8/31/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Despite being arrested, Michael of www.satanslaundromat.com managed to publish his usual excellent photos, these being of the convention. Read the entry from a day or two ago about his arrest.

8/30/2004

Mickey writes: What kind of oatmeal did you NOT eat?
Plans are to wake up, put on clothes, go to work.

T-shirt spotting of the day: In midtown Manhattan, worn by an anti-RNC protestor, "Asses of Evil."

8/28/2004

Some sad '80s news:

Laura Branigan, a Grammy-nominated pop singer best known for her 1982 platinum hit "Gloria," has died. She was 47.
Branigan died of a brain anuerysm Thursday in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, said her brother Mark Branigan. He said she had complained to a friend of a headache for about two weeks before she died, but had not sought medical attention.
Here's a report on stuff I did Friday.
Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work. Didn't eat oatmeal.

8/27/2004

Will soon wake up, put on clothes, and go to work.

Links to some hot topics: 1. There's a hurricane way south of us. 2. A woman has accused William Kennedy Smith of rape again. 3. It's Friday!

8/26/2004

Woke up, put clothes on, went to work.

8/25/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work, ate oatmeal.

I hate August. It's boring and reeks of golden days about to end. Not a good month for all the shrinks to be away. But in eight days the month will be over, and it will feel like back to school (even if it isn't really).

8/24/2004

Mickey writes: Good reporting involves more than this. Small details such as hot or cold, flavor and consistency add to the story and keep the attention of the reader. Take the story to the next level. Explain to the reader how the facts affect him or her. It requires a deeper look into the ramifications of such action upon society.

In other news... I got a lovely e-mail entitled "Your wonderful book" from a Pittsburghian, regarding my first novel. Thanks sooo much. It was sweet!

Some kids just came in to tour the newspaper. One precocious girl took delight in asking me questions that had nothing to do with newspapers:

GIRL: Do you like pizza?
ME: Yes.
GIRL: Do you like Care Bears?
ME: Uh...yes.
KIDS: Yay!
GIRL: Who would you rather have for president: Bill Cosby or Eddie Murphy?
The reaction has been overwhelming to the addition of oatmeal to my day!

Chris C. writes: What flavor?

I had bananas and cream, Chris.

D.B. writes: How many packets?

Two.
Woke up, put on clothes, went to work, ate oatmeal.

8/23/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Sometimes I eat oatmeal, also.

8/22/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

8/21/2004

THANK YOU.

The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. Aug. 20, 2004 — A judge on Friday ordered a psychiatric evaluation for a doctor who told reporters he had an affair with the former aide accusing Gov. James E. McGreevey of sexual harassment...
The mental evaluation was ordered after Assistant Prosecutor Judy Gagliano listed a series of what she called "bizarre" statements attributed to Miller, including that he was a CIA operative and that a tenant has al-Qaida ties and would blow up public buildings, including the courthouse where the hearing took place.
Miller, who was arrested at his home in Livingston, remained in custody on $500,000 bail...
Authorities started investigating Miller after he made threats beginning Aug. 12 that increasingly raised concern, acting Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow said.
"Our charges are not related to Golan Cipel," Dow said, "and we're not focused on that." Authorities noted that the investigation started before Miller made his statements about Cipel.
When asked how much general credibility Miller possessed, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said, "zero."

Now let's find out if he's still practicing medicine. The reason he left his wife and kids years ago is probably not because he is gay. He probably is not even gay. And quite possibly, Golan Cipel isn't either.
Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

I did do some work today. I went to a "pug party" to take photos and write about the pugs. I will link to the article when it comes out.

It has been thundering; perfect writing weather.

8/20/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Now the Associated Press has quoted the Post and Daily News as quoting the doctor who claimed to have an affair w/Golan Cipel. They didn't note that the guy claimed to be a CIA operative and raved in three languages during his half-naked press conference. O the hysteria.

8/19/2004

The Village Voice just HAD to use this photo from Getty Images...go to the column all the way on the right, eight down, page 4.
The New York Post has outdone itself this time.

Their cover story is about an N.J. doctor claiming he had an affair with Golan Cipel. It’s only at the seventh or eighth paragraph that it notes that the guy was raving in three languages during his press conference. He also was wearing only shorts.
The Daily News, on the other hand, did not put this story on the cover. And close to the top of the Daily News article, they note, “Miller also claimed to reporters that he is a CIA operative who takes pills doled out by the intelligence agency to make his skin darker so he can infiltrate unnamed groups. He offered no mementos, letters or photos as proof of his relationship with Cipel.”
You have to question why a guy would hold a press conference to say he was someone’s gay lover, anyway. The Post should have at least put the press conference in the context of the guy being a raving “CIA operative.” But they’re not exactly known for quality journalism.
Whaaaat's next?

8/18/2004

Woke up, put clothes on, went to work.

8/17/2004

Woke up, put clothes on, went to work.

Dems want the gov'nor to resign early. He's saying no.

They were talking about the beach rumor on the radio this morning.

8/16/2004

McGreevey rumor about the beach put to rest?
Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

(Okay - that announcement was pre-recorded.)

Several people have found this page by looking for McGreevey jokes and talk. The last few days' entries have had some. By the way, read my books. (Shameless.)

This is way fun to go to if you're in NY: Punkmetalkaraoke.com.

T-shirts spotted this weekend:
(1) On a girl: "No one knows I'm a Lesbian"
(2) On a different girl: "MY bush could do a better job as President"

I'm glad that instead of people making jokes about NJ being corrupt or ugly, they're doing gay jokes. It's a nice relief.

8/15/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

Another major writing weekend. I want to get my book done by the end of October.

McGreevey joke of the day: "There were suspicious about McGreevey before. When they were trying to choose the state song, everyone else wanted 'Born to Run,' and he wanted 'Mandy.'"

Non sequitur of the day from a conversation with my dad:

DAD: What are you doing this weekend?
ME: Mostly working on my novel.
DAD: Well, if you decide to get an SUV, there's a lot of money off.

He also kept telling me different things that happened on the Ali G show and kept saying, in the middle, "It's funny," which actually was funnier than whatever he was saying about Ali G, which wasn't that funny. Despite people continuing to try to convince me that it's funny. But someday, I probably will see it, and I probably will think it's funny.

8/14/2004

I got an e-mail forward. Here's an excerpt

Top 10 McGreevey jokes

10. The New Jersey state bird: swallow.
8. New Jersey raises terror alert level to lavender.
7. We know he didn't like Bush, but this is ridiculous.
5. What do McGreevey and the Israeli Navy have in common?
Jewish seaman.

Don't ask about the others.


One of the biggest McGreevey rumors went around two years ago. This is it, quoted from the Morris Daily Record of NJ (in a column yesterday): "When he broke his leg walking along the beach in Cape May shortly after being elected, the official line was that the governor was with his wife, Dina. Insiders told a more intriguing story. They said the governor was romping on the beach with another man, not his wife. Dina, the rumors said, had to be transported to the scene by helicopter."
Hours from now, I will wake up, put on clothes, and not go to work.

This storm will be pretty weak after traveling on land to get to us. It might still be a nice break from the heat, though. There are two more stirring behind it.

It's pretty early. Our fiercest ones come in early September. Beware!

8/13/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

My main page has been getting a lot of hits for the last few days. I don't know if people are clicking on it to link to the hurricane maps, or what. I don't see anyone new linking to it, that I can tell. If you know, let me know.

8/12/2004

Mickey asks:And also why is the emphasis on “consentual” affair? Aren’t all affairs consentual?
People are saying McGreevey is "courageous" for coming out of the closet. McGreevey said his affair was wrong.

NO, that's not what was wrong.

He met a 31-year-old Israeli tour guide in 2000 when he was mayor, and then when he became governor, said tour guide was apparently flown to America at the expense of the Democratic party. McGreevey hired the guy in 2002 to be the state's Homeland Security advisor at a salary of $110,000 per year.

In a state that had seen about 700 people die from the terrorist attacks next door just the year before.

He hired a guy whose only experience was having been in the Israeli Army. Which you are required to be in if you are Israeli.

And that guy is being mentioned in the press as the one who is expected to file a sexual harassment suit against McGreevey.

Don't put an entire state at risk to give your "friend" a job.

If that's what happened, then what's wrong.

I'll bet the spin on this story will look very different in a few days.




Rumors say there was a lawsuit threatened by the other man, which prompted this.
NJ Gov. McGreevey just announced, "I am a gay American...and I indulged in an adult consentual affair." He said his wife has been wonderful through the ordeal. (They have a kid, too). Wow. So, that's the news. This should provoke a lot of discussion, eh?
Our gov is resigning at 4, according to informed sources. I shall say no more. But there's more...
I hate when our state is the butt of jokes.
PS It's happening in New Jersey.
PPS It's hot!
I have hot political gossip that Drudge doesn't have. But it might not be true. So I can't say anything. Damn! Well, something hot might happen today. Hot!
As Dave pointed out, Matt Drudge is trying to steal my 'thunder.'
Woke up, put on clothes, went to work. Possible unrelated news coming later. I will link to it. See below.

8/11/2004

Dawn gets interviewed on Gawker. How 'bout that.
Minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. If full-time work is 40 hours a week, that is about $10,700 per year.

$10,700 per year.

I started at my newspaper job at $17,000 a year. I earn more than that now, obviously, and what I earn - in my mind - is a decent salary. I don't have high expenses, I don't eat out all week, and until two years ago, I had a roommate.

But when I tell people what newspaper salaries are, they look at me in disbelief. "How can anyone ever LIVE on that?" ask these people.

Their comments are pretty obnoxious, because they're basically trying to make me feel bad about something I didn't feel bad about.

There are a lot of spoiled brats in the New York area. Many of them consider $30,000 to $40,000 - for example - a low wage. I consider those very high. They are certainly $20,000 higher than minimum wage.

The other day I got a really stupid poem forwarded to me via e-mail about how people on Welfare sit around and collect cash. Pul-eeze. Not only do the fortunate among us not have any idea what it means to be REALLY poor (and $30k a year is NOT poor!!) - they could never survive on public assistance (and that's all it is meant for - minimum survival.) If you are someone who considers $40,000 a poverty wage, then boy, you are in for a rude awakening if you ever REALLY fall into poverty.

And by the way, yes, I understand that this is the New York area, and to live in New York you have to pay high rent. But there is no reason that a single person anywhere should consider $30,000 or $40,000 a poverty wage.
Woke up, put clothes on, went to work.

8/10/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

8/09/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

I read some old blog entries and realized this blog was funnier when the only thing I wrote was "woke up, put on clothes, went to work." I think I'll go back to that.

8/08/2004

Okay, the poop (shi-poopie) on the chick-lit contest is that those really ARE the prizes. But the idea is that you get feedback from an editor and agent if you do well, and perhaps they will request more of your manuscript. If this interests you, click here.

Can you imagine if Cole Porter and Dorothy Parker had a baby?

I can't, because they're both DEAD.
Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

I found out about a chick lit novel-writing contest that I was going to share with y'all here. Then I saw that first prize is $40, and it costs $35 to enter. I am currently trying to find out if this is a cruel joke. I will let you know when I know.

8/07/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work...on a book. I can't work on books for an hour here, an hour there, which is why I don't write before or after work. I need hours of silence at a time.

I got my 50th Amazon review of Carrie Pilby, which is very nice.

I'm seeing school supplies back in the stores. It's that time.

8/06/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

It's cold out. Happy fall!

8/05/2004

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

8/04/2004

Don't hold back...tell us what you really think.

This week's New Yorker starts with a paragraph from editor David Remick:

"There's a case to be made that it hardly matters how eloquent or effective John kerry was at the Democratic National Convention last week. What matters infinitely more is that George W. Bush is the worst president the country has endured since Richard Nixon, and even mediocrity would be an improvement."

In other New Yorker news...

There is an article on Munchausen by Proxy syndrome, which I couldn't read because it completely grosses me out. There are few things that are so gross that I can't read about them, but this actually makes my blood bite my skin.

Then there's the article on the "comedian" who is very religious and plays Christian events. One of his jokes is, "They should handle homeless people the old way. Give them an ax and a tree and say, 'There's your duplex.' " Well, I agree. It would be better than what a lot of them get now. This dumbass is too stupid to know that he just advocated a gov't handout. I'm glad he understands that sometimes 'handouts' can help get people out of a bad situation. I wonder if he also knows that Habitat for Humanity actually requires poor people who get the houses to put in 800 "sweat equity" hours per year, meaning they have to work on their house for like 18 hours a week for a year, even if they have a full-time job and raise kids beside that. A lot of them do most of it on the weekend. I wonder if this guy forgets the part of his religion that calls for him to love and help other people. And if you throw the "give a man a fish and he'll fish for a day" thing in my face, I wasn't differing - for those who are physically AND mentally able to do the work to get themselves out of their mess. But some can't mentally do the work.

Example: There's a homeless woman who hangs out in the Hoboken train station who is a good writer. I told her I'd pay her $50 to write an article on being homeless for my newspaper. She said she would. Then when I asked her for her SS#, she balked. She couldn't tell me why. Well, she was probably borderline paranoid. To someone who wants to put the homeless into little neat categories, they'd see her on the street and think she was perfectly fine and should be working.

I wonder if Jesus thinks it's funny to tell jokes about the homeless. This guy also says in the New Yorker that we're going to hell if we don't believe in Jesus. Well, where do people who only believe in Jesus when it fits their philosophy go?

Man, I hope Blogger accidentally erases this entry.
Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

8/03/2004

CLICK HERE ANY TIME FOR UPDATED HURRICANE INFO, MAPS, ETC.
It WAS too quiet. Now that 'tis the season, there's a baby brother following in Tropical Depression One/Alex's footsteps. This is Tropical Depression Two.



Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

The talented Sydney created a graphic on her blog today encouraging people to come play trivia tonight, as Sarah and I will host!

If I look sick, it may be because right now I'm drinking a store-bought smoothie that claims to include spirulina, "open cell chlorella," "barley grass," "green algae," "echinacea purpurea extract," and "lemon bioflavonoids." The open-cell thing has me a little edgy.

Men couldn't seem to resist commenting on "pig benis." Someone said it's "pig Latin." Very funny.

8/02/2004

Oh, so Tropical Storm Alex is going to become a hurricane and then veer east, out to sea, without hitting us, right? Can you make me a guarantee? I didn't think so.
Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Awww. Little Tropical Depression One has become a full-fledged Tropical Storm named Alex! The forecast is for it to brush the Carolinas and calmly move east, out to sea, but it could still bring rain or even veer closer to us up here in NYC. One never knows.

T-shirt of the week: Yesterday, some guys in Hoboken were selling t-shirts with goofy sayings. One of them had a pig on it and said, "Pig Benis."

8/01/2004

Was Kevin Spacey offered the role in KPAX only because of his last name?

Why did it take me a year to come up with this joke?
Dan writes: Personally, I would like to see Carrie’s proficiency with a flame thrower and rocket launcher, used with MIT-like precision against a race of military cyborgs threatening to take over the streets of Las Vegas.  I think that’s what’s missing from the chick-lit genre.  My $0.02.

A lurker writes:The Pilby sequel has just made my week!  Not only am i
thrilled for more Carrie, it will be released very close to my own college graduation date... Congrats and THANK YOU!

Mickey responds:Hot Damn!! I knew it!! Hello Barnes and Noble, yes I would like to order 100 copies of Adventures of Carrie in her latest exploit “Carrie Likes to eat Moo Shu Gai Pan”! And bye the way, do you folks sell Kleenex? I like to keep a box close at hand while reading, just in the event that I er, sneeze!

Men are such pigs...Anyway, thanks to all of you for the support of my writing habit.
Mickey writes: "This is wonderful. Is this the part where she discovers that even though she is not a fully committed lesbian, she learns that a girl can be her best friend? I have been waiting soooo long for this chapter!!! YES!!!"

I don't know. Buy 100 copies, and find out!
I promised a minor book-related announcement today, Aug. 1. So here it is:

I'm doing a Carrie Pilby sequel. It won't be full-length. It's going to be a novella, probably about 140-150 pages, and it'll go into a collection of three authors' novellas that Red Dress Ink will put out in time for the 2005 holidays, starting November, 2005. Mine will be the New Year's one, and other authors will contribute a Christmas and a Hannukah novella. I've come up with fun new Carrie Pilby stuff over the last year, and I couldn't resist writing it whenever I thought of it - so this isn't a case of them asking me and I decided to do it. I already had some interesting new exploits, but I wasn't sure if I'd have time to focus on a book. So this is a good way to find out what happened now that she's learned some lessons but is still geeky and pushing herself to get out. While this is still 14 months away, I'm happy about it.

If you want to read the original Carrie Pilby, click here. Amazon reports they currently have four copies left in stock - but more are on the way!

But that's not the only announcement... Yes, folks, it has begun. The next six or so weeks might bring hurricane hype. Right now, the aptly-named Tropical Depression One is sliding toward us from North Carolina, and might bring us some Dicey weather on Tuesday. Here's a map of its track. Keep watching. Hurricane season only comes along once a year!