Give Blood, Get Citi Field Tickets

I just got a postcard inviting me to donate blood and receive of a pair of Mets tickets in the process. I did this last year, and it went very smoothly.

This year it seems even more relevant, considering the injuries and anemic playing affecting the Mets!

The details:

Donation on Thursday, July 23, 2009
10:00am through 5:00pm
Citi Field First Base VIP Entrance
Flushing, NY

People can donate as along as they meet the standard requirements. For instance, you must be between 16 and 76 (and have written consent if you're 16 and a doctor's note if you're 75 or older). Your weight must be at least 110 lbs. You should bring your ID to the event. You should eat and drink before donating, and (sorry, hipsters!) you must not have tattoos or piercings less than a year old.

You can call 1-800-688-0900 for eligibility requirements.

Photo: David Marc Fischer

Walter Cronkite (1916-2009)

Icon of television journalism Walter Cronkite is dead. Katie Couric just hosted a brief tribute to him on CBS, which plans to report extensively on Cronkite's career over the days ahead.



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Charles Trenet Performing "La Mer"

Song Referenced in Lost



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Michael Bloomberg's Idea of a Mayoral Campaign

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While Dan Radosh Was Away...

...Deborah Grumet and I were among those who acted as "guest bloggers."

Once again, we worked on Family Circus panels: here and here and here.

And Deborah contributed excellent solo efforts here and here and here. Check 'em out!

Cartoon Caption/Anti-Caption Contest Continues!

The winner of Caption Contest 196 (lab professionals observing rodents attired like lab professionals)—the first caption contest with a nominee from Canada—is

"O.K., let's slowly lower in the grant money.”
Todd Bearson (Arlington, MA)

As noticed previously, this wasn't far from my own

"We've been using the Nobel Prize instead of cheese."

Anyway, Massachusetts now has 10 wins, tying it with Illinois.


The nominees in Caption Contest 198 (P. C. Vey's men driving car with bound man on roof) are

"The instructions should have mentioned that you need a body of water."
Peter Bleyleben (Chestnut Hill, MA)

"That’s smart, Eddie. The first place cops look is in the trunk.”
David Wilkner (Pawtucket, RI)

"What do you mean you don't remember? Either he sleeps with the fishes or he don't."
Tim Wibert (Okemos, MI)

My loser:

"Let's see if you can switch lanes without any jerky motions."

As far as I can tell, this is the second nomination for Contest 99 winner David Wilkner.


Cartoon Caption Contest 200 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 200 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all (almost) mapped out here.

33 New York (28 from the Big Apple, where Lynn Tudor has won twice)

32 California

14 New Jersey

12 Virginia (six from NOVA, two from Richmond, one from Charlottesville, one from Newport News, one from Roanoke, one from Stanardsville)

10 Illinois (eight from Chicago including three captions by Lawrence Wood)
10 Massachusetts

7 North Carolina (two from Charlotte)

6 Connecticut (two from New Haven, four not)
6 Pennsylvania
6 Texas (three from Houston, one from Austin)

5 Maryland (none named Mary)

4 Arizona (two from Tucson)
4 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
4 Ohio
4 Washington

3 Michigan
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 Rhode Island

2 Alaska
2 District of Columbia
2 Florida
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 Nevada (Las Vegas 1, Zephyr Cove 1)
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Arkansas
1 Delaware
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Louisiana (New Orleans)
1 Maine
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Wisconsin

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Parodic The Gothamer illustration realized by Deborah Grumet from concept by David Marc Fischer

"No Sail" (1945)

In Which Donald Duck Grows Beak Hair



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Free Outdoor Screening: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

The Original!

I can't enthuse enough over the original Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

I love the suspenseful plot, I love the Peter Stone screenplay, I love the gritty New York City feel, I love the David Shire score, and I love the cast, which includes Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo, James Broderick, Tony Roberts, Doris Roberts, Jerry Stiller, and Lee Wallace as The Mayor. This had to have inspired Tarantino—I mean, really inspired him.

It's showing Monday night, July 13, at 8pm at the Elevated Acre, which has been one of the better, more "civilized," venues for outdoor summer screenings in the city.

And look at what's coming up: West Side Story (July 20) and The Sweet Smell of Success (July 27). Excellent!



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