STYX Was Awesome==>DC Here Comes Billi Pod

Let me start by giving a report card on last night’s STYX concert with Benjamin Mark Sears aka BMS==>A+<==awesome show and fun time with BMS.

It had been a long long day for BMS so he took a rain-check on dinner after the show and headed back to his outer-borough residence in the wasteland known as Brooklyn.

I am happy to report that he made it “home” safely with no problems with border patrol, the immigration checkpoint, passport control, or Homeland Security.

And, BMS, thanks for the invitation to visit your new digs in late February/early March. I really appreciate you working me in like this.

Tonight’s entertainment event-8:00==>THE BREAK OF NOON-“an exploration of the daunting process of ‘finding religion’ following the worst office shooting in American history.” David Duchovny and Amanda Peet star in this Off Broadway show in very early previews.

When the show is over I will come back to PHC, of course, and basically chill until it is time to head out for THE RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY.

Billi Pod will leave PHC @ 4:00am and head down to the bus pickup site @ 31st Street and 8th Avenue for our 5:00am departure.

Will bring with me: some protein bars; a heavy towel to sit on; my iPhone charger; my trusty AM/FM Walkman; some crossword puzzles; 2 days worth of meds and eye drops; water; and, Billi Pod’s usual sunny/funny disposition (it has been in storage).

Oh, in response to several emails asking the same question: “Why the f**k are you doing this?” the answer, my loyal and faithful readers, is twofold: (1) because I want to; and, (2) because I can.

Billi Pod is mega-charged!!!

Because of the rally I will be unable to watch the GATORS/GEORGIA game, which may be a blessing in disguise.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Now It Can Be Revealed==>BMS=Benjamin Mark Sears

Well, my loyal and faithful readers the BMS countdown has ended because tonight at 7:00pm I meet up with my friend Benjamin Mark Sears (BMS=Benjamin Mark Sears===>get it?) at the Beacon Theatre for the STYX concert. The group will perform THE GRAND ILLUSION and PIECES OF EIGHT albums in their entirety. After the concert we will catch a bite.

I started the BMS countdown almost two months ago, after I invited Ben to join me for the concert, as a gentle and subtle daily reminder to him that he had an obligation to fulfill and that the penalty for failure would be testicle removal, at the very least.

So, BMS-0, will seeya at 7:00pm. Don’t be late because there is no opening act.

I am very very happy to report that Billi Pod feels fine today. Got a great night’s sleep and things seem to be back to normal (hummmm can “normal” ever be used in the context of Billi Pod’s world??? I doubt it.)

Of course Billi Pod’s Rally countdown clock is running. The Comedy Central sponsors have been pretty secretive about the actual schedule, but my Internet research has revealed the following:

++++++++++++++

Pre Show - 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

12:00-12:40 - The Roots will play for the crowd

12:40-12:57 - A comedian (TBA) will warm up the crowd

12:57-1:00 - Video countdown and intros

Main Show 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

1:00-1:05 - Singing of the National Anthem by special musical guest (TBA)

1:05-1:20 - Jon Stewart welcomes the crowd

1:20-1:30 - Stephen Colbert enters

1:30-1:35 - Benediction by actor Don Novello ("Father Guido Sarducci")

1:35-1:40 - Poem reading by actor Sam Waterson ("Law and Order")

1:40-1:50 - Performance by Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Mavis Staples

1:50-2:15 - Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert perform together

2:15-2:20 - Performance by Sheryl Crow

2:20-2:30 - Brief statements from special guests (TBA), both live and taped

2:30-2:40 - Performance by special musical guest (TBA)

2:40-2:50 - Sanity and Fear Awards

2:50-3:00 - Final statements by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

++++++++++++++++

The online estimates regarding the rally crowd are varying wildly from 100,000 to 250,000+, so who knows what it will be. All I know is that Billi Pod will be there in a warm Yankee jacket and wearing a Gator cap.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-0

Billi Pod Had the Whatevers???

Good evening my loyal and faithful readers. This will be a somewhat belated and shorter (OK OK hold the f**king applause) posting at the end of a rather strange day for Billi Pod.

Today my plans were rather simple. I had this show, a part of my Roundabout Theater subscription series, scheduled for 2:00==>THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE-“a poignant and quirky comedy that attempts to prove that love is the one language that can leave us all at a loss for words.” It has received rather mixed reviews but I still wanted to see it.

Woke up a bit earlier than usual this morning, 7:00am, and couldn’t go back sleep so I got up and did the routine morning stuff including posting on my FaceBook Wall. I had planned to pay the first of the month bills etc. (like most people now days, most of my banking and bill-paying is done online) and drop the envelopes off at the local branch post office on the way to my show. I did everything and during the process began to feel kinda strange and had some discomfort in my stomach. My nose was running a bit too. WTF?

Anyway, got dressed and headed out for the theater, really feeling out of sorts. Mailed the envelopes and started walking East on 42nd Street for about a block when I suddenly felt very tired, my stomach ached and my nose was really running. I turned around and came back to PHC. WTF!!

When I got back I felt blah, out of sorts and very sleepy. Now, as those of you who have known me over the years know==>Billi Pod hardly ever ever naps. Well, I took a couple of Tylenol, lay down on the couch and immediately went to sleep. 2 1/2 hours later I woke up, feeling much better and ... tada ... discomfort free. It is now 2 1/2 hours later and I still feel OK, nose not running, and I have no clue what the f**k was going on.

Hope this isn’t a sign of problems to come because I have a rock concert Thursday night and then on early Saturday morning, 5:00am, I head down to DC for the RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY. In all honesty, folks, I would have to be hospital-bound before I would cancel my plans for The Rally, and I am not joking, and most of you loyal and faithful readers know that to be true.

Anyhoo ... a quick report card on yesterday’s COLIN QUINN: LONG STORY SHORT==>VF<==as in very funny in your face humor where nothing is sacred. Billi Pod highly recommends it.

Tonight-8:00==>RANGERS/GIANTS in game 1 of The World Series, from ‘Frisco. Will stay in and watch it, obviously. Go Rangers!!

In closing==>weather forecast for DC on Saturday==>sunny/cloudy, 62º-47º==>still very uncertain about what to wear and what to carry with me, etc.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-1

The Countdown to DC Begins!!

The countdown to RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY and MARCH TO KEEP FEAR ALIVE begins and with each passing moment Billi Pod gets more and more excited. Interestingly, both events were the core of today’s New York Times crossword puzzle.

Thus far the weather predictions are for clear and cool weather and we will just have to keep our fingers crossed that it will stay that way.

There is an article in this morning’s New York Post that 508 Porta-potties have been ordered by the rally sponsor, Comedy Central, and according to the article, that extrapolates to an estimated attendance of 150,000.

There is, of course, a FaceBook page devoted to the rally http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118856078167623

and a lot of the recent postings have been about worries over how and where to recharge cellphones, something that has also crossed my mind. Any thoughts/suggestions my loyal and faithful readers?

Oh, a quick bit of baseball information==>The Yankees open the 2011 season at home on Thursday, March 31st against The Tigers and end the season on Wednesday, September 28th against The Rays in Tampa. Just thought you would like this in advance so you can mark your calendars and begin the countdown with moi.

Billi Pod’s report card on THE MEMORANDUM==>B-<==first preview performance so it was kinda loosie-goosie (when was the last time you saw/heard that phrase?), largely because the original lead actor left the show due to an auto accident 5 days ago and his replacement was struggling with lines. Lots of clever plot twists and turns make the show very much worth seeing.

Tonight’s entertainment event-7:00==>COLIN QUINN: LONG STORY SHORT-“the comic uses his articulate brand of humor to take his audience through an uproarious history of the world, in 75 minutes.” Broadway. This should be fun.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-2

Billi Pod Says==>Funk Be Gone!!

Yesterday’s theater doubleheader got Billi Pod out of his funk over the Yankees not making it back to the World Series.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t necessarily feel any better about it, but I am out of my Yankee-induced funk. So, my report cards for the shows:

I LOVE MY WIFE==>A<==Josh Grisetti led an outstanding cast and on-stage band to bring life to Cy Coleman’s songs. Too bad its very limited run is over.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION==>A<==wonderful acting and a gripping story line set in 1999, dealing with the aftermath of the McCarthy era witch hunts. All of the characters are believable. See it if you can!

Monday is Billi Pod’s usual errands day and I will attack them as soon as I post this for you loyal and faithful readers.

Tonight-7:30==>THE MEMORANDUM-“bureaucracy has gone mad as an attempt to get a memo translated leads to an increasingly ridiculous maze of red tape.” At a theater on my block.

Man, does it feel strange at this time of the year not to be worrying about the pitching match ups for The Yankees in the upcoming World Series and/or where The Gators will be ranked in the various weekly football Top Twenty polls. It feels very out-of-sync.

Well, at least now I can spare you loyal and faithful readers all of the baseball postings and return to reporting on shows you have never heard of and will never get a chance to see, even if you wanted to, sooooooooooooo ...

Thanks for all of the positive and supportive responses regarding my upcoming “Rally to Restore Sanity” adventure down in DC on Saturday. I am soooooooo excited and have begun my prayers for good weather.

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-3

Billi Pod is Heading Down to DC==>YES!!

BREAKING NEWS==>Billi Pod will head down to DC on Saturday, October 30th, to be a part of the Jon Stewart “Rally to Restore Sanity” and the Stephen Colbert “March to Keep Fear” events at The Washington Mall. Yes, that’s right, I will join the 100,000+ as we make our voices heard, or something like that ... whatever ...

When did I decide to do this you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Last night. Been thinking about it for a while, then just decided to do it. I have booked a roundtrip bus, which leaves from Penn Station, and this is the schedule:

5:00am - depart NYC

9:00am - arrive DC

12:00pm-3:00pm - Rally!

6:00pm - depart DC

10:30pm - arrive NYC.

The roundtrip fare is $85 and I understand that this bus service has already booked 6 busses from this location.

I am really psyched about this, and without a doubt, it will either be one of the best things I have done in a long time, or one of the dumbest==>there will be no middle ground and Billi Pod understands this going in.

Now, on to other things and stuff, like yesterday==>a day spent mostly in a funk over the Yankees failure to make it to The World Series, so what did I do to get out of the funk?

Well, I scheduled a play about a madam called MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION-“tells the story of a mother who makes a terrible sacrifice for her daughter independence. But when the daughter learns the truth, will she forgive her mother or condemn her?” Oh yes, just what Billi Pod needed to get out of his funk==>a play about a Mom who becomes a hooker. My report card ==>B<==2+ hrs of mostly shouting but Cherry Jones is excellent.

Also spent a lot of time yesterday in front of the tube watching sports and will someone please tell me what is happening in the Sport’s World? I mean:

Yankees==>eliminated;

Phillies==>eliminated;

Rangers and Giants in The World Series; and,

#1 Oklahoma Sooners==>beaten!

3rd week in a row that the #1 team has lost. WTF is going on??? Can someone please explain it to me? WTF!!

Anyhoo, today is a non-baseball doubleheader for Billi Pod--

2:30==>I LOVE MY WIFE @ York Theatre -“an irreverent look at relationships and marriage during the sexual revolution of the 1970s.” My FB friend Josh Grisetti is in the cast.

7:00==>AFTER THE REVOLUTION-“a daughter, who carries the torch for her family's Marxist tradition and memories of her blacklisted grandfather, has her world turned upside down when shocking family truths emerge.” At a theater on my block.

Have a bunch of really really good stuff to report about my upcoming trip to Paris, but will save that for later.

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-4

The Fat Lady Just Sang==>The Yankees Are Toast!!

The Fat Lady just sang signifying a humbling 6-1 loss by The Yankees to The Texas Rangers in game 6 of the ALCS in Arlington, TX.

The final out was a strikeout by A-Rod, more than ironic. The Yankees were limited to only 3 hits and our run was the result of a dubious call on a passed ball.

The Rangers now advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Of course Billi Pod will be pulling for them against which ever team they face because he is a total American League supporter.

There is no good upside to this disheartening fiasco except to note that I will have a $720 credit toward next season’s 41-game ticket package and now I will have 7 free nights in the next 2 weeks to get back into my theater-routine, but ...

Dammit to F**king Hell==>Billi Pod is in shock and is really down and disappointed.

Nothing more to add. Later.

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Friday - Yankees and shout-out to Scott Reed

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. It is a beautiful brisk early fall morning in The Greatest City In The World.

Today will be nothing but a “wait for the big game” day, meaning, of course, YANKEES/RANGERS in Texas @ 8:00, with Phil Hughes on the mound in a “win-or-go-home” situation. If the Yankees win, then game 7 will be on Saturday with Andy Pettitte on the mound. To say that Billi Pod is nervous about the whole situation is an understatement of major proportions.

Might try to catch an afternoon movie just to pass the time.

Thursday was an absolute blah day==>did nothing and I mean nothing during the day. I did watch the PHILLIES/GIANTS game in the evening, which the PHILLIES won to stay alive and send the series back East.

On a more positive note==>I want to give a major shout-out to student/General Manager Scott Reed for his uncanny ability to become involved with and attend mega-celebrity events. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, this week Scott went to the Elton John Aids Foundation "Enduring Vision" event, which is an annual gala that celebrates the foundation and its members. The event was at the fabulous Cipriani Wall Street restaurant and was hosted by Anderson Cooper.

Among the many celebrities in attendance were: Cheyenne Jackson, Ivanka Trump, Donna Karan, Clive Davis, Christina Ricci, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Vera Wang, Hugh Jackman, Billi Jean King and many others.

Sir Elton performed with music legend Leon Russell.

Wow!! What an event Scott. Billi Pod is so happy you were able to attend. Ahem, I guess my invitation got lost in the mail ... ahem ...

OMG!!==>it is 10:15am and the game is still 10 long hours away OMFG!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-6

The Fat Lady Didn't Sing==>WHEW!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, CC kept the fat lady from singing last night, pitching well enough for a 7-2 win as the Yankee bats finally came alive.

It was very interesting in the stadium at the beginning of the game. Lots of suits sitting with folded arms and dour expressions. A very somber feeling and it was also dark and gray, very fitting actually. Then, as the game progressed and the Yankees took the lead the mood lightened and so, not joking, did the sky, turning into blue and red during the middle innings. It was actually kinda eerie.

The series moves to Texas. Friday it will be Hughes on the mound for the Yankees and Lewis for the Rangers. If the Yankees win then on Saturday==>Pettitte vs. Cliff Lee.

Yes, it is still an uphill battle, but as Yogi sez==>“it ain’t over ‘til its over.”

Gonna catch a movie this afternoon, maybe finally seeing the Michael Douglas movie WALL STREET: Money Never Sleeps.

Unless something really compelling shows up on my ticket services I will stay in tonight and watch the PHILLIES/GIANTS game as Halladay and Lincecum go at it again, with the Phillies facing elimination. Actually this could fall into the category of a “must-watch” game for a true baseball fan.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-7

Billi Pod Is Pissed Off!!!

It was 12:45am this morning when Billi Pod finally got back from the stadium, tired and majorly pissed off==>AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi, who has spent a career breaking hearts by throwing the pitch he absolutely should not at the wrong time, had done it yet again. It was a bitter 3-10 loss.

Once again we could not get hits with runners in scoring position, something Billi Pod has commented on numerous times during the season. And, to make matters even worse, in the 5th inning Mark Teixeira left the game with a season-ending hamstring injury. And, in the late innings our bullpen once again imploded. And, Manager Joe Girardi made several very questionable decisions, including the one to keep Loser Boi in the game. It was not a fun time in The Bronx, to put it mildly.

Bottom-line==>the Yankees face elimination this afternoon. Can Sabathia save us? We will CC. Billi Pod will be there, of course.

Can the Yankees win 3 straight games? I seriously doubt it, but we avid fans will hope and pray for a miracle.

Now get this my loyal and faithful readers==>there is a very real possibility that the World Series could be: The Rangers vs. The Giants. Who in their wildest dreams could have foreseen this one? No f**king one.

I have other things to report, but I am not in the mood to do it today, so ...

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-8

Billi Pod Ain't Happy!!

Last night Cliff Lee was even better than advertised. The Rangers' ace dominated the Yankees in an 8-0 win that gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the ALCS.

Andy Pettitte gave up 2 runs in the top of the first and that pretty much took the crowd out of the game. Not joking, after the Yankees went down 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the first it was as if the life had been sucked out of the stadium. There was nothing but a feeling of gloom and doom in the cold and windy stadium, and for good reason==>Cliff Lee was awesome, giving up only 2 hits in 8 innings. As someone posted on FB: “Every scoreless inning just added 1M to his 2011 contract negotiations.”

Oh, Andy pitched a decent game, giving up only 2 runs on 5 hits over 7 innings, but, unfortunately, the Yankee bats couldn’t overcome Lee’s dominance. We just couldn’t crawl out of the hole.

Before the game started there was a moment of silence honoring Freddy (The Fan) Schuman and that was a good call by Yankee management.

As expected, it was 12:30am when Billi Pod got back to PHC, cold and in a very very bad mood. Still in a bad mood this morning, so stay the f**k out of my way World!!

And, tonight-WTF!==>The Yankees are on the brink of Armageddon and who is our defender? Why is it The Antichrist himself==>AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi. How ironic that we have to depend on Loser Boi to keep us alive in the race to return to The World Series. WTF!!

Ain’t got nuttin' more to say, so ...

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.” BMS-9

Monday - Go Yankees and ... croak ... WTF?

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. It is a beautiful early fall day in The Greatest City In The World.

Yesterday was a terrific day. Let me start with a report card on the BROADWAY ORIGINALS concert @ Town Hall==>A<==very entertaining and well performed. My comp. ticket was in the upper balcony section but at intermission I snuck downstairs and found a very good seat in the rear orchestra.

After the concert saw the Bruce Willis movie RED==>B<==story totally unbelievable, but so what. It was fun seeing the old guys kicking butt and taking names. Definitely a guy movie. Suspend your concepts of reality and you will have a good time, trust me on this guys ... see it.

It is Monday and that means my errands and stuff during the day, then --

8:00==>YANKEES/RANGERS @ The Stadium for game 3, with Andy Pettitte on the mound vs. Cliff Lee. Without question, this will be a nail-biter.

I’ll be there with my buds for all 3 of the home games: Monday @ 8:00; Tuesday @ 8:00; and, Wednesday @ 4:00.

The trouble with the 8:00 games is that it will be way past midnight when I finally get back to PHC. Oh well ... ain’t nothing I can do about it, is there?

On a sad note==>Yankee Stadium fixture Freddy (The Fan) Schuman, who banged his trusty metal frying pan to rally Yankee fans for over two decades, died on Sunday. It was always very exciting when Freddy would show up in your section, banging his frying pan and encouraging fans to “get into the game.” He will be missed by everyone.

Wow, in 2010 we have lost The Boss, The Voice of God, and now Freddy The Fan.

Let me close by saying that, unfortunately, my warnings against anti-Gator emails and texts totally failed, especially as it relates to Her Druidness Mizz S. Mullon of Anna Maria, FL. When I tried to neutralize her powers with my own spell, she threatened to turn me into a frog, resulting in Billi Pod having nightmares last night, frog-like in nature. It was so scary dreaming about eating flies etc, so ...

OK OK Your Druidness==>Billi Pod surrenders. You may spew forth whatever you see fit ... and ... croak ... I got things I gotta do, so ... croak ... WTF? ... croak ... damn, there’s another fly I wantta eat ... croak ... seeya ... croak ... latter ... croak ... blurp ... yum ... croak ...

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-10

Billi Pod Says==>Barf, Puke, Vomit!!

On this beautiful early fall Sunday Billi Pod is in recovery from the two puke-inducing sports events of yesterday==> Hughes’ implosion in the Yankees 2-7 loss to the Rangers and==>the Gators painfully inept 7-10 loss to Redneck State University aka Mississippi State.

Spent a goodly part of the morning just walking around PHC sucking my thumb, then I called my longtime friend Gil Goshorn, who lives in Gainesville, seeking his sage advice, comfort and solace, but that only partially worked. Dammit, still in a major funk.

Hold on there. I want no emails, texts, calls etc of the “It’s Only A Game,” variety. No it’s not!! Send them at your own peril==>You Are So Warned!!

Anyhoo, one thing for certain==>there will be no sporting events today, so ...

3:00==>BROADWAY ORIGINALS! @ Town Hall-“an unforgettable afternoon of songs and memories featuring the original performers reprising the roles they created on Broadway.”

Immediately afterwards I will catch a movie==>the newly released RED starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and others as retired spies forced back into action.

Oh yes, Billi Pod needs to see older people causing mayhem, gore and chaos. Oh yes!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-11

Saturday - An Amazing Win Last Night

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. If you read the sports pages you know that it was a mega-dramatic comeback win for The Yankees last night as we overcame a 0-5 deficit to win 6-5 over The Rangers, in Texas, despite a dreadful performance by our ace CC Sabathia.

This was truly a “team win” as everyone contributed to the amazing 5 run 8th inning rally. Ah yes, how sweet.

As might be expected, today is a sports day for Billi Pod and he will be in his couch potato mode for:

4:00==>YANKEES @ RANGERS (TBS), with Phil Hughes on the mound. It will be interesting to see how The Rangers react to last night’s devastating loss. I have a feeling that they will be looking for revenge, so be careful Phil==>watch your back.

7:00==>GATORS/MISS STATE in The Swamp (ESPNU). It is Homecoming and we gotta have a win in order to restore a modicum of credibility to the season. Come on guys, we in The Gator Nation can’t handle 3 losses in a row, so get with it, OK?

Also at 8:00==>PHILLIES/GIANTS with 2 of the season’s best pitchers, Doc Halladay and Tim Lincecum, facing each other. Should be an awesome game and a must-see for the true baseball fan. Of course Billi Pod will be watching The Gator game.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-12

Friday - Let The Games Begin

OK, my loyal and faithful readers==>Let the games begin!! Tonight at 8:07 on TBS is game one of YANKEES/RANGERS ALCS, in Texas, with Ace CC Sabathia on the mound for the Yankees.

Billi Pod is majorly psyched==>already walking around PHC sucking his thumb==>is it time for the game yet? Oh God==>don’t wantta write about anything else (dammit, stop the f**king applause, I know who you are and I am taking names) but will make a few comments just to pass some time.

First, about my rant yesterday against The Post and The Daily News for their coverage of the miner’s recovery==>Billi Pod sent the following in an email to each paper--

“RE: Thursday's Front Page==>Shame Shame Shame!!

I am appalled at your craven front page coverage on Thursday of the miner’s rescue mission when your editors trivialized the moment by focusing on a miner’s mistress vs. his wife, rather than the magnitude of the effort that saved 33 lives. First of all, who cares who met him and secondly, it is none of our/your business, now is it?

This was tabloid journalism at its worst. Shame Shame Shame!!!”

Of course, this will garner no response nor does it have any chance of being published, but ... how about this ...

The Daily News was not outside the door this morning. Coincidence? I wonder.

Anyhoo, now Billi Pod’s brief (stop it I said!) report card on MIDDLETOWN==>C<==it just didn’t work for me for some reason and that is disappointing because I like the playwright Will Eno.

Oh God==>is it time for game yet?

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

BMS-13