August 6, 2009 --

Gracie Mansion was once the official residence of the mayor of New York City.

The property abuts Carl Schurz Park, at 88th Street and East End Avenue. LPR saw no sign identifying the building as Gracie Mansion. LPR wonders about its future, if Mayor Mike (a/k/a -- he who does not reside there) gets a third term.

Maybe it belongs on Martha's Vineyard?

The mayor doesn't live here anymore

Across town, some 40 blocks south, LPR noticed two different ways of dealing with city traffic, just one block apart. Summonses were issued for cars stuck at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 43rd Street. At 42nd Street and 11th Avenue, a traffic agent prevented cars from blocking the intersection.

City action on west 43rd street

Message for motorists -- make it past 43rd and you are safe. Get mouse-trapped at 43rd Street and receive a summons ($115 fine with possibility of discount).

City action on west 42nd street

Rocco Landesman received confirmation from the U.S. Senate, August 7 as 10th chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.LPR, btw, just might have the world's largest collection of images of Mr. Landesman as a player in the Broadway Show League. The image appearing here is not of this mid-summer, but, upon information and belief, of a past mid-summer.

LPR congratulates Rocco Landesman, pitcher for "The Producers," four-time Broadway Show League champion; producer of Broadway shows including "Big River, " "Angels in America, " and "The Producers;" on his confirmation as NEA chairman. (LPR has no information that Mr. Landesman, who reportedly had been interested in owning a major league baseball team, will be in the running to succeed MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.)

"STOP" sign (at 79th Street southbound exit off Henry Hudson Parkway) -- please see poll question).

"Stop" [what are the next words that come into mind?]

Mid-summer brought news that Republican Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, has raised more than $8 million dollars. For LPR, it would be more significant f Mr. Gingrich raised awareness of our founding principles.

Newt, speaking in Washington, D.C., January 2007. LPR is still waiting for reaffirmation by the former House speaker of our founding legacy.

But, as a protest placard, presumably carried by a person not a Republican, suggests to LPR-- conservatives just ain't interested in conserving conservatism anymore.

Valid criticism of conservatives

Moral of the image of the benches and the pigeons: when you are not permitted
to sit down, you stay on the fence.

Birds, barred form bench, sitting on fence