National Concrrn 126

National Concern 28 (Quarantine Collection)

Greatest Love of All

Not Adopted

From the hometown rag, The New Milford Times:

Unlike Ms. Pratt and her colleagues, New Milford Republican and former mayoral candidate Jay Umbarger, who first offered his services to the McCain team in the summer of 2007, will not campaign out of state for the Republican senator and presidential candidate in the waning days of the campaign.

"I am not going to go to New Hampshire to campaign because New Milford and Connecticut are where I live. I'm not going to go somewhere else and inject my local viewpoint onto someone else," the Republican said.

He expressed his disillusion with a campaign that, he said, has seemed to proceed in fits and starts. "I was a bit taken back in the summer of 2007 that they really weren't that organized," he said, noting that the campaign seemed to hit its stride early this year but then, as he put it, the wheels came off.

"I am a Republican and proud of it. I'm not one for party dogma. I'm not a dogmatic person. There seems to be too much dogma in both parties. If you want to help a candidate out, it seems you have to help the entire party. I'm candidate-focused," he said, explaining why he will not be among those making telephone calls from a New Milford phone bank this weekend. "Can they win here? I don't know, but you have to try."

Mr. Umbarger's convictions on the national race, however, seem less buoyant than those of his wife, Lynn. Earlier this year, the couple made reservations in the nation's capitol for an inauguration they had hoped would celebrate a Republican victory in the presidential race. "I'm in the cancel mode right now," said Mr. Umbarger at mid-week, acknowledging that his wife had not yet called to cancel the hotel reservations near Washington, D.C. presently held in the couple's name.

Reunited And It Feels So Good

From Phish.com:

Can't Make This Up

Especially when it comes from my hometown:

"Timothy Riendeau, of Eden Lane, New Milford, was arrested at his home after leaving the scene of an assault at the Hit & Run Deli on Kent Road."

Who's the Next "Get Your War On"?

IT'S ME, GOD DAMMIT.

New On The Queue: Renal Colic

PREVIOUSLY: Dexter

ROLLIE (1996 - April 17, 2008)

What a lovable misanthrope. I'll have the scars on the undersides of my forearms to remember you by always. You are commended for taking one for the team, my friend.

Old Now

Bii My Valentine

Thank you to Emma, the love of my life, and Paul Pape Designs.

Cartoonist and Kuby

I went to cast my primary vote around 1:30 this afternoon and the man pulling the lever before me was none other than famed criminal defense lawyer and Imus comeback victim Ron Kuby. After exiting the booth and quipping with the poll workers, Kuby gave me a jovial slap on the back and asked rhetorically, "Are there any fucking Republicans in the 14th District?" I don't know, Ron, I don't know.

Blogger's Laundry Throwdown

My bag of clean wash was being physically obstructed by Joey Arak's bag of clean wash atop the dryers at the laundromat. Watch out, Joey's wash, now I know where your dressers live.

Emilie Baltz @ Florian Papp, 9/6/07

Not only is Emilie one the best roommates a guy could ask for, she's also one of the most creative and enthusiastic people I've ever known. Last Thursday was the opening of a short stay of this beautiful gilded picnic table at the Florian Papp Gallery, catty-corner from the Whitney. Tommorow is the last day it'll be there, and you won't have the rain as an excuse to not to get out and see great art!

Lessons I Learned On Vacation

- Don't use suntan lotion in spray form unless you want to look like a peach Pangea.

- Yes, The Monster Squad is still one of the best movies of ALL TIME.

- Don't get your apartment broken into and your laptop and Wii stolen.*


* If you stole my laptop and Wii, I'm coming after you.

Out Like Trout

I Got Wood On 14th Street

On Wednsday afternoon they removed the fallen tree...and two standing ones. You can see the process and this foreman's high-wire antics in my Flickr photo set.

PREVIOUSLY: A Tree Falls in Manhattan

A Tree Falls in Manhattan

At 10 o'clock this morning, this big boy made like a tree and got out of here, "here" being my living room window. I'm not sure how they're gonna get this thing out, it's friggin' huge and there's no street access to the courtyard. I think it would be cool if they airlifted it out with a helicopter, but more likely I'll be serenaded by chainsaws all week. At least the Crocodile Lounge (skee-ball!) was spared. My brother say those trees with the ivy will have to come down too.

Ghost of Die Hards Past

In honor of the new Die Hard movie opening tomorrow, I present to you my Halloween costume from 2004:



Me and the Monkey. I quit smoking six months ago, BTW.

Taming MySpace

My only hesitation about having a presence on MySpace has been the sheer fugliness of the interface. I often wish my eyes had their own digestive system as to truly understand the meaning of "throwing up a little in my mouth". MySpace is uglier than Brit Hume's soul.

But I caved in and managed to implement my nice, boring grey scheme. I guarantee my page won't cause seizures. Be my pal!