Mrshafrir.com

If there is a good reason it's costing me $220 to get to Boston and back to NYC (without getting airborne at any point), I'm guessing you have something to do with it.

Let's break this down Mastercard style:

Golf on Saturday with the old friends: $95 (greens fees, multiple beers on the course not included).
Wedding gift: $100 (straight cash, homey)
Hotel for the wedding: $70
Getting to Boston and back: $220
Taking a bus back to Boston at 6:45 PM on Friday night leaving from midtown NYC: Frickin' PRICELESS.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've always joked that you can tell if someone has ever smoked pot before by how quickly they can identify a Pink Floyd song when it comes on the radio.

Judging by this newscaster's reaction to this 911 call though, I may have to add another indicator to my list.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, at least some of us. I don't (refuse) have one.

Ski2Sun, on the other hand, currently finds himself in an interesting predicament. Thankfully for him, he is on a Blackberry.

Ski2Sun: what are you doing this weekend?
Me: I am exhausted...worked like 70 hours this week. Parents in town tomorrow, doing an early dinner. What you got for me?
Ski2Sun: I got nothing...relaxing a little...I'm pretty beat
Me: I need a few dozen hours of straight couch sitting. I also haven't gone to the gym since before new Orleans.
Ski2Sun: I haven't gone since israel.
Me: You are a pig.
Ski2Sun (from his Blackberry): I am in the bathroom right now. I just realized that there is no toilet paper.
Me: Blackberry someone on your floor to bring you some.
Ski2Sun: I just ripped up one of those toilet seat cover things

Ahhh...so that's how we lived before Blackberrys...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friend from Brookline High, Nate Lasche is currently working in Uganda for the Clinton Foundation. Very cool stuff. He's "working with the Ugandan government to help fill whatever gaps they identify in their current HIV/AIDS
treatment/testing/policy" (from an email he sent me).

Anyway, you can follow his experiences here, on the appropriately named blog: Nathan's African Experience. Nate lives/talks/walks at a million miles an hour which is very evident in these first few postings.

We've come a long way from watching South Park and then playing basketball is his backyard in the dark!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Flopped the Nuts?

Doubled down?

All-in?

Popped out a kid?

The money shot:

Callender, who has worked at Resorts since it opened in 1978, said the birth was a first for the casino as far as he knew. "We've had people die here," he said, "but we've never had people born here.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm not much of a network news guy (probably because I haven't been home with any regularity at 6PM since grade school). But Brian Williams always struck me as a pretty swell guy.

If only I knew! Turns out he's a huge fan of the New York Times Sunday Styles Wedding section, just like moi! Oh happy day!

He treats Weddings like dessert though, saying he reads that section (actually a sub-section of Sunday Styles) only after "the A Section, Metro, Week in Review, Business, Book Review, Magazine and Automobiles."

Well Brian, I really suggest you start with Weddings. For me it's like an appetizer, entree, and a big make-your-own sundae bar all rolled into one.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 06:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm a pretty jaded guy. It takes a lot to really get me to say "damn, that's some real bullshit".

I'm not even really sure what to say about this, except, "damn, that's some real bullshit".

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 06:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to my sister, err, Gawker, quoting lines from Borat isn't funny anymore.

A few thoughts on this:

1) Dammit.
2) When did my sister see Big Lebowski? And if she has indeed seen it, how many times? Is it 25+ like her little brother? Or 50,000 times like his roommate?
3) I guess I'll just have to start saying "Now I've seen a lot of bullshit... angel dust, switchblades, sexually perverse photography involving tennis rackets... " to replace this void in my life.

Update: I just realized this post banning Borat quotes is a month old. So, I'm guessing it's still not cool?

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 05:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Back in town from Florida.

Let's see, what can I talk about?

Oh yeah! My sister starts at Gawker today!

Check it out here (she's on the left).

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So on the very same day that my 2004 Halloween costume is the subject of a post on Deadspin, my older sister is named Associate Editor of the mothership, Gawker!

Good times!

Read about it here.

More coverage here, along with a really, umm, bad picture of my sister having gotten entirely too much sun.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 05:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Our friend Ski2Sun is still dating this girl. A lot of people say that when guys get really involved with girls, the guy may let himself slip a little and, you know, get "whipped". Not Ski2Sun.

Mshafron: Whats up gene [Ski2Sun]?
Ski2Sun: struggling today...you?
Mshafron: Just getting excited for the weekend…how was the game?
Ski2Sun: what's this weekend? The game was great...aside from the loss.
Mshafron: Nothing really planned, I just look forward to the weekends, ya know? Actually going to Ben Kweller concert on Saturday night with Booton, our old bowling partner, and her boyfriend.
Ski2Sun: who is that?
Mshafron: One of my favs
Ski2Sun: What are you doing tonight?
Mshafron: Going to the gym first then the calendar is wide open. What you doing?
Ski2Sun: I think I'm going to go to dinner with Dana and then I'm not sure. You are very in to the gym these days.
Mshafron: Trying my best, bro. where is dinner?
Ski2Sun: gonzo
Mshafron: What is that?
Ski2Sun: Italian on 13th and 6th...
Mshafron: You are pimp…aren’t you at that stage though where you don’t have to take her out to dinner anymore?
Ski2Sun: for sure...I stop that after date 3, but I want to go out to dinner tonight, so this is more for me.

That's why we love him!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

That didn't take long -- Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village sold for, drumroll please, $5.4 Billion! (That's Billion, with a B).

Now before any of you crazy readers go assuming that I live in the Taj Mahal or something, ST/PCV is actually an 11,000 unit complex. My little abode will now most likely go condo. Guess it's time to start saving for the down payment.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The North Korean reaction to the UN Security Council rebuke of North Korea's nuclear missle test certainly illustrates the magic of perspective. Or, I suppose, denial.

North Korea's ambassador to the U.N. Pak Kil-yon said the council should "congratulate" North Korea's scientists and researchers "instead of [issuing] such notorious, useless and reckless resolutions or whatever the statement against" North Korea.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Two thumbs up -- way up -- for The Departed. Not only was it a "Boston" movie (they really hit the nail on the head with a lot of the local residences), but it kept you guessing until the very, very end.

Of course, the movie I'm really excited for is Borat!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In anticipation of my upcoming jaunt to Japan, I've taken a few moments to try and learn as much about Japanese culture as possible. In reality, I will embarrass myself and commit multiple faux paus (is that plural), all while trying to not come off as the Ugly American.

So last night I thought it would be good to try and watch Lost in Translation to pick up some pointers on what life may be like in Japan.

I only got through the first five minutes -- the thought of Giovanni Ribisi actually going to bed with a starlet like Scarlet Johansson was enough to make me turn the channel -- but two scenes stick out:

1) When Bill Murray first meets his welcoming party at his hotel, they all hand him their business card. Apparently, this is de rigeur in Japan.

2) The scene where Murray rides the elevator down in the morning -- he towers over all the (Japanese) men. According to my mom, "you'll be the tallest man in Tokyo". Can't wait. If they play basketball on 8 foot hoops over there, I'll be Yao Ming.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Because I miss him dearly, I thought I'd post a picture of my friend Mahoney on Saturday night.

Mahoney is the dashing red head on the left, pictured with Brent Bortman (brother of Jared), a random dude, three women, and an empty bottle of peroxide.

Behold all that is man:

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the things I enjoy hearing the most about NYC life is the vaunted "New York Dating Scene".

Why do I hear about it and not participate? Well, mostly because I moved to New York with a girlfriend, broke up with her, and then almost immediately started dating someone else.

It's for the best, because I am neither a) rich (dating in New York is muy expensivo), b) suave, or c) interested in a never-ending string of 2-hour interviews with prospective bed-mates.

Luckily for me, my friends are. Well, maybe two out of three. Or maybe one out of three.

Anyway, my most prolific dating friend, Ski2Sun (of Adventures in Getting Ready-fame) is getting himself psyched for a hot date tonight with a girl who I think looks like a friend of ours from college.

Let's go to the tape:

Ski2Sun: I'm going out with Dana tonight.
Mshafron: Dana from school? Give her my regards!
Ski2Sun: I will.
Mshafron: You going to barbounia? (editor's note: an expensive Greek restaurant on Park Ave.)
Ski2Sun: yup...she was very excited at the prospect.
Mshafron: Nice, a gold-digger…I like that.
Ski2Sun: me too...I like a girl that's into me for my money.
Mshafron: I do too…she’s got her eyes on the prize.
Ski2Sun: It will most likely lead to the type of "open marriage" I will be looking for anyway.

Ski2Sun, do you read Forbes?

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Despite the fact that I rarely cook, I have many food related obsessions: new restaurants, the Food Network, cooking shows on PBS, and reading cookbooks. Oh, and eating.

This site, 101 Cookbooks, is my definition of food porn. The pictures are incredible...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's that time of the month again...wedding time!

Fresh off a trip to Boston earlier this month for Cindy and Adam's wedding (I am friends with Cindy), it's off to Dallas this weekend where Drew (one of my best friends from High School) is taking the plunge with Emily.

I'm all for weddings -- it's a nice way to say "I Love You" with a $100,000 party. But one has to question, given the weather forecast, of having your wedding in August...in Dallas.

Rumors are flying...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Mike Douglas has passed on.

See you on the flip side, Mike.

I originally conceived this post as a tribute to an alumnus of Brookline High (like me). Turns out I was thinking of Mike Wallace, host of 60 Minutes.

What other (real) BHS alumni would be memorialized on this blog if they were to croak?

- Me
- Corbin Bernsen -- rumored
- Conan O'brien
- Bob Kraft (owns the Patriots)
- Theo Epstein
- Mike Dukakis (OK, that's a stretch)
- Francis Ouimet
- Flora Alekseyeun - of Real World Miami fame. Her mom used to do my mom's nails.

I would also like to point out that the Next Karate Kid, starring the deceased Pat Morita and Oscar-winning-actress Hilary Swank, was filmed at BHS.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

My sister covers the sometimes amusing, sometimes freaky, sometimes generic world of online profiles for the New York Observer.

I've noticed (in my totally platonic research) that most New York City women ages 22-27 list their favorite book as the Da Vinci Code (which I've never read), and their favorite music as either Coldplay or "anything I can dance to".

On the other hand, my boy Eugene's favorite movie is indeed Garden State, so who am I to talk?

Random update: Andrew, one of the co-founder of TheLadders.com, claims that when I interviewed with him back in 2004, I said that Da Vinci Code was the last book I had read. Honestly, I don't remember what I told him (the more appropriate answer would've been "none"), but it looks like I may have been looking at one too many Friendster profiles before the interview!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's been a long climb, from BayBank to BankBoston, to Fleet, to finally Bank of America. I used to chafe at all the acquisitions -- it meant new ATM cards -- but now I'm proud to say that my pittance of net worth (cash) is held at the WORLD'S LARGEST BANK!

Take that Citigroup! Oh yeah!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, I've done it.

I've joined a gym.

For those of you who know me now, you may be surprised to learn that I was at one time in my life (1994 - 1998) a pretty darn good athlete. I was a top-ten swimmer in my distance in Massachusetts and a three-time all-League performer (to say nothing of my prowess on the golf course).

Unfortunately, college and then the "real world" got in the way of my finely sculpted physique, and I've reached the point where, like my mom says, "I could afford to take off a few".

So wish me luck in my new endeavor. I've got a date tonight with a hot looking exercise bike.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Did I mention it was hot?

The heat index tomorrow?

119 degrees.

You walk two blocks in the city, you are sweating. There's no way around it. The subways are like pressure cookers. It makes me cranky as hell (pun intended). And no, Phoenix, it's not a dry heat. You really have to be here to believe just how hot it is.

I'm off to Boston tomorrow night. Yep, you guessed it. It's hot there too.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I haven't been blogging much lately. I know, I know...

But seriously, have you seen the weather? Mind you, this is New York City, not Dallas, Phoenix, Mexico City, etc.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

When Shea Hillenbrand was on the Red Sox, he always had this odd sense of entitlement about being in the lineup/being in the majors that seemed out of place for someone who was a good, sometimes clutch, hitter, but not much else -- he was an average defender and fit nicely into the 6th or 7th spot of your lineups. When he was traded for Byung-Hyun Kim in 2003 (who then moved into my parent's development), Hillenbrand badmouthed the Red Sox.

Well, it looks like the Blue Jays have grown weary of his bad attitude...my favorite part is when Hillenbrand calls the press "little people".

Random Rhapsody update: They have Katharine McPhee singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Can I just end the free subscription and start paying now?

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone's favorite feature is back! This time, a day earlier than usual! And this time, it was an email conversation which I've cut and pasted to make it look like IM.

Ski2Sun: I think this is how you should live your life:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, beer in one hand, whiskey in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOOHOO, what a ride".

Mshafron: Had I died at age 20, I would have accomplished that. Unfortunately, I’m well on my way to the first part.
Ski2Sun: that's a sad story. What are you doing this weekend?
Mshafron: Not sure…I got a huge boot on my foot and am still on crutches…any suggestions?
Ski2Sun: lets play some poker at one of those spots. (editor's note: "those spots" refer to the Rounders-esque underground poker clubs in New York). you want to do that?
Mshafron: Not really…I’m pretty immobile right now.
Ski2Sun: come on...I have nothing to do this weekend.
Mshafron: Come over…I’ll play you in a series of heads-up matches…10 bucks a pop.
Ski2Sun: can we watch boiler room and rounders while we play
Mshafron: God that sounds like an amazing day…I knew there was a reason I was friends with you. You have poker chips, right?
Ski2Sun: no, but maybe I'll buy some. We'll drink beer during the day too.
Mshafron: You guys used to have them…drinking beer sounds good too. You should get a nice set, like this, just cause you can.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To bring you the sobering news that it looks like Israel is on the brink of war. I'm not much into politics, but as the son and cousin of Israeli soldiers, citizens, and residents, I certainly take an interest in this.

When I was there in February, we stood on the same mountains in the Golan Heights and around Netanya that Hezbollah rockets are currently hitting. Bombing the Beirut airport is an act of agression, to be sure, but I don't see how it's any different from invading Iraq. It looks like President Bush is on the side of Israel while understandably expressing concern over the overall stability of the region. Re-invading Gaza is one thing and attacking Lebanon is another, but it sounds like Syria and Iran are one step away from being involved on a much deeper level (don't forget, they currently fund Hezbollah, a recognized terrorist organization).

On my trip, we traveled with six active-duty Israeli soldiers. I can only imagine that what they're doing now is a heck of a lot different from what I'm doing. There is talk of calling up the reserves (which all Israeli men stay in through the age of 43-45. I remember when I lived there in 1986 my dad going each month to check in with his reserve officer), so I'm also thinking about my cousin Tamir, a former tank commander who is now in medical school.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The headset has settled in nicely. Although I did learn about the IntelliStand, which automatically lifts and lowers the phone's receiver off the cradle with a touch of the button. So it is possible to begin and end calls using my wireless headset at places other than my desk.

The orthopedist I saw this morning said that my foot injury had nothing to do with the new headset. He did say though that I need to wear an enormous aircast AND continue to use crutches for TWO WEEKS. I will now bang my head against my desk repeatedly and without remorse. Headset, you are off the hook.

Aircast, I will call you DAS BOOT!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I got a snazzy new wireless headset for my phone at work yesterday -- I'm testing them out before buying them for the whole team. I did think that I was going to be able to use it without having the list the receiver off the cradle first (you know, so I could answer calls in the bathroom or something), but alas.

Anyway, coincidentally or not, I ended up the emergency room last night with a pain so intense in my right foot, I nearly passed out. I had to get my roommate and Shap Deez to interrupt their video game playing to walk me, injured-football-player style, out to a cab. 5 hours later, I had a diagnosis of severe tendonitis or perhaps a sprain of my right foot. Either way, I'm on crutches, taking some painkillers, and working from home right now.

So, headset, what's it going to be? You going to love me or hate me?

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I live in Stuyvesant Town.

It's a mega-development over the East Village with a lovely park in the middle. It's the only apartment I've had in New York city. I've always gotten what I've felt was a pretty good deal considering that a) there's no doorman, b) I have a three-bedroom apartment with one bathroom, and c) 14th St. down in my neighborhood isn't exactly the Upper East Side.

Oh, and like Wikipedia says "Today, Stuyvesant Town is a sprawling collection of red brick apartment buildings with typical housing project-style architecture". So we're not exactly talking the Trump Towers here.

MetLife bought the place (all 10,000+ units) back in 2005 and has been pumping money (on mostly cosmetic changes) while raising rents significantly.

How significantly you ask? Well, I just got my lease renewal form for next year, and mine is going up TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT. That's 25% for those of you with trouble reading.

25%
25%
25%

Ouch. Oh, plus they want extra security deposit (on top of the 2 months we've already got in there) to cover the difference between the old rent and the new rent.

If you see me walking gingerly in the street, it's 'cause StuyTown just took me behind the woodshed.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

When getting ready to go out, it always helps to have a conversation like this:

Ski2Sun: i'm dressing like a frat boy tonight
Ski2Sun: not like i don't normally
MShafron: what does that mean?
Ski2Sun: but its all american eagle
MShafron: god
MShafron: i am wearing a seersucker jacket tonight
MShafron: just cause i can
Ski2Sun: we shoudl take a picture together
MShafron: haha
Ski2Sun: my shirt is pre wrinkled

Bring on the evening!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

Off to Aruba for a quick vacation -- see you Sunday.

Oh, I thought McPhee was a lot better than the judges said tonight. Taylor was good, as was Yamin.

Final two? It's got to be McPhee and Taylor...if Yamin sneaks in again, it will be McPhee's expense.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's raining in Boston. A ton. Like 15 inches worth by this afternoon.

Good luck to the family...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the great things about New York is that there's pretty much something to do 24 hours a day. That includes greasy, gloppy Chinese food at 3AM on a Satuday, found in a basement restaurant on an otherwise deserted street deep in the heart of Chinatown. Funny enough, when I spoke with Shap Deez this morning, he said that he had gone to Wo Hop last also with Eugene and Weiner...at 4AM. I was so full/sick/both afterwards that I tried to leave the leftovers in the cab (got yelled at), then on the street (felt bad about littering), before finally doing the right thing and throwing them in the trash.

Like they say, only in New York.

This feast took place at Wo Hop, 15-17 Mott St., Chinatown, NYC.

(For those of you scoring at home, that's General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, Beef with Scallions, Chicken in Garlic Sauce, 3 Wonton Soups, 1 Hot and Sour Soup, Pork Fried Rice, an order of steamed Pork Dumplings, 3 Tsingtao's, and a few Fortune Cookies for good measure)

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I have a tendency, drunk or sober, to leave a bar without saying goodbye to anyone.

The next morning, people always wonder where I went. It's gotten to the point where they (OK, really just Dylan) just say "I pulled a Shafrir".

Turns out my move already has an apt -- considering I am part Irish -- name: The Irish Goodbye.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is it a bad sign if right before you go out, you're looking in the mirror and thinking, "hmmm, this shirt would look really good with some shoulder pads"?

Just wonderin'...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Incredible story on ESPN.com about a West Point hockey player killed in action in Afghanistan.

Take ten minutes to read the whole thing.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After a long hibernation, New York City looks like it's finally coming back to life. Or maybe it's just the weather. In any case, if New York City is my living room, it was a great host this weekend.

Friday night was the Death Cab for Cutie/Franz Ferdinand concert at Hammerstein. I wasn't a huge fan of Hammerstein before Friday night, but for some reason, it showed me it could be a pretty awesome place to see a show. I thought going in that Death Cab would be a tough act in a live setting and they proved me right. I'm a huge Death Cab fan, but they just don't have performance chops that accurately capture their sound and songwriting abilities. It's too bad too, because when they really clicked, like on their set closing "Transatlanticism", they were pretty good. For the most part though, they were pretty boring.

Franz Ferdinand on the other hand, is a GREAT live band. Their lead singer took control of the crowd from the first note and didn't let go until the final song was sung. Franz Ferdinand also played an incredible version of "Take Me Out" which is tough because it's their most popular song and they must play it at every concert. They really, really rocked, so much so that Eugene was pumping his fist by the end. And if you know Eugene, that means Franz Ferdinand was rocking. Or it could mean that we were very drunk. Either way.

Saturday brought an 80-degree day which meant I was going to do the Union Sq./Wash. Sq. combo. Union Sq. is what I consider the "center" of NYC -- you see everyone and their mother there. Washington Sq. is a great place to chill out, listen to some music, see some street performers, and relax.

Anyway, I took some pictures.

This guy was pissed because, and I quote, "It's hard living in the mortal realm of New York City after 4800 years on earth". I'm with you, bro.

We came across a couple of dudes doing the old turn-some-buckets-over-and-play-them trick. Then some kids got involved:

The little guy was getting down on his harmonica too.

Then all hell broke loose.

This guy smelled kind of bad.

These guys actually had a big crowd standing around them. That's not the point of this picture though. While we were watching this group, a guy stepped in front of me with a camera. Was he taking the same shots as me? No sir. He was TAKING PICTURES OF WOMEN'S FEET. I'm not joking; I saw the pictures with my own eyes. Only in New York...

Even dumpling man was having a great time...next to Dumpling Man is a new art gallery with works by James De La Vega. Check it out, it's really cool stuff.

Later it was time for some drinks on Shap's roof and a trip to Naked Lunch. Both Eugene and Shap threw up at the bar. Not in the bathroom either. Gene puked right into the bottle of beer he was drinking from and Shap let out a little stream directly underneath the bar. After Shap's episdoe, he got kicked out so we left. Yes, we're 26 years old.

Oh Jager, you are evil.

Sunday was a lazy day. Thanks New York for a great weekend!

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 07:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The bathrooms at work aren't that great, but they do have windows.

That means I can see THAT IT IS FUCKING SNOWING while I do my business.

Sorry for swearing on the blog, but seriously. Do I really need heavy snow on April 5th to remind that I live in a city that's cold six months of the year?

Last weekend was 70 degrees. I'm assuming that's what's passing as "Spring" this year, meaning sometime next week it will be 90 and humid straight through to September.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

It's not often I add a bookmark to my already complicated life, but this guy just earned one.

Fresh Pepper.

Well done! And yes, I know I should be using some sort of RSS reader, but, whatever.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Growing up, I had a book called "Things Not to Do Today".

It was aimed at kids, so it didn't include stuff like this. But I'm pretty sure this would have to be number one of my list. Anytime the words "severed organ", "several knives", and "Taser" can be used to describe your day, chances are things aren't going so well for you. I could actually see something like happening near my apartment, given the wackos you see walking up and down 14th St.

I think this sums it up best:

"We took him out without any serious injury, with the exception of his own,"

You're gonna have to get the details yourself....this is a family blog.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I was in elementary school, I used to get called down to the principal's office. Why? My mom would call the school needing help with Microsoft Word. I can't even imagine which computer we might have had in the house at the time, but there I was, all of 12 or 13, helping my mom with with her word processing.

So imagine my surprise/mortification/moral dilemma of "is this the first comment I delete from my blog?" when I found my mom commenting on my blog.

Color me stunned.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Ahh, so you thought I was the only Shafrir who could churn out some snappy sentences?

Guess again.

Spidergirl is starting a new literary magazine, The Crier!

They are having a launch party too:

Launch Party

Featuring brief readings by our editors and writers

Music and dancing

Monday, March 20, 7pm

Admission is $6

Cake Shop
152 Ludlow St., NYC

Like any fledgling venture, they're looking for donations. So if any of your readers are wealthy types who would like to donate, I'll hook you up with the right people ;)...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

It's all Ivy League all the time today at Mr. Shafrir.

My other sister, Spidergirl, wrote a neat little piece for the NY Observer about the crazy kids up at Columbia.

Seems one enterprising young guy created a site dedicated solely to the goings-on at the Butler Library. Best thing, in my opinion, is that he made it open to Columbia students only. Take that Craigslist Rants and Raves section!

Sites like this really intrigue me. On the one hand, it's a great way to do things like not study. On the other hand, it's a potential, albeit small, portend into the potential fate of top dogs like Facebook -- in 3 months, the site has seen 13,000 posts, and new functionality is going up every day. College kids (and I know, I was one), are notriously fickle and if anything points to the precarious position of sites like Facebook (and Friendster before it), it's stuff like this. So, random dude at Columbia, Mr. Shafrir salutes you. Now go celebrate with enough beers to end up with your pants around your ankles in the back of an NYPD cop car. Cause, you know, that's the only way to do it right.

Details are here.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Scene: Professor Thom's, 3:30PM, 2/25/06

Waitress: Does your roommate have a girlfriend?
Me: Nope.
Waitress: Good, because I don't want someone with baggage.
Me: Well, I didn't say that...

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

BLine 9: you have a Blog?
BLine 9: you loser

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 06:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It's 4:07AM on Sunday and I'm wide awake.

Why?

Drugs? Nope.

Wild sex-filled escapades with a bedroom full of Playmates? Nope.

The maniacal ramblings of my roommate about another Stephon Marbury injury? Perhaps.

The fact that I slept from 5PM to 11PM on Saturday night? Or maybe it's because I fell asleep at 8 on Friday night, woke up at 3:30AM and then went back to sleep from 5:30 to 9? Ding ding ding.

In any case, I can't recall a case of jet lag like this ever. I guess this is the "cost" of a free ten-day trip to Israel.

(And if that sounds like me complaining, it is. It takes a rare talent to be able to complain about something like a free trip, and I've never been one to hide my gifts.)

I do take solace in the fact that Dylan said this trip was better than his trip last year to Greece. I also periodically check up on him to make sure he is having as tough a time with the jet lag as I am. He is, thankfully.

One thing I'm really enjoying is the bounty of programming options on TV at 4AM on a Sunday morning. Erik Estrada is selling real estate in Hot Springs on the Food Network right now if anyone would like to join me.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 04:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mardi Gras returns to New Orleans this week.

I've been twice -- once to visit DK at Tulane Law School, once for JazzFest -- and loved every minute of it.

From the music to Muffalettas, Po' Boys to Pat O'Briens, New Orleans has a certain Joie de Vivre that I have not found in any other city in the country (or world for that matter, although Amsterdam, for other reasons, certainly ranks highly). So I, for one, am excited to see New Orleans get this piece of its city back.

It certainly deserves it.

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night Joel came home and was angry that I was watching American Idol without him.

Thankfully, it didn't lead to this:

Fla. Man Kills Roommate Over Toilet Paper

Posted by Michael Shafrir at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)