The 60s had Pop Art and Op Art. The 70s gave us Graffiti. What new artistic breakthrough do we get in the ‘Oughts? Legos. And lots of ‘em.

These plastic bricks from Denmark are the bane of every parent’s existence. There is nothing worse than stepping on them in the dark at 3AM on your way to the loo. Modern artists, though, have come up with some nifty ideas which may want to make you rethink throwing them all out.

The first quarter of the advertising year is often slow. The struggling economy has crippled the advertising business. This Perfect Storm has left the networks with a glut of empty ad slots. The winner? Direct response advertising and us, the viewer.

No doubt you’ve seen these ads. The bearded guy yelling at you because you NEED his OxyClean. (Oh yes, and he now has a web page that comes with porn!) The ShamWow and the Ped Egg (so ingenius, you can scrape your feet at the kitchen table!). Direct Response advertisers buy time at rock-bottom rates. In return, there are no guarantees when, or if, the spots will air. While they used to be relegated to the late, late, late show, Direct Response ads are now finding a home in prime time. You’ll see them pop up during the Keith Olberman show.

I have no reason for posting other than to show you all this picture of a just-born puppy.

He will grow up to be an Italian Sheepdog. He will be herding sheep, though, and not Italians.

I admit it. I

We

1. I lived in Los Angeles for a year and a half. I lived in London for 4 years. New York City is the only place that is really, truly and sincerely “home”.

2. I spent a fair part of my misspent youth as the girlfriend of an illiterate biker/motorhead.

3. The first concert I ever saw was The Who at Madison Square Garden, June 13, 1974. Section A, Row 18. Keith Moon was still alive.
(Was he ever!!)

4. I don’t like other people’s children. Mostly, I just don’t know what to say to them.

5. I never thought I was smart until I was in my mid 30s.

1. I lived in Los Angeles for a year and a half. I lived in London for 4 years. New York City is the only place that is really, truly and sincerely

One of these men shot his friend in the face. One of these men made a fortune through war. One of these men sends shivers of fear through the hearts of many with his mere presence.

The other man is Lionel Barrymore, in his role as the evil Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

So they’re not all that unusual, these things called “Bird Strikes“. In fact, the FAA keeps a “Bird Strike Database” to keep track of just such things.

According to the facts, ours was pretty typical. Bird strikes happen most often during take off or landing, or during low altitude flight. The majority of bird collisions “occur near or on airports (90%, according to the ICAO) during takeoff, landing and associated phases.”

According to Wikipedia, “The greatest loss of life directly linked to a bird strike was on October 4, 1960, when Eastern Air Lines Flight 375, a Lockheed L-188 Electra flying from Boston, flew through a flock of common starlings during take off, damaging all four engines. The plane crashed shortly after take-off into Boston harbor, with 62 fatalities. Subsequently, minimum bird ingestion standards for jet engines were developed by the FAA.”

Now there’s something to think about – minimum bird ingestion standards. Who knew?

George “Dubya” Bush will apologize to the nation give his farewell speech tonight on national television. What channel? All of them, I guess, except Cartoon Network, which would have been most appropriate.

The speech, which is expected to run 10 – 15 minutes, is a ritual that dates back to George Washington. Hopefully, it will not pre-empt the new episode of “CSI”, in which Gil Grissom will also give a farewell speech.

As a salute to the spirit of Dubya – drink heavily. You won’t have old George to kick around anymore. Finally.

No one got hurt, and the geese are now, presumably, dead.

This US Air Jet crashed into the Hudson River in NYC 5 minutes after takeoff. The jet collided with a large flock of geese, which killed both engines, but fortunately, no people. It’s terrifying because it’s FUCKING FREEZING outside, and a no day to take a swim in the Hudson (is any day, really?).

The plane crashed right near the Intrepid and was met by a surprising number of ferries, water taxis, and rescue boats.

A friend who works nearby told me he actually HEARD the geese flying overhead, and their deafening cackles.