NEW YORK — The word “slut” has long been used to shame women.  Men use it to belittle women and make them feel bad about their sexuality.  Women use it to hurt one another and defend their own reputation.  On Saturday, New York City took the hateful term back for the first time, and unleashed its inner slut.

The first ever New York City Slutwalk flooded the lower east side with people screaming for their rights to sexuality, and in support of rape victim rights.  An estimated 3000 people showed up.

“Slutwalk NYC is part of a worldwide grassroots movement challenging rape culture, victim-blaming and slut-shaming, and working to end sexual and domestic violence,” according to the Slutwalk NYC website.  Slutwalk happens in many major cities across the country.

Slutwalk started with a series of speeches to get the crowd excited, and culminated with the same.  The group gathered in Union Square to listen to speeches about victim blaming and rape culture, all meant to gain awareness and empowerment for victims.

People of all genders and orientations attended the rally that marched from Union Square to Broadway, then down 8th street to 2nd avenue, it continued down 3rd street, and ended by going down Lafayette and back into Union Square.

The walkers held signs such as “end sexual violence now,” and “my clothes are not my consent.”  Many dressed like “sluts,” in order to show that the way a person dresses does not mean they are asking to be raped, or want it, which is a common defense of rape culture.

Slutwalk happened just one day after an NYPD officer told women on the street that their skirts were too short, and looked like the kind of women a rapist would target, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The event got its name from a comment a police officer in Toronto when he said, “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” according to Gothamist.

Attendees left the event feeling empowered.  One Slutwalker said that chanting and yelling things like “hey-hey, ho-ho, rape culture has got to go,” made her feel liberated.

NEW YORK — A tip claiming Al-Qaeda may have sent American terrorists or men carrying U.S. travel documents to attack Washington or New York on the ten year anniversary of 9/11 has heightened security within the two cities.

Though the tip is unconfirmed, it is said to be credible. A CIA informant who has proven reliable in the past approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men had been ordered by newly minted Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Sunday by doing harm on U.S. soil.

According to AP, one U.S. official says Al-Qaeda dispatched three men, at least two of whom could be U.S. citizens, to detonate a car bomb in one of the cities. Should that mission prove impossible, the attackers have been told to simply cause as much destruction as they can.

Speaking in New York, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was “a specific, credible but unconfirmed report that Al-Qaeda, again, is seeking to harm Americans and in particular, to target New York and Washington.”

In a notebook found in the compound of Osama bin Laden after he was killed in May, the Al-Qaeda leader mused about the possibility of mounting an attack on the 9/11 anniversary, and the police in New York and Washington were already on alert for trouble.

According to New York Times, two senior American law enforcement officials said an informer in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region passed word of the plot, intended to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, to American intelligence officers on Wednesday. The informer said two American citizens of Arab ancestry had left Afghanistan, traveled through one or more other countries and reached the United States as recently as last week.

But the informer’s information on the plot was second or third-hand, another official said. It included only a vague physical description of the two men — one described as 5 feet tall, the other 5-foot-8 — and a first name for one, Suliman, that is common in the Middle East. The tipster also described a third conspirator, but he appeared to have traveled to Europe. “All this information is very, very sketchy,” one of the law enforcement officials said.

At Penn Station in New York, transit authority police carried assault rifles and wore helmets and bullet-proof vests as they watched crowds of commuters. Police searched passengers’ bags as they entered the subway, and National Guard troops in camouflage fatigues moved among riders, eyeing packages.

Bomb-sniffing dogs were deployed in the Washington subway, and the police searched vehicles at the Brooklyn Bridge. More bomb sweeps of parking garages were planned; ferries were to be given extra police coverage; and cars parked illegally were to be towed quickly, not just ticketed.

In Washington, Police Chief Cathy Lanier warned that unattended cars parked in suspicious locations or near critical buildings and structures would be towed.

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, issued a statement Friday urging public vigilance. “As we head into the 9/11 anniversary weekend, we continue to urge the American public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. Simply put, if you see something, say something. We take all threat reporting, including the recent specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information, seriously.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, too, made a point of taking the subway to City Hall. Of the latest threat, the mayor said, “It’s serious, but I think the right answer is to go about your business.”

(WikiMedia)

NEW YORK — The iconic Status of Liberty will close to visitors for a year at the end of October to undergo a $27.25 million renovation, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Wednesday.

The renovations are meant to meant the statue’s interior safer and more easily accessible.

Liberty Island will remain open, and the outside of the statue will remain in view.

The statue will close October 28 after its 125th anniversary, the Associated Press reported.

About 3.5 million people visit the Statue of Liberty annually. It was a gift from France, build in the 1880s.

wireimage.com

Alec Baldwin expressed interest in running for mayor of New York City once he learns more about the duties.

Baldwin told the New York Times that he is talking to two universities about enrolling in a master’s program in politics and government in order to learn more about being the mayor of a city.

The 30 Rock star said 2013 is out of the question due to contractual obligations with the show, but he is strongly considering a shift to politics after his contract is up.

Baldwin will become a permanent NYC resident before running for political office.

NEW YORK — The premiere of “Water For Elephants” turned NYC into a Circus. Fans camped out in NYC for hours just to get a glimpse of Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. Rob and Reese talked to us about the love they have for their fans as well as for their animal co-stars during the New York Premiere.

The film which hit theaters on April 22, is based on Sara Gruen’s novel of the same name and is directed by Francis Lawrence. The film tells the story of Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson), a veterinary student, who abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet. While traveling with the circus, he falls for Marlena, (Reese Witherspoon) an equestrian star married to August (Christoph Waltz), the cruel head animal trainer. Jacob also meets Rosie, an untrainable elephant and the only hope for this third-rate traveling show. The film tells the tale of forbidden love, passion, tragedy, joy, betrayal and aging. Some critic have compared the feel of the film to 1997′s Titanic.

Your favorite toy could be here!

Giving your pets the star treatment is so passé. The newest way to pamper one of the little fuzzballs in your life? Send your favorite stuffed toy on a fun-packed week-long sight seeing adventure in New York City.

“You send us the toy and we do the rest,” said Irina Kot, co-founder of Stuffed in the City. “Your toy meets fellow tourists, takes pictures with New York City landmarks and gets VIP treatment by our staff.”

We know you’ll miss Teddy while he’s gone, but not to worry; proud toy moms and dads will receive mid-trip updates of how their little fuzzy one is doing, a CD and printouts of images from the trip, a travel certificate and a surprise souvenir from the Big Apple.

So how much does it cost to pamper your stuffed animal? The traditional week-long tour costs $100, but if you can’t bear to be away from your toy for that long, the company offers a New York Full Throttle tour, which lasts just three days and costs $25.

The company boasts that toys will return home “newly enriched, inspired and grateful.” After enduring all of your – or your child’s – tea parties, mid-sleep drooling and incessant squeezing, doesn’t Teddy deserve it?

More information about Stuffed in the City can be found here.

NEW YORK — Thirty years have passed since John Lennon was shot. John Lennon’s fans gathered around the “Imagine” mosaic, which is located in Strawberry Fields and known as a memorial to Lennon in Central Park, on the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death on Wednesday.

Outside of his NY apartment, the incident happened when John Lennon, the former Beatle as well as “Imagine” singer, was 40 on December 8th, 1980. Mark David Chapman, who shot Lennon, ended up serving a prison sentence of 20 years to life.

Yoko Ono tweeted and shared some story with Lennon, “‘Yoko, Yoko, you’re supposed to first put the tea bags in, and then the hot water.’we both cracked up. That was in 1980. Neither of us knew that it was to be the last year of our life together.”

State Police continued Monday investigating the fatal plane crash in the Western Massachusetts town of Leverett.

“The single-engine Cessna Model U206G bearing tail number #N9742Z lost engine power and was descending toward an open field when it hit a power line and subsequently crashed into the field at approximately 3:30 p.m.,” State Police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement.

The plane originated in Keene, N.H. and was headed for Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. when it crashed.

Killed was Robert E. Lothrop, 62, of Stony Brook, N.Y., who was a passenger. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three people survived the crash: William Scheley, of Miller Place, N.Y., Dayna Dicamillo, of Stoddard, N.H. and the pilot, Matthew Wilding, of Stony Brook, N.Y. The survivors were taken by medical helicopter to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

It is also believed that a dog was on board. The dog could not be located at the scene, Procopio said.

State and federal authorities will hold a press conference on Tuesday, where further details are expected to be released.

View Larger Map

Capri Anderson enters a Midtown Manhattan office building on November 22 in New York (WireImage)

On Monday, “Two and a Half Men” actor Charlie Sheen, 45, sued the porn star, Capri Anderson, who was found locked in the bathroom of his Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel suite last month, hours after she accused him of abuse in a “Good Morning America” interview.

The suit accuses the woman of extortion, saying she sought $1 million to remain quiet.

Earlier Monday, Anderson alleged Sheen used racial slurs and grabbed her by the throat on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

The lawsuit claims the allegations are false and that Anderson lowered her price to $500,000 on the eve of the interview. The lawsuit also accuses Anderson of taking a $165,000 watch from the actor and locking herself in the bathroom of the hotel to conceal the watch.

Anderson originally planned to file against the actor for battery and false imprisonment.

Sheen was temporarily hospitalized after hotel security reported he was disorderly and had broken furniture in his hotel room. Also, he voluntarily went with authorities for a psychiatric evaluation and was released from the hospital the same day.

NEW YORK — Heavily armed police officers will greet many Jews observing the Sabbath today, following the discovery of explosives bound for Chicago synagogues on Friday.

Two packages containing the industrial explosive PETN originated in Yemen, but were intercepted in Dubai and the United Kingdom before reaching the United States. President Barack Obama called the thwarted attacks a “credible terrorist threat,” and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano told CNN that the plot has the “hallmarks of al Qaeda.”

Police received a tip Friday about potential explosives on a FedEx flight traveling from Yemen to Dubai. Cooperation from the Saudi government allowed officials to track the packages to Dubai and the United Kingdom.

The Transportation Security Administration halted all shipments originating from Yemen Friday, including FedEx, UPS, and DHL packages.

In New York, heavily armed police officers stationed around the city are not in Halloween costume. NYPD’s elite Hercules unit guarded an Upper East Side synagogue on Friday, and the Post reports police continue to patrol high-profile synagogues in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Airports nationwide remain on high alert. Travelers should expect heightened security measures and cargo screenings in the coming days, and allow more time to pass through airport security.

NEW YORK — Last week, The New School in NYC hosted “Music 2010: New Opportunities” at the Theresa Lang Center, The seminar focused on the decline of traditional music industry as every aspect of music has become available online. So, if you want to be an artist, what do you have to do to be successful? According to several executives, you don’t have to give up on your dream, but you need a modern perspective of how the industry works.

The five participants (and their clients):

Adam Ritholz: Founding Partner, Ritholz Levy Sanders Chidekel & Fields LLP; N’SYNC, Lisa Loeb, Maxwell, Sly Stone

Mark Eichner: President, The Eichner Entertainment Company; George Lucas, 20^th Century Fox

Charlie Feldman: Vice President, Writer Publisher Relations, BMI; R.Kelly, Rihanna, The Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Mika

Allison Schlueter: Vice President, Digital Media, Island Def Jam Music Group; Kanye West, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey

Steven Scharf: Sr. VP of Creative, Carlin America/ President, Steven Scharf Entertainement

Scharf moderated the discussion. He opened by saying that “artists are becoming more entrepreneurial by doing things on their own and controlling their careers.” Ritholz joined him by sharing how he got a lot of clients who started their own entertainment companies because big record companies have been doing not so well. The cost to make a record is parallel to the economy so, when artists start their own business, there are more opportunities by handling all the costs for making records. His advice is this: to be completely open to where you want to go because the role of music, in these days, is a little bit different from the way it used to be. Most revenues are coming from concerts, fan clubs, merchandise, and social media. So the development of downloading music has had a huge impact on a role of music as a financial source.

Schlueter said that it depended on the type of artists to decide if digital media should be used to promote music. It was actually convincing because most of the Def Jam artists have been using Ustream to cultivate their fan base by connecting with fans live.

Eichner said that “Great songs are coming from great artists and it’s not gonna change.” He pointed out, “It is not about the majors today and there are opportunities for smaller creative people.” Music business people want to help them to be successful in every aspect, such as marketing, concerts, promotion, etc. So, an artist has a great team of people around him/her, and “being an artist” is “being yourself” but it is a “business,” which means that there are some compromises. That’s where the great music business team comes in to fully support the artist. For example, when there are successful artists like Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, there are also a lot of people behind them. He said his current favorite artist was Bruno Mars.

Feldman sort of brought up a new topic regarding networking. He just came back from a big event in Austin, TX. There was a new band performing onstage because someone recommended them to perform. It’s about networking; there are more people making music and more people listening to music because of the explosion of the internet and digital music.

Scharf jumped in the discussion by mentioning the important points for an artist to recognize: how you view your talent, what you will say, and who you are. Those are the crucial criteria to develop a unique persona. Obviously it is very hard for a company to listen take all the submissions from people who want to be artists so it is necessary for them to have both great songwriting skills and something great to say in order to be outstanding.

Schlueter started talking about how a teenage kid became a successful teen pop sensation. Yes, of course it was about Justin Bieber. An online buzz on YouTube made them to go find him in Ontario, Canada, bring him to Atlanta, and get him signed with Def Jam. He was definitely the topic that got people’s attention at the seminar.

Here, Scharf brought us back on the original track by saying, “Micro-market yourself if you want to be a live artist.” Networking is very important because you never know how you could find a person who is really helpful to you, which actually happens in a funny strange way most of the time, so it is always good for you to be out there.

Ritholz talked about fan clubs, which was fascinating. How are fan clubs actually working in the industry? According to Ritholz, it is basically for an artist to create a base, and a way of keeping contact with the fan base. It could be some exclusive merchandise or a close connection between fans and artists.

Ritholz also mentioned 12-year-old web sensation Greyson Michael Chance who signed a deal with a label Ellen DeGeneres started after his performance off youtube. He said, “There is no filter anymore. He could be a talent or just a freak.” The audience laughed but it was very true and really hard to draw the line.

Eichner and Ritholz agreed with this point; you have to have your “best” stuff out there and people would dig into your stuff more. Also, you should not think in a limited way about what your product is, but think about what you are creating in a broad way. So, their point is that you should be confident and do your best, no matter what.

Feldman used Lady Gaga as an example. She was dropped by a record label before she shot to stardom. She demanded the audience’s attention and had a desire herself.

Eichner added that Columbia Records dropped Jonas brothers and Katy Perry on the same day before they became successful.

Feldman also said that Taylor Swift in Nashville used to email all of her fans before she became famous whenever she was not performing onstage. So, obviously she was making so much effort into connecting with her fans and it all paid off.

During the Q&A, one audience member question the music industries revenues, after doing some independent checking of several financial statements released by Warner Music, Sony, and Def Jam. The man was curious how revenue was doing so well when the industry complained of a decline. Schlueter answered that it was mostly from downloading and also, Universal Music (Def Jam’s parent company) was constantly signing new deals. For example, they do not compete with iTunes and MySpace, but instead have a partnership.

Another man, who clamed himself as “a lead singer of the third generation’s heavy metal rock band,” asked the five music business executives how they could help him to have a unique brand. They answered, “You already do.”

Overall, since the industry has changed so much, if you want to step in the industry as an artist, you have to adjust your marketing style. You have to work hard and focus on networking, clearly define your identity, be sensitive to those possible opportunities, and be confident about what you are creating.

NEW YORK — Residents of the Lower East Side were treated to police digging up a cemetery today, but as night falls across the city, zombies and vampires are yet to emerge.

This disturbance of the dead follows the police receiving a call about a suspicious package, which turned out to be a plastic garbage bag containing eight sticks of C-4 explosives.

A New York City Marble Cemetery volunteer placed the call to the police early Monday. Police discerned that a caretaker had dug up the package in fall 2009, but left the mysterious bag near a back fence without notifying authorities.

C-4 is a military grade explosive more powerful than TNT. A single stick can blow up a car or topple a large tree, but the substance is considerably stable without a detonator to set it off.

The bag found at Marble Cemetery did not include a blasting cap or detonator so was unlikely to explode on its own.

Who buried the bag—and when—remains under investigation. “We believe it’s been there for a significant period of time,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

As noted by the New York Daily News, the historic cemetery abuts several brownstones and is approximately 100 feet from a notorious 3^rd Street Hell’s Angels clubhouse. According Yves Lavigne’s 1987 book “Hell’s Angels: Three Can Keep a Secret if Two Are Dead,” the motorcycle gang stockpiled C-4 in the 1980s.

Kelly stated that there is no suspicion of terrorists connected to the explosive at this time.

Further befuddling investigators, a chalk note found on the sidewalk outside the cemetery reads, “I really hope one of you finds this.”

NEW YORK — In a 12-2 vote on Thursday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority approved a fare increase for New York City subways and buses, the third fare hike in as many years.

Effective December 30, the unlimited monthly pass will rise from $89 to $104, an increase of 17 percent. The 7-day unlimited pass will increase from $27 to $29, a 7 percent increase, and single ride tickets will jump two pence to $2.50.

The sliding scale increases are greatest for monthly pass purchasers, who are statistically more affluent than weekly pass users. Roughly one-third of MTA riders purchase monthly passes.

The fare increases follow a series of service cuts over the summer, causing residents to question why the MTA’s best customers will soon pay more for fewer transport options.

“They say that the money’s going into the MTA, but where is it really going?” questioned Nadia Chaudhury, 25, a Queens Village resident who works in Midtown. “They’re firing people, cutting subways and bus lines—hell, they’ve even stopped cleaning the turnstiles so you’ll have to swipe more because of card errors. They’re embarking on ridiculous projects like the Second Avenue subway line and the 7-train extension even though they claim there’s no money.”

Chaudhury uses the bus and subway in her daily commute and says she will continue to purchase a monthly pass. “But I hate my reliance on the MTA,” she concludes.

Doreen M. Frasca, a Paterson-appointed MTA board member, lamented the decision but says the lack of state government funding leaves no other option. “Being on this board really made me stop believing in fairy tales,” Frasca told the New York Times.

The new fare structure is expected to create a 7.5 percent increase in MTA revenue.

Demond Green, 30, an actor who lives in Midtown, chooses not to purchase an unlimited pass but adds money to a regular Metrocard as needed. “I’ve certainly begun walking a lot more than usual just to save a bit more change after the last fare hike,” Green said. “I suppose that will only increase.”

Michael Mitchell, 25, a medical student and monthly pass user who commutes from the Upper West Side to Central Harlem, says the hike is not as great as had been rumored. “I will just never EVER use a cab now,” he wrote in an e-mail.

NEW YORK–The greatest city in the world has been ordered to stop shouting.

On street signs, that is.

Following a directive of the Federal Highway Administration, New York City will change its 250,000 street signs from all-caps to lowercase by 2018. This means WALL ST will become Wall St, promoting a softer image for the bedeviled financial industry (not discounting a little help from baby-faced Shia LeBeouf).

The change is supposed to help drivers—particularly older drivers—with faster reading comprehension. A new font, Clearview, has been developed for easier readability.

New York initially opposed the change, citing replacement costs greater than the supposed benefits. At $110 per sign, the project is estimated to cost the state $27.5 million.

Janette Sadik-Khan, city transportation commissioner, told the New York Post that 11,000 signs will have been replaced by the end of this fiscal year. She noted that approximately 8,000 signs are already replaced annually due to normal wear and tear.

Still, in a city and state strapped for cash, the change is not without its critics. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) said he’s considering sending a letter to the Highway Administration, “but I’m trying to figure out whether to put STUPID in all caps so they’ll understand it.”

While the change may help older drivers, no one seems to be focusing on the next generation—those who have only lived in this millennium and will be taking to the roads by completion of the project in 2018. For them, will all-lowercase, phonetic spelling abbreviations (such as brdwy, mdson av, and blkr st) cause fewer accidents?

Only Times Sq will tell.

A veteran fire chief died suddenly while out on a call early Tuesday morning.

Karen Hand was chief of the Broome County, N.Y. Volunteer Emergency Squad. She sent into sudden cardiac arrest while on a call, according to FireFighterCloseCalls.com.

Hand has 17 years of service with the volunteer department.

Broome is a county near the Pennsylvania border, not to be confused with the small town called Broome, in Schoharie County, about 20 miles southwest of Albany.

Hand was also the deputy EMS coordinator for the Broome County Office of Emergency Management for the past 20 years and was a member of the local Critical Incident Stress Management team.

No details were released on the call she was responding to.

NEW YORK—Despite a near 14-month imprisonment, Sarah Shourd emerged from her Iranian captors promoting a message of peace.

Shourd, 32, spent 410 days in a Tehran prison after she, her fianc©, Shane Bauer, and friend Josh Fattal were arrested for allegedly crossing into Iran from Iraq while on a hiking expedition. The Iranian government detained the trio as spies, which Shourd declares "a huge misunderstanding."

Bauer and Fattal remain in prison. At a press conference in New York Sunday, Shourd stated she is "one-third free."

All three of the prisoners were engaged in humanitarian work in the region prior to their arrest. Fattal had travelled to visit Bauer and Shourd, who were living together in Damascus, Syria. The trio went on a hiking expedition to a waterfall in Iraq’s Kurdistan region in July 2009.

In a statement of goodwill, Shourd thanked the Iranian government for the "humanitarian gesture" of her release. Shourd emphasized that she in no way blames the Iranian people for her imprisonment, calling them a "diverse and generous people" who also "want to live in peace."

"I believe that our tragedy is an opportunity for Americans and Iranians to realize that an improved relationship would be in the best interest for all people," Shourd said.

The mothers of Bauer and Fattal hope to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while he is in New York attending the U.N. General Assembly. Ahmadinejad has not indicated a forthcoming release for Bauer and Fattal, telling Christiane Amanpour "the cases have to be examined" and calling on the U.S. to release eight detained Iranians.

Following Shourd’s press statement, Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey, said, "A mother’s hope is never going to end, it’s always going to be strong."

"Now is the time to make the world a little safer for everyone through peace and dialogue," Shourd said.

NEW YORK — Queens may be one of New York City’s less glamorous boroughs. But following the drama of Thursday evening’s storms, Broadway is not the only venue shrouded in a mist of theatricality. With 8,500 Queens residents still without power at noon on Saturday, Con Edison employees handed out dry ice in three locations to ensure residents could keep food cool.

Singing along to "Wicked" when reaching for the milk carton remains optional.

Dry ice is not the only Oz parallel. While Hurricane Earl passed New York City earlier this month not with a bang but a whimper, two tornadoes touched down in Brooklyn and Queens around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The twin twisters are two of only ten tornadoes recorded for NYC in the past 60 years.

FEMA officials are surveying the 14-mile path of destruction, which includes Staten Island, to determine whether the area should be declared a disaster area.

Alfonso Quiroz, a Con Edison employee, told NY1 News that 45,000 city residents were without power immediately following the storm. The 8,500 still in the dark live primarily in the Queens neighborhoods of Flushing, Rego Park and Mayspeth.

Con Edison is advising dry ice recipients use caution and wear gloves when handling the substance, which can cause frostbite at its -109.3°F temperature. Children and animals should be kept away from the substance, which evaporates into carbon dioxide gas.

Barring, of course, the ubiquitous witches’ brew for trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

For more information on handling dry ice, download this New York Department of Health brochure.

NEW YORK — The city has long been home to the privileged and the destitute, but voters from all walks of life felt disenfranchised after a city-wide snafu at primary voting locations on Tuesday.

According to the New York Times, 71 polling locations opened late due to missing or malfunctioning machines. With polls scheduled to open at 6 a.m., some voters experienced a delay of up to 4 hours.

Other voters received an error message when scanning their ballots and left in disgust, unsure whether their votes would be counted.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, upon receiving complaints at City Hall, referred to the situation as a "royal screw-up" by the Board of Elections.

The state’s new optical scanning machines — similar to those already in use in Boston — require voters to fill in paper ballots, which are then scanned electronically.

Voters reported hard-to-read print and a lack of privacy when workers assisted with feeding ballots through machines. The new system is a departure from the lever-machine voting system used for the past half century.

“I think there are going to be people who are going to lose their votes,” Anne Koenig told the Wall Street Journal, after she was instructed to place her paper ballot in an emergency voting box to be counted later by poll workers.

The new system is already the subject of a lawsuit filed by NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice on behalf of the NAACP, Working Families Party, and other groups. The suit alleges that disproportionate numbers of minority voters will be subject to misreading the machine’s over-voting instructions, meaning their votes will be invalidated.

While a number of the primary elections on Tuesday were won by a wide margin—such as Rep. Charles Rangel’s renomination in Harlem—others were a closer call. Senatorial candidate Joseph DioGuardi clinched the Republican nomination by earning 4 points more than David Malpass. The Democratic state attorney general race was even tighter, with nominee Eric Schneiderman eking out 3 points over Kathleen Rice.

Such tight results call into question the number of ballots that may have been misread by the new machines, or the percentage of voters who were unable to vote due to late poll openings.

State Board of Elections spokeswoman Valerie Vazquez said, “We will apply all lessons learned from today’s primary election to November’s general election.”

With higher turnout, and higher stakes, due in November, voter disenfranchisement may become a key election issue over the next two months.

Jeffrey Lewis performing with The Bundles in Machester, U.K. on May 17. (Media credit/Man Alive! via Flickr)

NEW YORK — Jeffrey Lewis is sitting in a double-parked 1991 Nissan Pathfinder on South Eighth Street in Williamsburg on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s in low 80s as he’s flipping through pencil marked 11×17 pages.

In the car’s dusty interior, a black sketchbook and a small pouch of pens and pencils are on the back seat. A used scratch ticket is on the passenger side floor and coins and old receipts are scatted around the dashboard. The air conditioner is off but Lewis looks comfortable in his black Brooklyn Anti-Folk Festival t-shirt and blue Levis with worn out knees. A red number four pencil rests on his right ear, the tip poking out of his thinning shaggy brown hair.

The Pathfinder has been Lewis’ office recently, at least for a few hours on Tuesdays and Fridays when New Yorkers play a giant game of musical cars as the city’s streets are cleaned. The pages may be part of the eighth and latest issue of Fuff, Lewis’ self-published comic book series, but the 34-year-old artist and musician isn’t happy with them yet. Lewis has been working on the issue since last June and hopes to finish this summer.

"It could be done this week if I just hunkered down," he says.

Lewis has more pressing responsibilities: Working out transportation and housing issues before going on tour with his new group, The Bundles, on May 15 throughout the U.K., and with his brother Jack in Israel beginning May 22. By the end of the month, Lewis will be at the Primavera Festival in Barcelona, Spain.

The last nine years have been busy as Lewis transitioned from playing coffee houses and small venues to touring around the U.S. as an opener for acts like Dr. Dog, and as a headliner in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Music became a source of income for Lewis around 2001 when his first album came out on Rough Trade Records, and more gigs were booked.

In 2009, Lewis released his fourth album, "‘Em Are I," and he was asked to write a series of articles and a comic strip on songwriting for The New York Times. This year, he recorded a series of "illustrated songs" – tunes that Lewis sings while holding posters of related drawings — for the History Channel on topics like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Peloponnesian War.

Living on money saved from touring over the past four years, Lewis spent this spring in Williamsburg resting drawing before touring this summer.

"I’ve been doing more artwork and a bit less music," Lewis says, "and also I sort of feel like I’m in between albums in a weird way. I don’t really know what the next album is going to be."

Dates are scheduled. He just wants to get it done. And for that, he probably needs to go to Maine.

–

Lewis grew up in a Manhattan tenement apartment on East Ninth Street between First and Second avenues. His mother, Wendy, is an English teacher. Joe, his father, was a New York City firefighter until an injury in the early sixties. Lewis’ father receives a small pension check every month, Lewis says, and lives "a very hippy lifestyle." His father "always sort of had one little hustle or another," Lewis says, "anything to avoiding working full time."

Before Jeffrey and his brother Jack were born, the Lewis’ bought land about thirty miles north of Augusta, Maine where the family later spent a few months every summer sleeping in a trailer.

Jeffrey didn’t play sports. He sketched on the floor of his room and included drawings in school projects. Horror novels by John Bellairs were Lewis’ favorite books and he bought comics at magazine stands in Saint Mark’s Square. Marvel’s Rom issue seven was the first comic he really liked.

He played piano as a teenager, learning chords and basic theory, but was always more interested in drawing and comics. At the State University of New York at Purchase, Lewis’ thesis for his Literature major was a critical analysis of the comic, The Watchmen. For two years after graduating in 1997, Lewis traveled, began writing punk and garage-tinged folk songs, and finished his first professional comics.

–

(Media credit/Dale Harvey via Flickr)

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Lewis flips though a sketchbook. This is his 24th. The others sit on a shelf in his third floor Williamsburg apartment, where Lou Reed album covers and a poster of Rom are d©cor.

"I finally put them all in order and I realized how much I slowed down. In the past few years I’ve been filling up about one sketchbook a year, whereas before I started touring I was filling up about three sketchbooks a year," Lewis says.

Drawing does not get done on tour.

He can’t work in a car and needs to be alone to concentrate. Still, Lewis brings his current sketchbook every time he goes on the road. Each book begins with a drawing of Lewis and his favorite comic book character Rom, has a list of songs and a page marking when the book was started. The first page of the book he is holding now has Lewis and Rom surrounded by overwhelmingly cute dogs under a title drawn in the style of a 1950′s horror comic.

His work isn’t exactly mainstream fare. One comic is based on his father’s exaggerated story about a cross-country trip in a 1959 Plymouth Fury that was ripped apart by bears. Another was named, “Reflections on Tomorrow Thus a Yesterday Flower Shall Doom." Now he’s working on a coming-of-age story with adolescent superheroes experiencing the growing pains of everyday middle-schoolers. On one half-sketched page, Lewis shows a shy superhero boy that feels ostracized by his schoolmates, goes home and masturbates in the bathroom.

His comics are sold in a handful of stores around the U.S. Lewis says he rarely sees any money from retail sales. and the comics are sold at every show he plays. But the they not only take up more physical space in cars than CDs, comics make much less profit.

After looking over the 24 sketchbooks this spring, Lewis says he realized his drawing skills hit a peak in the late 1990s as his music career was beginning. To get over it, Lewis says, he will have to spend more time drawing.

He flips to pages where he recently copied panels from some of his favorite comics, like Eight Ball and The Watchmen.

"William Faulkner apparently would retype and retype the entire novel of The Great Gatsby just to know what it felt like to write a great novel. I thought that was a funny idea and, just for kind of a joke, I thought I would see what that would be like with comic book pages," he says.

–

At about 1:15 p.m., Lewis puts his key into the ignition.

"It’s about that time," he says. The engine whines. It won’t start. He glances at the dashboard and tries again. The ignition clicks and the Pathfinder is alive. After the car is parked in its usual place across the street, Lewis decides to walk down Broadway for pizza.

The used Pathfinder was purchased two years ago for touring the U.S. When home from tour, Lewis moves the car back and forth across the street twice a week and drives to Maine during the summer to concentrate on drawing. He’s put about 70,000 miles on the odometer.

He first went to Maine to work on his comics in 1997, just after college. After a few months, he finished the 40-page "Tao Jones," his first comic. He hated going there as a teenager. "I always just wanted to come back to New York immediately, but then once I realized that it was a really good spot for working on my comic books I started spending a lot more time up there," he says. Lewis built a small one-room cabin with no electricity and plumbing where he sleeps and works.

Before the Pathfinder, he would take a bus from Manhattan to Boston’s South Station, and hop another bus to Augusta. Then Lewis hitchhiked the thirty-mile stretch to his family’s property.

"I’m probably going to go when I get back from this next tour, but I haven’t gone for a whole summer for a long time, cause its just harder now that, you know, with tour stuff, if I have a girlfriend, or, you know, anything that just makes it impossible to disappear for three months or four months at a time," he says.

Each every trip is more or less the same. He packs a few shirts, pairs of socks and underwear, an acoustic guitar and his art supplies. Arriving at the cabin, Lewis cleans up, throws a few dead mice away, and gets to work.

He writes a script and outlines basic page layouts and then draws characters and scenes in his sketchbook. Once he knows the basic plot and panel flow, Lewis begins to sketch lightly on 11” x 17” card stock. Figures and backgrounds emerge in 3h and 4b pencil marks. He doesn’t know where it’s going yet.

As graphite is layered on, Lewis makes choices. Words and the page borders are the first elements to get painted with a size six watercolor brush. Each panel is finished with strokes of black Windsor & Newton ink and details in Micron pen. The finished page is scanned, converted into a .tiff file and sent electronically to a printer in Texas. Soon boxes arrive at his Williamsburg apartment with 3,000 copies.

–

Lewis is sitting in Sabrina’s Pizza Restaurant on Broadway. He’s serious about pizza. In a Times article, Lewis said the best "political" song he ever wrote was about price increases in New York pizza joints ("Sal’s Pizza Has Sold Out to the Yuppie Scum").

Customers sit at some of the tables, only casually glancing at Lewis at most. He is not Jeffrey Lewis the musician or comic book artist here. He’s just eating a regular slice of cheese.

"I always just wanted to do comics. That’s, like, what I feel I’ve wanted to do my whole life," Lewis says after he finished the slice, "Its just that very, very few people make any money at that, it’s a very esoteric form of entertainment to make a living at."

He never planned on making a living as a musician. Despite the pressures and dual roles he’s playing, Lewis says there is improvement in each comic he produces.

"I would like to think I’m not too old to actually to end up as a comic artist after all but you know at a certain point anybody who’s playing baseball sort of realizes, like, oh I’ll never make it to the major leagues, you know, I’m at such and such an age," Lewis says, pausing. "I don’t know if art is like that ‘cause you really can get better and better at it the more you do it."

A month after having heart surgery, local rapper Gang Starr MC Guru has died at age 43.

MTV.com reported that the rapper, whose real name is Keith Elam, died from cancer. He had undergone surgery for a heart attack.

Born in Boston, Guru’s fame rose in the late 1980s when he was half of the duo Gang Starr with partner DJ Premier.

The duo was a major part of the underground rap scene in the 90s.

NEW YORK — Blast was asked to come down and check out a musical event being put on by Alonzo Harris. He and his partner and younger brother, David Harris, better known as “Swagg” started a company called SuBB Zero Entertainment. Its a production company as well as musical endeavor. The event was called MBK Showcase: We’ve Got Next 2, held at the Highline Ballroom on W. 16th Street.

The showcase was to introduce what’s happening for the next decade for MBK. They introduced some of their new artists, Jermaine Paul, (former background singer for Alicia Keys) Elle Varner (who has a deal with J Records), Black Buddafly (who also has a deal with J), Letoya Luckett, 12-year-old phenom Gabi Wilson, and gospel group Livre.

Most of the artists have albums dropping this year.

“Remember Me” is many things. It’s depressing. It’s emotional. It’s funny. It’s a love story to New York. Did I say it was depressing?

But once I overcame the desire to jump off a bridge after watching this movie, I realized it actually wasn’t bad. “Remember Me” follows Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattinson), a college student in New York City who has serious daddy issues and is haunted by his brother’s suicide. Enter Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin), Hawkins’ quirky, independent classmate. Hawkins’ best friend, and the film’s comedic relief, Aidan (Tate Ellington) discovers that Craig is the daughter of Neil Craig (a brilliant Chris Cooper), a cop who pounded a little bit on Hawkins and sent him to jail. In a very “She’s All That” twist, Aidan dares Hawkins to ask her out, and Hawkins agrees.

So begins a tender romance between Craig and Hawkins, where they try to mend each others’ wounds (Ally has a dark past as well) while flirting enough to keep the Twihards salivating. It’s hard to remember that the looming secret of the initial dare is bound to come out when the movie skips to other interesting plot lines.

Hawkins shares an endearing relationship with his little sister, Caroline (Ruby Jerins), who is plagued by artistic ability and a lack of social skills. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the movie belongs to her when her classmates play a prank on her at a slumber party. Craig leaves home to live with Hawkins following a domestic violence occurrence with her dad (though she lives with Hawkins and Aidan for months — in Manhattan, no less, which is not cheap — and seemingly has no job or other friends, the issues of grocery bills and rent never come up). And many times, Hawkins’ strained relationship with his super-successful father (Pierce Brosnan) takes center stage.

Director Allen Coulter does his best work in the everyday scenes. Coulter manages to make Hawkins and Aidan’s repulsive apartment look beautiful in its disarray. The chemistry between Pattinson and de Ravin sings in the simple (and frequent) love scenes. Pattinson holds his own in passionate scenes with acting giants Brosnan and Cooper.

Just when you think things are tidying up nicely, the movie drops a twist ending in your lap which you will either love or hate. Surprisingly enough, I loved it, even though I know I should probably hate it. The reason I loved it, since you asked, is because three days after I saw the movie, I couldn’t get it out my head, which, according to the title, is accurate. “What would I have done?” I ask myself. “How could’ve he done things differently? Why did it happen that way?” Just know that, in the end, what happened, in a way, had to happen. Any other ending would have been untrue to the story. Hate me for that, if you will. But keep it to the comments section.

All in all, Robert Pattinson broods more convincingly here than in “Twilight.” Emily de Ravin is captivating. Pierce Brosnan is hateable. And the movie is, as it claims to be, memorable.

Young designers Meghan Lavery and J’aime Lizotte met on a beach in Maine 11 years ago. Dissatisfied by current trends and fashions, they set to work creating their own clothes. This friendship was only interrupted by their departures to different colleges.

Lizotte went to Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston for her BFA in fashion design. Her style is greatly influenced by her love of clean lines, menswear, and particularly silhouettes.

Despite the wet snow that spun its way down outside, Lizotte, one of the designers of ShapeShiftRNYC, braved the Boston weather for an interview with Blast. She drank a cup of jasmine tea in the cafe, wearing ShapeShiftR’s leather and powernet bodycon dress from its fall 2009 collection and a long-sleeve black shirt (her mother’s) which she cropped mid-asymmetrically mid-waist. Dangling from her ears were her favorite earrings by Pretty Young Thing: a gold triangle on a gunmetal chain.

An internship with Armani Exchange in men’s knits and sweaters helped strengthen her skill in detail and color-blocking.

It also "definitely gave me an idea of what the industry is like," Lizotte acknowledged, "working for a corporate company."

Lavery specialized in tailoring at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. She had studied jewelry design and metals in Maine, which developed her interest in form. She received her BFA in 2005 and went on to an apprenticeship with AsFour (now threeASFOUR).

ShapeShiftRNYC came to creation when Lizotte moved to New York last May and happened to catch up with Lavery. As soon as Lizotte arrived, she contacted Lavery.

"I was like ‘Hey, I’m in New York,’ and she was like, ‘Well, I’m in Brooklyn!’ We were showing each other clothes, bouncing ideas," she said. The two soon found that they had a lot of the same thoughts and similar styles. They meshed perfectly, and a partnership was born.

The line originally started out from a fashion blog. "We were on the same page as far as concepts, inspirations," Lizotte said. "We just decided to go for it and start a line."

The blog has since helped ease the strain of working both in Boston and NYC.

Last summer, the two created ShapeShiftR. The line is, as Lizotte noted, "motivated by changing form" and constant motion and change in silhouette. Geometry greatly inspires the collection, as do shapes (especially triangles and prisms) and scene-themed imagery.

"Layering is big for us, and texture. We like to use different materials. We like to make our textures," Lizotte said. The line also features knits, but focuses more on tailored pieces mixed with softer pieces. This blending and conversion and juxtaposition of textures and styles are what define the label.

For being fairly new, ShapeShiftR’s already has two collections finished. A few looks were featured during Boston Fashion Week last fall. When their first collection came out last summer, they showed their work to Pixie Market (1000 Stanton Street, New York), who picked up two of their looks for fall.

ShapeShiftR’s doesn’t have any upcoming shows since the designers are primarily focused on working on their spring and summer lookbook, as well as their fall and winter collection which are soon to follow. Their spring and summer lookbook is out now and can be viewed online.

The line became something very personal to both of them: "We make things we want to wear," Lizotte said. "We like pieces that are easy to wear, very edgy and black."

The presence of black is also strong in the label, as well as a few nudes. "We don’t use a lot of color," Lizotte explained, "because it’s really about the silhouette."

ShapeShiftRNYC is very professional cool, for the twenty-something to the forty-something. But as Lizotte affirms, the line is more about "taste" than demographic. They are inspired by such designers as Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Preen and threeASFOUR.

Music also helps the inspiration process. Lizotte noted that as she is working in her studio, "I’ve been listening to a lot of Italo-disco and Twilight Ritual." Iconic figures like Klaus Nomi also motivate ideas and styles

However, the line comes together, not through these external inspirations, but by how well the two designers work together and how well their designs fuel each other.

"We use ourselves as inspiration," Lizotte said.

The partnership has been a bit like a marriage, she said.

"It just happens — it’s so — I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just this thing that works, and we just love it so much. We do so much together. It’s not like one person does this and another person does this. It just works."

Then Lizotte added, "I’m glad I’m doing a partnership. It makes it so much fun."

Their next collection for fall and winter is coming out very soon (Lizotte — as excited as she was — could not reveal when). But she did divulge that the new line would have curved seams and they would be using a lot of piecing styles. Shapes and proportions were also going to be played with.

Starting their own label has been hard, they admitted, including lots of work and a lot of time. "I don’t sleep much," Lizotte laughed, and then pointed out how in both her and Lavery’s life things had to be sacrificed or prioritized.

Their line, Lizotte started, then paused before declaring, is like "their baby."

As for what’s upcoming for ShapeShiftR, the designers acknowledged that the fashion industry is struggling. Which means for them, things may be, well, a bit a little rough for awhile. However, Lizotte is optimistic about where ShapeShiftR is at now and where it is headed, as well as the fashion industry.

"I think right now is a good time for new things — like this — it’s a struggle coming up with the means to get things going," yet they are determined to stubbornly stick it through. Working on ShapeShiftRNYC is "doing what we love, making clothes we love."

Cold slush rained down outside, and the caf© chatter intensified as the afternoon carried on. The designer took a sip of her tea.

"You’ll see more of us," she said, but refrained from going into detail. "There’s things that’ll be happening soon."

She smiled and added, "I’m excited about it … You know when you love something that it just comes together?"

Lizotte paused, trying to find the words to express just how much both she and Lavery have invested in their line.

Finally, Lizotte smiled and said, "It’s just happening that way."

NEW YORK — Can you keep a secret? Red Bull is now doing secret shows in New York showcasing artists with incredible talent.

This past Thursday, Blast was there to take part in the event at the Sullivan Room. The host for the evening was Jasmine Solano, who herself is a performer as well and dazzled us with her set of mic skills as well.

The main performers for the evening were “The Knux.” The Knux is composed of brothers Kentrell “Krispy Kream” Lindsey and Alvin “Rah Almillio” Lindsey. They performed their hits “Cappuccino” and “Bang Bang.”

Look for more secret shows from Red Bull soon. To find out where they will be next call 1-800-222-2929 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-222-2929      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

See you there!

NEW YORK — Greenhouse is your cup of tea on a Tuesday night. Blast specifically went to see DJ Jazzy Jeff, but unfortunately he was not able to come. In his place were DJ Stretch Armstrong and DJ IronLyon who both brought the house down with hip-hop and electronic beats that got the crowd moving every which way.

Greenhouse is truly green — It’s a LEED certified, two-floor, 6,000 square foot nightclub and lounge in SoHo.

We always have a blast going to different places and comparing Boston to NYC. Like sports and its rivalry such as the Red Sox and Yankees, you won’t find that at the greenhouse. You’ll find that the crowd is very receptive to new comers. But, we mean, don’t go in their rocking a Sox hat and jersey; you’re only asking for trouble in that respect.

Greenhouse is surrounded by branches of people from NYC. We were welcomed to a crowd that dressed wearing shirts, skirts, ties and shoes to another set of crowds that looked comfortable jeans, goodies, and boots. No matter what they were wearing, everyone was out to just dance and have a good time.

The setting and feel of the place makes you feel like you’re in a jungle. Leaves surrounding the walls and ceilings with lights on the ceilings and walls, which makes it a very unique and unlike any night venue we have visited. They have a downstairs that plays house and techno as well. Also, as an added surprise they had feather girls at least that’s what we call them.

If you are in NYC, especially on a Tuesday, we would absolutely recommend visiting the greenhouse. The night is hosted by the talented Roxy Cottontail who and now is a resident DJ at Greenhouse spinning the newest dance music to a fabulous and eclectic crowd. There’s something for everyone at this venue.

Greenhouse is located at 150 Varick St., and it’s 21+.

NEW YORK — It’s with some hesitation that I describe The Bloodsugars as an indie band from Brooklyn — even though they are — for fear that they will be lumped in with Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and the rest of the seemingly infinite lineup of artistes du jour from the borough.

But before you give in to the knee-jerk, eye-rolling, "Next!" reaction, know this: The Bloodsugars, for all intents and purposes, are not your typical Brooklyn indie band. For one thing, they know how to have fun. They aren’t above writing straightforward, catchy pop songs. Rather than co-opting and trying to re-fashion influences from past decades, The Bloodsugars proudly wear their musical inspirations on their sleeves, as evidenced by their debut full-length, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On, which was released Nov. 17. (Also, your parents might like them — as I discovered this past Thanksgiving.)

I Can’t Go On, which borrows a phrase from Samuel Beckett, is an aural time machine, transporting the best elements of songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s and melding them seamlessly with components of modern funk, R&B and electronica. If Toto and Paul Simon procreated, for instance, it might sound something like the handclap-heavy "The Pedestrian Boogie," while the falsetto chorus of "Girls At" seems like it was transported from the ‘70s.

Bloodsugars frontman and chief songwriter (and diabetic, hence the band’s name) Jason Rabinowitz allows his velvety vocals to be buoyed by the backing music rather than overshadowing his bandmates, who more than compensate for whatever he may lack in range. Keyboardist Matt Katz adds an extra dimension to songs like the calypso-esque, earwormy "Happiness" and the wistful "I Want It Back." And look no further than the wonderful, play-on-repeat-worthy first single and lead-off track "Light at the End of the Tunnel" to showcase the tight rhythm section of bassist Brendan O’Grady and drummer Kenneth Salters.

Though Rabinowitz occasionally veers into cutesy territory ("If I knew where you lived, I’d move to your neighborhood," is the album’s second line), his lyrical prowess really comes through on more sentimental tunes like the tender album closer "Before the Accident." Like the record and The Bloodsugars themselves, it’s sweetness with just the right amount of spice.

NEW YORK — Blast is at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon

All this week, we will be reporting from New York City, where hundreds of underground bands will descend on Brooklyn and Manhattan to try and make a name for themselves, and industry professionals will gather to try and hammer out the issues currently facing the music business.

We’ll be running around trying to take in as much music as possible, so check back here for daily coverage!

For more details and the full lineup, visit www.cmj.com/marathon.

Is there a CMJ band or artist you think Blast should be covering? Sound off below!

After an attempt on Adolf Hitler’s life, Glenn Berwin’s family and their property was seized along with many other Jews in Munich.

Berwin’s uncle owned two restaurants and a shop there. They were seized along with his World War I veteran’s pension.

“It seemed hopeless” Berwin said in a statement Monday. “I thought the odds were insurmountable. You have to be clever to outsmart people who want to hold onto money they stole.”

Attorney Dan Holloran, a New York City Council candidate said he didn’t think the situation was so hopeless. Halloran , a partner at the law firm Palmieri and Castiglione, LLP, was determined to help.

“I wasn’t going to take “Ëœno’ for an answer” Halloran said. “Glenn has a right to this property. The Nazis never did.”

Halloran is pursuing a legal case to recover money taken from Berwin’s relatives who were killed or imprisoned by the Nazis. He used a federal court decision that accessed the record of World War I pensions.

“If we find specific names and time periods, we can get their pension records” Halloran said. “Courts have been throwing these cases out. I hope this will open the door for others with these kind of claims.”

Berwin, a retired supermarket employee who lives in Whitestone, Queens said he was friends with Halloran from the neighborhood.

“I knew him from karaoke on Bell Boulevard in the early “Ëœ90s” Berwin said, laughing. “He’s a great singer.”

According to a statement released by Holloran, Berwin’s father spent two months in Dachau in 1939 before he was granted immigration to the United States. He hopped on the “last boat leaving Holland.” His father was the only survivor on that side of the family. More than 20 members of Berwin’s family were killed in the Holocaust.

“Jewish people should know that they are entitled to pursue their legacy” said Berwin. “The legacy of my people should be with my family and not with the sons of people who commited crimes against them.”

A 24-year-old Colorado resident was indicted in a New York federal court Thursday on charges of conspiracy to use explosive bombs in the United States.

Najibullah Zazi, according to Justice Department documents, received “detailed bomb-making instructions in Pakistan, purchased components of improvised explosive devices, and traveled to New York City on September 10, 2009 in furtherance of his criminal plans. “¦ Zazi remained committed to detonating an explosive device up until the date of his arrest” according to the FBI.

FBI agents arrested Zazi last week on charges of lying to the FBI regarding a domestic and international terrorism case.

Zazi “”¦knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to use one or more weapons of mass destruction” the FBI reports.

A search of Zazi’s home computer turned up bomb-making instructions and frequent searches of hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive mineral acid. He also allegedly purchased several items needed to produce Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) a highly unstable‚ powder used in the July 2005 London bombings.

According to the FBI, Zazi and his companions purchased “unusually large amounts” of hydrogen peroxide and acetone products – both of which can be used to produce TATP.

Authorities also intercepted e-mail and text messages that showed Zazi had deep interests in acquiring bomb-making instructions.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, though optimistic, acknowledged the case is ongoing and the threat has not been completely curbed. “We believe any imminent threat arising from this case has been disrupted, but as always, we remind the American public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

If convicted, Zazi faces life imprisonment.

The investigation is being conducted by the Denver and New York FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which include officers from more than 50 local, state and federal agencies.

Illinois man arrested

On a related note, 29-year-old Michael C. Finton of Illinois was arrested Thursday on charges of planning to bomb the federal building in Springfield, Illinois. Finton, also known as Talib Islam, actually tried to detonate a vehicular bomb earlier this year, however undercover agents rendered the bomb inactive before allowing him to set off on his mission.

Finton also faces life in prison is convicted.

We’re surprised that there’s not more of this, given the fact that most colleges are run like greedy Fortune 500 companies lately.

The New York Post reported that a New York City woman who recently graduated from Monroe College can’t find a job and says her school isn’t helping her land gainful employment. Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit last week against Monroe in Bronx Supreme Court. The 27-year-old is seeking a return of the $70,000 she spent on tuition.

A spokesman for the college called the suit “completely without merit.”

NEW YORK — A whole nation, if not the world, anxiously anticipates the day when they can visit the once melancholy location of the greatest terrorist attack in American history, and instead of reeling with the pain of loss and fear, look instead upon a place of hope and energy.

Santiago Calatrava intends to give us that hope. In fact, he wants to share that excitement and vivacity with the world, as New York welcomes her “tired, hungry and poor” to the new World Trade Center transportation hub, perhaps the most anticipated building project in New York since the battle between the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

Calatrava is a rare breed indeed — a blend of engineer and architect, which allows for his projects the breathing room to let the needs of millions of commuters around the world speak to him in a way no other architect or engineer independently could manifest.

Most of Calatrava’s commissions are of the civil engineering variety: bridges, train stations. He is a humble man and states that building such things, being the architect is an experience of humility. He says the new hub is a “message of reconciliation,” is going to be “high-speed train” -ready, and that idea of a great building is “a lesson in humility. They are for everyone.”

Let’s come back to earth though for a second out of the clouds of hope and humility. New Yorkers aren’t an easy bunch to please, and the building of the new World Trade Center transportation hub hasn’t been an easy, wistful chore. There has been the eternal push and shove among the other buildings, the Port Authority, and Calatrava over what has become the city’s focus and fallout. But Calatrava explains that the cost is immaterial. This is being built for our children. It is priceless in its destiny and its necessity for the commuter.

The design itself explains this destiny. Calatrava adds that the design is inspired by a child releasing a dove. The child speaks of “the future of the city”, and the dove, of course, of peace. The sleek ribs protrude from the ground creating a canopy of white, forming Calatrava’s desired “luminous spaces.”

The hub is formed from three main spaces. There is an east-west corridor spanning a gargantuan amount of space for a real-estate indoctrinate city, 2,000 feet in linear grace. The mezzanine has a horizontal spread of 200 feet, and Memorial Hall lifts in vertical air.

“It is like a musical composition — the spaces, in this matter (it forms) a common language,” Calatrava said.

The hub itself serves many purposes, not just the purpose of moving millions of people through New York’s sometimes elusive tunnel system. It’s also providing an infrastructure, a plaza and “inter-modality, circulation between the other (new World Trade Center) buildings,” he said.

There has been a lot of talk on changes made recently, due to an apparent cost-factor, but Calatrava stresses, “it is very similar to its original design. (There have been) minor changes in details, and security.”

The manifestation of hope hasn’t been an easy process. Calatrava explained that on one hand the New York bedrock makes a great foundation, but is hard to move. They are also building 30 feet below the water table, and partially through bad soil, the remains of the compost from the extension of Manhattan — the island once ended at Church Street — then later filled in to Greenwich Avenue, and again to the West Side. Calatrava, however, said he likes a challenge.

The hub is expected to be finished four years from the date of the opening of his reception at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, 684 Park Avenue. The exhibit contains a large model of the World Trade Center transportation hub, in which the viewer can stand inside of the model and get a 360 degree view of the true expanse, grace and linear flow of the project. There is also a gallery of small models of other American projects, including the 80 South Street building, in which blocks form singular homes, rumored to be in the $30 million dollar ballpark, and the gondola-lift connecting Brooklyn and lower Manhattan with Governor’s island. The exhibit runs through August 31.

Calatrava gains his inspiration for this project from a religious icon of New York architecture history: Grand Central Station. He cited Grand Central as “a model for the evolution of New York,” bringing to mind the timing as reminiscent of the economic struggle the city is again surviving through.

Isn’t this the true intent of the new hub — to show the city that it can always survive, no matter the odds? Some worry that the design is too new for New York City, but Calatrava can help ease that doubt, striving to build a monument to the city doing what it does best: changing, growing, advancing, surviving.

By the way: Because of a reporting error, Calatrava’s name was spelled wrong in this story

As a university student training to be part of the “creative class”, I’m not a fan of routine or content with the prospect of “settling down” in one city doing the same thing for the rest of my life. In my opinion, most people really are part of the “creative class”, mostly because I don’t think your job is what defines who you are. You, as a person, socially, your dreams and objectives, that’s what defines you. Then whether or not you actually try to meet those goals defines your drive and character, the strength of your ambition and your will. And that ultimately is who you are.

So anyway, back to what I was saying. It’s my goal in life to be a journalist who gets to travel all over the world. Money isn’t a big issue for me since I’d probably use the extra money I would make in another field traveling anyway. This way I get to do two things I love and get paid for it.

This morning I was looking at the Atlantic Monthly’s website, reading the food section and some of the correspondent’s articles. It’s something I’d highly recommend. The Atlantic has some amazingly interesting stuff.

I came across a story about the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), a biannual ranking of top financial centers across the globe using points, based on surveys taken by financial experts. The Index is produced for the City of London and guess what? London is numero uno.

New York is naturally second, and both London and New York have a commanding lead of more than 100 points over third place Singapore. It’s a possibility the two western powerhouses could see some competition for the top spot from cities like Singapore and Hong Kong (ranked fourth, just three points behind Singapore) in the future, but for now they are pretty safe as the one-two western punch.

Since the last Index was published nearly six months ago, New York and London have lost fewer points than both Singapore and Hong Kong. Some Asian cities have taken a large hit, namely Tokyo, which fell from a seven ranking to a 15 and lost 31 points, the largest drop in the top 20. Some cities, like Boston, Dublin, Toronto and Guernsey, have even capitalized on the losses of others, rising in the rankings despite losing points.

Overall, I think this Index is a pretty interesting way of ranking top financial cities in the world. And it got me thinking about traveling and ultimately, trying to visit most of the world’s richest in my lifetime. Though the rankings will change from year to year, that just means I have to travel more. I’ve got no problem with that.

It’s also being speculated, by Jeffrey Garten at the Financial Times, that once the global recovery begins New York and London will see a tag-team emerge in the east, something he’s dubbed ShangKong, which to me sounds like either a Mortal Kombat villain or some sort of Godzilla-like terrorizer. He postulates that New York and London, let’s call that YorkDon in honor of Garten, will be reeling from this crisis for years, while ShangKong will recover quicker. YorkDon will have to tend to more problems, more industries and more sectors while ShangKong will be able to use its rising economic status to overtake and crush YorkDon.

Talking about cities like this has always wanted to make me travel and visit them. Hearing the word Shanghai spoken or seeing it written doesn’t come close to seeing a photo of the city’s inner core at night, which doesn’t come close to actually being there. Regardless of the ranking of cities like London, Tokyo and ShangKong, I’ll try to make my way through them one by one as I get older.

Follow this blogger on Twitter.

Follow Blast on Twitter.

Here is your daily dose of Darwin.

According to Newsday, a Long Island, N.Y. woman found two pipe bombs in her driveway.

But rather than, you know, panic, freak out, call the police, run away, and scream, the woman picked up — reached out with her hands and picked up — the two pipe bombs, put them into her car, and began driving to the local police station.

The woman called the police to say she was coming by with a few bombs. The dispatcher told her to immediately pull over and get out of her car. A police bomb squad responded and used a robotic arm to remove the bombs. They did not detonate.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating.

President Obama’s spare Air Force One and two F-16 fighter jets caused momentary panic in New York City today, when they drifted over skyscrapers in Manhattan for a photo-op.

The planes flew quite close to Ground Zero which frightened many office dwellers. Hundreds evacuated their buildings in fear of a second 9/11 attack. New York City Mayor Bloomberg said the White House provided the city no notification of the event, which if true, was a display of ignorance that caused an outburst from Bloomberg.

Bloomberg called the event “ridiculous and poor judgment.”

The White House did apologize after the planes vacated the surrounding skies after flying close over the Hudson, the skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Louis Caldera, director of the White House military office, said state and local officials had been notified of the flight. Bloomberg said no one had notified him of the photo-op.

“I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused,” said Caldera.

Office workers, fearing another disaster, were horribly scared. “I saw everybody running and I ran out too. My heart is still pounding,” said one worker.

“I was there on 9/11, I saw thousands of people die. I don’t like when I am not aware of a military photo op,” said another, according to the AFP.

A local TV station received hundreds of calls about the low-flying government jets.

The public, no doubt, should have been notified. All that happened on 9/11 is still fresh in New Yorkers’ minds (along with most Americans) and the White House should have known low-flying planes would have caused this kind of reaction.

NEW YORK — Anyone can hear the talent and potential of Bobby Long on his MySpace or his iTunes single “Left to Lie,” but there is no way to fully understand how far this boy will go until seeing him perform live. There’s something about his humble, apologetic humor that endears him to audiences, and something about the honesty and vulnerability of his music that captivates and moves them as well. The contrast in the two makes for an absolutely great performance. One minute the audience is giggling in response to Bobby’s impression of Justin Timberlake (his version of “Cry Me a River” may or may not have been better than the original) and then next they are completely silenced by the haunting lyrics of a new song.

Blast Magazine got to witness Bobby Long perform live three times in New York City this week and sit down with him for an interview.

The last time Blast spoke with Bobby, things were just beginning for him. “It was just after the premiere so I was just realizing what stuff was like,” he said, “but it’s been great, it’s just grown and grown … since Christmas we decided to come to America, and this is what’s happened.”

Long has been receiving a lot of attention lately, in part due to the release of his first single, “Left to Lie,” on iTunes. The first day the song was out, it climbed the charts. “It was really cool. It went up to No. 8 on the Folk chart which was really great because it didn’t have any advertising at all, just word of mouth, really. Just being up on that list with all these incredibly famous folk musicians — not like lightly famous — but these incredibly famous folk musicians and having my name there as well was just really, really good feeling. Really unbelievable though, as well.”

With all this great publicity, Bobby was still surprised to find that he’s already being recognized.

“One girl called my name out in the street — that was weird, and it scared the hell out of me. She just yelled ‘Bobby!’” 

Long’s first gig in the U.S. was in a charmingly shady dive of a bar in Alphabet City, Manhattan. With a maximum capacity of about 150 people, the venue filled up pretty quickly and had to eventually turn some away. Once Long arrived, the room was lined with women (and a few men). Some pushed up against the windowed wall, some crammed almost up to the low stage, face-to-face with Long, himself.

“It was a little bit overwhelming,” he said of the crowd, “but it’s just nice. People coming to my shows.”

His set included most of his MySpace songs, as well as his single “Left to Lie.” He also introduced a few new songs such as “Who Have You Been Loving,” which will appear on the demo CD and “Two Years Old,” which Long said he hopes to release as his next single on iTunes.

“I like that one a lot. It’s kind of annoying. I wish it was on the CD, but I wrote it literally last week and on the plane over here I was learning the lyrics.”

Long also played two shows at Arlene’s Grocery, a great venue, which was larger and still packed. When asked if he would play even bigger venues still on his tour this summer, he said, “to be honest, as long as people show up, I don’t think it matters where you play.”

And it seems that wherever Bobby Long plays, people are going to show up.

While in the states, the Brit has been in “endless meetings,” with magazines and music labels.

“To be honest at the moment I think the ball is in my court,” Long revealed when asked whether or not he thought he would be signed by the summer, “and there’s no need for me to rush into anything. If I find the right person then I’ll sign tomorrow.”

For now, he just plans on finishing up this mini-tour of the states, continuing to go solo (although he has played a few gigs with a pianist called Alex Starling back in London), and embarking on his full blown tour of the U.S. this summer.

He’ll meet up for a few gigs with Sam Bradley and Marcus Foster over the course of the tour. “At the same time I think we want to keep our stuff quite separate.”

To hear Bobby’s music or find out about tour dates, check http://www.myspace.com/musicbobbylong and check out his single “Left to Lie” on iTunes.

Even though you can expect the traditional summer blockbusters, and romantic chick flicks this Valentine’s Day, the Blast staff is excited for these releases. From comedy to sci-fi and star filled casts these are the movies you should look out for.‚ 

Adventureland
After delivering comic gold and commercial success with‚ Superbad, Greg Mottola follows up his directorial debut with the drama/comedy‚ Adventureland. Set in 1987, ‚ Adventureland is‚ about the summer we all wish we had after finishing college.

Guy takes crap job at an amusement park, meets and befriends all the weird employees, falls for the cute girl and ends up having the best time of his life. Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart as well as Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader (the funniest guy on SNL) and Kristen Wiig (the funniest girl on SNL),‚ Adventureland‚ looks like quality fun – and lots of it.

Although the tag line to this film is, “it was the worst job they ever imagined and the best time of their lives,” the amusement park job itself actually looks kind of fun. I would love to have Bill Hader and his ridiculous moustache as my boss. Who wouldn’t?‚ ‚ 

New York, I Love You
New York, I Love You, is a collection of short films set in New York that, as the title suggests, all revolve around the concept of love in the Big Apple. Based on the successful formula of “Paris, je t’aime,” this NY version seems to find middle ground between art house cinema and the mainstream.

A stellar cast including, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Kevin Bacon, Orlando Bloom, Julie Christie, James Caan, Chris Cooper, Hayden Christensen, Ethan Hawke, John Hurt, Blake Lively and many more, ensures that there will be enough variety to please all – at least in theory.‚  Here’s hoping the film will also be able to change the city’s somewhat “crime infested” image – largely the result of the Law and Order franchise.

Everyone who watches that program knows that the longer you spend in NY, the more likely it is that you will die a gruesome death; your body will be found in Central Park; your murder investigation will be carried out by wise cracking yet world weary detectives, who, after kicking their way through A LOT of poorly made front doors will eventually catch the “perp.” Of course in true Law and Order fashion your killer will then get off on a legal technicality because the D.A prosecuting your case is an incompetent fool.

I’m sure NY is a lot nicer than Law and Order would lead me to believe. That’s why there are so many I Heart NY t-shirts. Presumably. ‚ This film will hopefully support my argument.‚ 

Star Trek
Now, I’m going to be brutally honest. I am not a‚ Star Trek‚ fan. I have never seen a‚ Star Trek‚ film/TV show and I have never had the slightest interest in doing so. Until now. As soon as I saw the trailer for J.J Abrams latest‚ Star Trek‚ adventure, a part of me (the nerdy part) went “hey, that actually doesn’t look too bad.”

Whilst this may not sound like a ringing endorsement (I have to see the film before I can do that), the trailer suggests that some kick ass visual effects and an impressive cast might be enough to sway the average non-Trekkie. The film, like most of the recent comic book adaptations, goes back to the origins of the “trek” so that‚ Star Trek‚ newbies (i.e me) will know what the hell is going on.

Also I assume this will allow the filmmakers to atone for the cinematic crimes of previous instalments and will of course establish the tone/characters/plot for any possible sequels. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary “Sylar” Quinto, Eric Bana, Karl Urban and Simon Pegg (star of one of the funniest films I have ever seen, Hot Fuzz, see it now and thank me later),‚ Star Trek‚ looks set to impress both fans and the clueless alike.‚ ‚ ‚ 

Sherlock Holmes
Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes + Jude Law as Watson + Guy Ritchie as The Director = Awesome.

What more can I say? No trailer as of yet.‚ 

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Finally! Ever since Warner Brothers (in its infinite and flawed wisdom) bumped‚ Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince‚ off its late 2008 release, fans have been impatiently waiting for the boy wizard’s next adventure to hit the screen. The sixth instalment of the Harry Potter series looks set to be just as successful as its predecessors and the trailer suggests that the film is worth the wait.

As the films get progressively darker -another beloved character will meet its demise – Harry and his friends battle against dark forces in their quest to destroy Voldemort again… and yeah you all know the story. As usual fans of the books will flock to the cinema, whilst the Harry Potter haters will avoid it like the plague. Cast regulars return and Jim Broadbent joins the Hogwart’s staff as the new potions master Professor Slughorn.‚ ‚ 

Other films to look out for in 2009

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• The Lovely Bones
• Shutter Island
• The Road
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Bruno
• The Boat That Rocked

But c’mon Blast readers, tell us what you think. What films are you excited to see in 2009?

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — A large swath of snow will stretch across the northern third of the nation later Thursday through this weekend from a fast-moving “clipper” storm. This storm is found in southern areas of British Columbia and Alberta today and will dive southeast bringing a large area of 3 to 6 inches of snow with isolated 8-inch amounts from the Canadian Prairies through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including the cities of New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and Boston. This will potentially be the largest snowfall so far this winter in New York City and Philadelphia.

This storm system will first be dynamically driven, generating all of its own moisture. However, by Friday night, this storm system begins to draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico due to southerly winds on the southeast side of the low pressure system. More moisture means more snow, but it also means more warmth working into the system. The main forecasting problem with this type of system is the exact track of the low pressure system.

If the track of the system is along the Mason-Dixon Line, cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York will receive moderate snowfall amounts. A track farther north will mean more warmth so less snow will fall in these cities, while cities farther north like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Boston will get the most snowfall. Baltimore and Washington, D.C., may also get some accumulating snow, but being farther south, the snow will mix with and change to rain during the event.

Current thinking has the storm beginning to affect Chicago Friday around noon, Detroit Friday afternoon, Cleveland before midnight Friday night, Pittsburgh around midnight Friday, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., early Saturday morning, New York City late Saturday morning and Boston Saturday afternoon.

Starting next week, extreme cold will blast into the Midwest and Northeast, marking what could be the coldest days of the season for the big cities.

CNN calls Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and New York for Sen. Barack Obama.‚  ABC calls Texas for McCain.

CNN also calls Wyoming and North Dakota for McCain.‚  Fox News calls New Mexico for Obama.

Obama has so far carried predominantly blue states and McCain has taken the red states. Obama, before today, had large leads in all the states called by CNN and Fox News.

McCain had big a lead in Wymoning, however polls showed Obama leading 45%-43% North Dakota before tonight.‚  Still, only three electoral college votes from that state.

The numbers, added from projections by various media organizations, stands at 175-119 for Obama.

Former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni has accepted a four-year, $24 million deal to coach the New York Knicks. D’Antoni has a 267-172 career coaching record with the Suns and Denver Nuggets. The Suns won at least 54 games in four of his five seasons, and he has a 26-25 record in the playoffs.

It is not being reported, but it is assumed that Isiah Thomas will not be allowed to speak to, touch, be in the same building as, write to, or contact Mike D’Antoni from now until ever.

Even though Sune Rose Wagner has hundreds of finished and unfinished songs "lying around" his home studio in New York’s East Village, the prolific songwriter — one half of Danish duo The Raveonettes — finds it impossible to compose on the road. ("There’s people all over," he laments.) Wagner, along with bandmate Sharin Foo and touring drummer Leah Shapiro, have spent much of 2008 touring behind The Raveonettes’ latest release, “Lust Lust Lust,” and last month the rigorous schedule caught up with the band at Austin’s SXSW music festival. Suffering from burnout, The Raveonettes were forced to cancel one of the whopping 13 performances they had scheduled at SXSW and take a day off before embarking on the final leg of their spring U.S. tour. As their East Coast dates wound to a close in late March, Wagner spoke to Blast about his distaste for life on the road, as well as the band’s cross-country songwriting process and his impressions of America.

Do you think “Lust Lust Lust” is a departure from your previous work?
I don’t compare our albums. I don’t think of our style as being one fixed thing. It sounds a little different from some of the other stuff, but I think all our albums sound different.

Does the album have an overall theme, conceptually or musically?
It’s about the difficulties in maintaining relationships and making decisions in regard to relationships. The only thing I wanted was just, I wanted to have the album have sort of a surf feel to it because I like that. I added a lot of surf-y kind of guitar lines.

You’re based in New York, but Sharin lives in Los Angeles. How does that work as far as your songwriting goes?
I write all the songs and the songs I like, I send them over to Sharin and see if she likes them or not. And if she likes them, we’ll put them in a little folder that will go on the album. It’s very simple. It’s always been like that.

How many songs did you write for this album?
A hundred or so. I just like writing songs. I just write whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I’ll write three or four songs in a day and sometimes I won’t write anything in a month.

Do you have any favorite tracks on the record?
I have none. I like them all.

Talk about your experience at SXSW and your canceled performance.
We did 12 shows down there and that was a lot. And before that we had just come from Europe on a long tour and just did a West Coast tour, went straight down and played SXSW and then we flew right back and started an East Coast tour in Minneapolis. So at that time I think we had done something like 25 shows in a row, and we just didn’t enjoy it anymore. We just took a day off.

Did you get a chance to see any of the other artists who were performing there?
I saw Thurston Moore. And I saw MGMT. I thought (the MGMT show) was brilliant. I thought it was really good. I really like them a lot. I think they’re really entertaining.

What were some of your favorite records from 2007?
I don’t have any from last year. I rarely buy new stuff. MGMT is probably one of the newer bands I have sort of listened to. I don’t really sit at home and listen to music. It’s very rare. If I do, I put on like a classical vinyl or something. I enjoy watching movies and reading books a lot more. I have thousands of movies at home.

What are some of your favorite movies?
Hitchcock movies and (films directed by) David Lynch.

How long have you lived in America, and how do you like living here?
Seven years. I like living in New York. I think New York is really different from other towns in America. That’s why I like it. It has a certain European feel to it that I find very attractive. There are a lot of different cultures and they all seem to mix really well. There’s a lot of stuff going on. It’s a great city to walk in. it’s a beautiful city. New York has everything. It’s one of my favorite towns.

Who are some of your major influences or sources of inspiration?
It’s hard to say what influences you. I think everything you hear must influence you in some way. (I gain inspiration) just through life experience, meeting people and walking around and enjoying life and not being on tour so much. There’s nothing more uninspiring than being on tour, because it’s just a bunch of shitty cold dressing rooms all over the world. So there’s really not much inspiring about that.

Your stage show is very simplistic — just two guitars and a guest drummer (Leah Shapiro) who plays a stand-up kit consisting of only a floor tom and a snare. Is that a reflection of your approach to music in general?
I like music that’s very minimal. That’s what we’ve always done. I’ve always recorded everything at home, and it’s just very simple and that’s the kind of music we really like. We have (had) two people in the band, we have (had) five people in the band. We change a lot. We change around. We don’t like to play the same all the time. We try to make it more entertaining for ourselves. This is the best tour we’ve ever done. We have a great album out and we’re selling out shows.

Do you notice any differences between touring in America and touring in Europe?
It’s pretty much the same. It’s all about traveling, a lot of down time and a lot of waiting around. The only difference is sometimes when you tour in Europe, you get to see some really nice cities like Paris and Rome and all that stuff, and then you actually want to go out and experience the town.

You’ve been quoted as saying “Lust Lust Lust” is your best work. How so?
That was probably a misquote because I never think any of our albums is our best work I really like them all equally as much because they’re very different. They’re all equally good.