boo hoo

I am devestated. Pluto is no longer a planet. The nerve! It's awful. Now I suppose they will make violet a non color. "ROYGBIV" remember?

wow! You've got to read it!

The New York Times Magazine has the most brilliant and clear analysis of the Lebanese situation that I have ever read. It's written by Michael Young, August 13 issue. I had never understand the myriad intricacies of this poor place before. You've got to read it! Sadly, it does not end well, but I at least know why.

I'm mad as hell!

I don't know about you guys, but this new terrorism plot discovered in London has made me really angry. Our lives will never be the same because these madmen are controlling everything by their actions and their threats! My little nephews and all the children of tomorrow face this as a constant in their lives. Now perhaps people will understand why Israel has to illiminate all Hezbollah. The odds of them doing it and of us eliminating everyone who hates us are...yeah...slim and none. But it makes me feel better to try. I don't give a damn about the "root causes" and the "disrespect" they feel which entitles them to plot and kill innocent people. So if depression is 'anger turned inwards'...I won't be depressed anymore!!

mel gibson

Mel, I am Jewish. I do not want your apology. I just want you to go away. Your antics over the years have always been a trifle scary, a little sad, and now have gone over the line. Your fanaticism (ie. starting your own church) should have been the final tip off. I don't know what the original problem was...one can only assume it comes from having a Holocaust denier for a father...or maybe being short...or some other deep dark personal sexual secret that requires you to self destruct in guilt...but I don't want to spend any more time hearing about it. Bye bye Mel...bye bye.

I am alive!

So sorry for not writing the past few weeks...but I've been in Aspen enjoying it so much I couldn't stop! The intellectual atmosphere, the music , the dance...I will be publishing the daily diary in my column on Newyorksocialdiary.com starting next Friday. But now it's time to go home...catch you in New York. SS

Good news!!

Well, after the Fourth of July I was feeling a bit sad about the state of things here and then I found hope! I'm at The Aspen Institute for the Ideas Festival and one of the speakers was Supreme Court Justice Breyer. His talk was a marvelous experience,filled with humor, wit, awareness and intelligence. Afterwards, I got to talk to him and told him that he renewed my hope in that I realized that the Justices (well, some of them) are really aware of us...what we are feeling and thinking. They are not in some Ivory Tower, and with justices like him, we are in good hands!

It's all about ME!

Today's New York Sun has a really nice profile of me. It's called The Lunch Profile and I gave an interview to Pranay Gupte who writes the column. The photo on the net page is good but the original in the printed paper makes me look like a pregnant orange! There goes my social life!

feed her!

The vicious and obviously starving Ann Colter has done it again. Her remarks about the wives of victims of 9/11 are so out of bounds it is shocking...even for her. And then, her response to the response about her remarks..."well they were campaiging for John Kerry?" Since when is expressing a political opinion not allowed and then a reason for slander? Feed her already and maybe she will go away.

spelink bee

i just watched the national spelling bee. wow..these kids are good! hard not to notice the preponderence of Indian/Pakistani kids. The education ethic is strong in some cultures...wish it were in ours!

kudos to oprah

oprah really did a great thing this week. she sponsored an essay contest for high schoolers to read elie wiesel's "night" and then write about its relevance today. It was thrilling to see these bright kids who won...the top 50 out of 50,000! And the ripple effect of their lives on future generations will be wonderful.

silly... but

Ok i know it's silly in the big picture, but those of us who watch American Idol know what I'm talking about. Please people..vote for Taylor not Kathrine! He is a true original and a refereshingly gracious young guy as witnessed by his reaction to his home town visit. She is a spoiled brat and a spotty singer...sometimes great, sometimes terrible. It's up to you..and me. Now that elliot is gone I will switch my numerous votes. Try redial.
And the secret is to vote five minutes before the end when they tell you to. It works.

whew

I don't know about you but I am sick of bad news, whether it's international or national. I just want to hear one good thing! Maybe my favorite, Elliot, will win on American Idol. Or maybe politicians will all just go home and stay there.

I'm shocked

I just am amazed that the recent lobby flap included hookers! I'm just shocked I tell you shocked!NOT!

yup

Just as I said last week, it looks like the idea of a third party in politics is catching on. A poll reported by CNN said 45% of Americans would like to see a third party created. All we need now is the right candidate and we can do it, people!! Any suggestions?

gas attack

I just love that our Congresspeople of both parties are tripping over themselves to fix the gas gouging situation. Too little too late. But the truth is that the oilmen in the Administration got way too greedy. Let's remember this is in November please.

who?

The unfortunate incident of the protester actually getting into the press group at the White House makes one wonder about security doesn't it? President Hu of China and our Prez could have been in danger it seems. Or do conspiracy theorists have it right that it was "allowed?" I honestly don't know the answer.

third party

This week's New York Magazine had articles about the possibility of a third political party. Though Ross Perot was the wrong messenger he did well, the point being that many people would support the right one. I, unfortunately, cannot think of anyone who would fit the bill however. Let's hope he/she emerges...and soon!

fool me once...etc.

Tonight on the news it said that Michael Brown ex FEMA fuckup is being considered to be a "consultant" to a Parish in Louisiana which had been destroyed in Katrina. He would be working on reconstruction. People....!!!!!

old news is good news

Today I discovered a wonderful way to stop being depressed after reading the newspaper. Lately the news is so awful that I sometimes don't read the paper in the morning...lest it ruin my day. I do read it at night as I am a bit of a political junkie. But the other day I put the paper away and found it two days later. I couldn't throw it away in case I'd miss something of value, but somehow it didn't have the impact it would have on the day "of." Now so much else has happened that the old bad news seems almost...well if not good news, at least able to be handled. Wierd, huh? Try it and tell me if you agree.

we all feel so safe

Today, a Deputy Director of Homeland Security was arrested for soliciting sex from a fourteen year old girl he "met" on the Internet. When others heard about it, they were quoted as saying he was "such a nice guy" and a "devoted Uncle." I'll bet! He used a photo of himself with his badge as a "way to impress the girl." Right...no adult would be impressed with that as a credential. Yuck.