The Odd Couple

Here's an excerpt from a show my Dad enjoyed. I recently noticed that it's airing in the wee hours....



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Literal Video: "Daydream Believer"

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Frank McCourt (1930-2009)

I'm pleased to see the many tributes to Frank McCourt that celebrate his contributions as a teacher as well as his more "glamorous" contributions as a writer.

Here's Daniel Radosh remembering McCourt.

Cartoon Caption/Anti-Caption Contest Continues!

The winner of Caption Contest 197 (Drew Dernavich's plane with stiletto landing gear) is

"She's a lover, not a fighter."
Robert McLean (Tampa, FL)

The nominees in Caption Contest 199 (Michael Crawford's snorkeler in court) are

“You think Alcatraz can hold me?”
Joshua Rosales (Rosemead, CA)

"Go ahead, waterboard me."
Lester Craft, Jr. (Basalt, CO)

“Well, the menu did say ‘Choose your own lobster.’”
Donna Palmer (Chattanooga, TN)

My loser:

"What makes you think I was doing something fishy?"

The winner of Anti-Caption Contest 200 (Ethan Kanin's Satan in God's reception room) is

"Yes, we can schedule a session for you same time next Tuesday Mr. Johnson. To be honest, you don't even have to ask anymore. As sexual role-playing businesses go, this has turned out to be a much more limited market than we anticipated. Don't forget to leave your suit to be dry-cleaned."
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Cartoon Caption Contest 201 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 Florida
3 Michigan
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 Rhode Island

2 Alaska
2 District of Columbia
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

Literal Video: "Penny Lane"

In the grand tradition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."



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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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