Remembered yesterday what I miss about Manhattan. Near Union Square, a man in a Phantom-of-the-Opera outfit, in period jacket, tri-corner hat and mask and walking on stilts, was handing out flyers for a strip club, equal opportunity of course, male and female. You just have to love the culture advantage Manhattan provides. That reminded me that at my first Comdex in Atlanta in a galaxy far, far away, I took a strip-club flyer from a guy in a gorilla suit. I went, purely for research purposes I assure you. … I do have one complaint, with so many of our Muslim friends operating the street carts, it’s impossible to find an Italian sausage sandwich near the Port Authority Bus Station. You have to learn to recognize the Arabic signs for “Halal” from a distance. ... Walking along 42nd street I saw a marquee that proclaimed Johnny Winter was appearing. I saw a picture next to his name thought, "Oh, my God. He cut his white hair short and got this awful dark tan" before I realized the place was B.B. King's restaurant. BB's is a perfect place for old people (like me). Upcoming acts include Chad and Jeremy, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Davy Jones from the Monkeys, and Al Green (kids ask your parents whose people are). They still have groupies, but they're in wheel chairs. Fans can't wave candles during concerts. It would set off the oxygen canisters. ... With a daughter in college I realized I could witness a remarkable phenomenon: money disappearing remotely in real time. ... An accountant friend sent a news item about a tax attorney whose attempt to deduct more than $100,000 spent on pornography and prostitutes in 2004 and 2005 as medical expenses necessary for his good health was disallowed by the tax court. I thought, damn, I'm going to have to amend my returns again.
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A Facebook friend was incredulous regarding the availability of Fried Twinkies at the Minnesota State Fair; I commented that was just the tip of the deep fryer. Our annual Labor Day visit to the Jersey Shore (or as I refer to it, the Fall Festival of Navels) underscored that fried Oreos (most common) and Twinkies have given birth to a whole new way of eating. One place that advertised it fries everything offered the following in fried varieties: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Elvis sandwiches (peanut butter and banner), Scooter Pies, Cinnabons, Chipwiches, cookie dough. A new brand is being considered called "Heart Attack in a Drum". ...One game booth had stuffed versions of the gang from South Park and President Obama hanging next each other. Then I realized Obama has a new pitch for supporting his healthcare plan - "Oh, no! We've killed Kenny." ... The sideshow games, that reliable cultural marker, showed no dominant figures. But South Park has made a remarkable comeback while Stewie Griffin, still visible, has faded with an occasional Brian and Peter Griffin to be seen. There's the usual smattering of Tweeties, Care Bears, Scoobies. Some time ago, the game named "Shoot Osama Bin Laden" and "Shoot Saddam Hussein,"  settled into the final form - "Shoot the Terrorist." ... Read more...

The hazards of online banking: My daughter Elisa’s student bank account shows a $9.25 debit card payment at the Museum of Sex in New York. I’m not mad. I want to know if they offer a discount to AARP members. But despite the fact, Elisa has moved out, we still have unbreakable tie to her -  We’re connected by our bank accounts.  And she’s already reaping the benefits of higher education. She’s learned which bars don’t card and which grocery stores will sell 40-ounce beers to teens. ...  It's been reported that a Walt Disney museum will open on the grounds of the Presidio in San Francisco. But I don't think I'll go. It's probably a real Mickey Mouse affair. ...   I think I made a bad investment in a new animal called the ginchilla. They have luxurious fur, but they're extremely hard to breed because they rarely sober up. ... I got an automated telephone call today about covering the high cost of funeral expenses. Is someone trying to tell me something? ... A friend asked me to name my favorite recipe from a TV cooking show. I said I didn't know what to call it but it involved Rachel Ray and a can of Reddi-Wip. … With some much heated debate about healthcare, it's time to turn to someone we all trust, the Aflac Duck.  And given the success of animals in the insurance world, including the Geico gecko, the American Insurance Group has chosen its symbol, the AIG Weasel. Read more...