoli
This reminded me that earlier this year, dreaming of the Inner Circle from my Outer Circle Perch, I had written a little IC-style parody about the rise and fall of Herman Cain, based on the classic tune by The Band, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Clearly, while my ditty no doubt pales in comparison to whatever Mr. Carter and his colleagues will perform, I felt I may as well lay my own Humble Effort out there on DITHOB for posterity. Remember, folks, it is a parody laced with satire that has stepped in doggerel, but here it goes:
THE NIGHT THE GOP GOT SOUL
(To the tune of "Night the Drove Ol Dixie Down" with apologies to Herman Cain, an admittedly ambitious and interesting GOP candidate, and, of course, Jaime Robbie Robertson...)
Herman Cain is the name and I’m running for Pres-i-dent
Til Bimbo eruptions threatened/to scuttle my whole campaign
Just a year on the campaign trail, Palin’s out, and Perry’s short-term memory had just a-gone to hell,
By New Year’s Day, Bachmann too had fell, it was a time, I remember oh so well…
(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.
Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day in ‘08 she called to me,
“Herman, quick, come see, there’s a Negro president on the Tee-vee!"
Now I don't mind the fast food game, and I don't care if bimbo’s try to smear my name.
The White House’s tried the rest, now it’s time to try the best,
I say, Time to send Barack home to Chi-town for a resssssst!
(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.
Like Silent Cal before me, I will stump the land,
And tell of Solyndra and Obama-care, which my Tea Party crackers just can’t stand.
Sure, Obama’s Ivy League, proud and brave, but Godfather’s Pizza’s the flag I proudly wave,
(Big Finish:) Like the cheese below my feet that does oooze ,
I'm Herman Cain! and my candidacy's one offer you simply can’t refu-u-u--u-se!…
(Chorus and fade)
--Anthony Napoli
2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars
2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars Mentor of the Year Curtis Sliwa
Christina Moore, Miss Brooklyn 2011, received the Rookie of the Year award. Among the notable rising stars, City Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams; Justin Brannan, legislative and communications director for Citycouncilmember Vincent Gentile; Renee Altomonte, vice president and retail market manager, TD Bank; Rachel Amar, community relations manager, Waste Management; ; Warren Chan, president, Asian Community United Society; Christian Charvet, sales manager, Sovereign Motor Cars, Ltd-Mercedes-Benz; Ryan Condren, managing director- leasing, CPEX Real Estate; Julia Dawson and Carey Balogh, co-founders/owners, Frolic Playspace; Tina Roth Eisenberg; founder, Tattly; Michael Esposito, owner, Cebu Restaurant; Charles Fabbella, associate broker/partner, Ben Bay Realty Co. of Bay Ridge., LLC; Gabriela Falquez, licensed real estate broker, Rapid Realty NYC: Cynthia J. Felix, deputy network leader, CFN 612, New York City Department of Education; Father Michael Louis Gelfant, pastor, St. Finbar Roman Catholic Church; Aisha Browne Glover, vice president of external affairs, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation; Pamela Golkin, board member, Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation/music teacher, The Child Legacy School; Dr. Jared Hoffman, owner, Keller Chiropractic of Williamsburg; Jamie Johnson, regional director of golf events and fundraising, American Golf Corporation; Mehmet Kilic, vice president, Turkish Cultural Center; Renata Landskind, attorney and partner, Connors & Sullivan Attorneys at Law; Joe LaSpina, vice president, Maple Family Centers; Erin Leigh, Manager of Inside Sales, NETS Basketball; Jonathan Levin, president, Cardinal Trade Group; Kevin Mahoney, assistant GM, Brooklyn Cyclones; Dr. Jennifer Kulp Makarov, reproductive endocrinologist, Genesis Fertility; Dr. George Malayil, retina specialist, ophthalmology, Preferred Health Partners; Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis; Robert Manse, designer and president, Robert Manse Designs; Kevin “Kato” McKessey, senior, vice chairperson of senior college affairs, CUNY Student Senate; David Meade, executive director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation; Daryl Meyers, development agent, Subway Development of Brooklyn; Eileen Mora, director, Fort Hamilton Child Development Center; Frank Morizio, Jr., financial advisor, MetLife; Jeanette Nigro, vice president, economic development, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Phil Penta, Jr. co-owner, 3 Guys from Brooklyn; John Quaglione, deputy chief of staff and press secretary for State Senator Marty Golden; Amanda Quiñones, AVP Branch Manager, Flushing Bank; Linda Sarsour, executive director, Arab American Association of NY; Arthur M. Shtaynberg, Esq., CEO, LicensePro, LLC; and Daniel Woods, associate director transaction services, Grubb & Ellis Company.
Two local not-for-profit organizations -- the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation -- were beneficiaries of a raffle held at the event.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday Morning: Ventura Highway
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
SPRING 2012
Although the word equinox is often understood to mean "equal [day and] night", this is not strictly true. For most locations on earth, there are two distinct identifiable days per year when the length of day and night are closest to being equal; those days are referred to as the "equiluxes" to distinguish them from the equinoxes. Equinoxes are points in time, but equiluxes are days. By convention, equiluxes are the days where sunrise and sunset are closest to being exactly 12 hours apart. More here
A Baby Running Barefoot
By DH Lawrence
When the bare feet of the baby beat across the grass
The little white feet nod like white flowers in the wind,
They poise and run like ripples lapping across the water;
And the sight of their white play among the grass
Is like a little robin’s song, winsome,
Or as two white butterflies settle in the cup of one flower.
For a moment, then away with a flutter of wings.
I long for the baby to wander hither to me
Like a wind-shadow wandering over the water,
So that she can stand on my knee
With her little bare feet in my hands,
Cool like syringa buds,
Firm and silken like pink young peony flowers.
And, just in time for spring, this photo below provided by the Kroeller Mueller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, shows a painting entitled "Still life with meadow flowers and roses" by Vincent van Gogh. The Kroeller Mueller Museum says new X-ray research has finally put beyond doubt that "Still life with meadow flowers and roses" really is by Van Gogh. It has also uncovered in greater detail an art school study by Van Gogh of two wrestlers concealed on the same canvas and invisible to the naked eye
Thursday, March 15, 2012
After the Event Horizon: Falling Through a Black Hole
The New Scientist offers a unique view into astrophysics, showing what an epic journey through a tunnel in space-time might look like, thanks to an animation by astrophysicist Andrew Hamilton from University of Colorado at Boulder.
From approaching the event horizon, falling through the black hole, to the white hole, to seeing the flash of the entire history of the universe (new and old), it envisions quite a trip.
The animation appears above. The full article appears here
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
CODA: Notes on Jovanotti at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Photo by Rami Moghadam (c) 2012
Lorenzo Cherubini, better known as Italian singer-songwriter and rapper Jovanotti, performing Monday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Tonight at Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan.
Rami Moghadam sent these notes on the show:
- it was my first time at williamsburg music hall
-unlike opening act diego garcia, who declared his love for manhattan (over and over), jovanotti knew brooklyn is where it's currently at,kept firing on the crowd with shouts of "Brooklyn!"
- jovanotti was in a super stylish outfit, black hat red shirt white tie, with sparkling Michael Jackson-like shoes that lit up the crowd with every mid-air kick of his
- it was a very high-energy show, he danced almost non-stop with hardly a rest in between sets
- nice mix of a crowd, a good number of italians, both young and older
- italians responded with cheers to jovanotti's prompts (in italian), knew words, sang along, especially to old hits
- when they started playing the mid-90s hits, that's when the show really hit a higher gear
(even though it was pretty high already!)
- crowd went wild for biggest hits from that decade, such as L'Ombelico del Mondo,
Piove, and Serenata Rap. it seemed like everyone in the building, italian-speaker or not,
knew the words to the song Serenata Rap and sang at the top of their lungs
- he has a very eclectic mix of music influences, i only remember first album
from the mid nineties, nice to see his evolution as a musician.
- rapped in italian and english, sprinkled in some hip hop classics from the Beastie Boys and Sugar Hill Gang
- very fun, energetic show that brought back some nice memories and was a reminder that jovanotti is an important representative of not only Italian but World music
--Rami Moghadam
"Born in 1966, Jovanotti, made his debut at the age of twenty for Radio Deejay, under the aegis of Claudio Cecchetto. The renowned "Il Grande Boh!" was not in fact his debut as a writer as "Yo, brothers and sisters" had already launched him into the literary world. But his real passion was music, and this is where he has undergone his greatest personal and professional growth. His albums, without considering a number of singles associated with specific events (such as Cuore written to commemorate the tragic death of Giovanni Falcone), are the milestones of a complex musical journey that over the years has explored more and more genres and influences. Jovanotti has intensified his tours and collaborations and has performed with internationally renowned artists (Pino Daniele, Luca Carboni, Luciano Pavarotti)."
The artist's official site here
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Armory Show: The Really Big Show
The Armory Show at the piers is indeed the really big show and this weekend, truly the only show in town. Art from around the world. Art modern-20th century and earlier. Art contemporary- 21st century through today.Piers 92 and 94. In it's fourteenth year. Galleries display modern classics and works of artists who are on the verge of a breakthrough. See you there. For more information and tickets visit http://www.thearmoryshow.com
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