Monday, May 08, 2006
Molly's Sign-Offs
I love the fact that when my six year old daughter Molly leaves me a voicemail message, she is very conversational even though it is a one-sided conversation. This best part, however, is that she ends each message as if she is signing letter. Her last words are always, "Love, Molly."
Thursday, May 04, 2006
David Blaine
David Blaine, the "magician" who has performed death defying acts in order to entertain and gain entry into the Guinness Book of World Records is undertaking his most recent stunt right near my home at Lincoln Center.
This past Monday he was submerged in a water-filled sphere and will stay there for one week. Next Monday, in a 2-hour televised event on ABC called "Drowned Alive" which will feature footage of some of his earlier acts, he will be wrapped in chains and attempt to free himself while simultaneously holding his breath for 9 minutes (yes, you read that correctly - nine minutes).
During his week in the water, he occasionally dons a specially designed helmet through which he can communicate via a closed circuit system, and is fed - I believe a liquid diet. He is naked from the waist up and has tubes hooked up to him for, ahem, "evacuation" purposes. A team is there around the clock to watch over him and tend to his needs.
I went over to see the spectacle for myself last night. There have been a steady stream of gawkers coming by and in a light misty rain there were about 200 people last night. David had his helmet on and was communicating with various members of the press who were invited up onto a platform surrounding the sphere which is about 10 feet in diameter. David lay at the bottom of the water, with very little movement as he presumably gave interviews. At one point, the crowd "oohed" as he shifted position. I couldn't help think that it was like watching an aquarium, though without the vibrant color and with less movement by its denizens.
Some call it daring. Some call it a publicity stunt. Some call it performance art. I think it was boring.
At some points during the day, visitors are invited up to communicate with David. I was thinking if I had one question for him, what it would be. A few ran through my head, but the one persistent question in my mind was, "In the middle of stunts like these, when you're hanging out in a fish bowl at 4AM in Lincoln Center, do you ever think to yourself, 'What the hell am I doing?'"
This past Monday he was submerged in a water-filled sphere and will stay there for one week. Next Monday, in a 2-hour televised event on ABC called "Drowned Alive" which will feature footage of some of his earlier acts, he will be wrapped in chains and attempt to free himself while simultaneously holding his breath for 9 minutes (yes, you read that correctly - nine minutes).
During his week in the water, he occasionally dons a specially designed helmet through which he can communicate via a closed circuit system, and is fed - I believe a liquid diet. He is naked from the waist up and has tubes hooked up to him for, ahem, "evacuation" purposes. A team is there around the clock to watch over him and tend to his needs.
I went over to see the spectacle for myself last night. There have been a steady stream of gawkers coming by and in a light misty rain there were about 200 people last night. David had his helmet on and was communicating with various members of the press who were invited up onto a platform surrounding the sphere which is about 10 feet in diameter. David lay at the bottom of the water, with very little movement as he presumably gave interviews. At one point, the crowd "oohed" as he shifted position. I couldn't help think that it was like watching an aquarium, though without the vibrant color and with less movement by its denizens.
Some call it daring. Some call it a publicity stunt. Some call it performance art. I think it was boring.
At some points during the day, visitors are invited up to communicate with David. I was thinking if I had one question for him, what it would be. A few ran through my head, but the one persistent question in my mind was, "In the middle of stunts like these, when you're hanging out in a fish bowl at 4AM in Lincoln Center, do you ever think to yourself, 'What the hell am I doing?'"
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