No word yet on my broken computer, but thanks to an Internet cafe and a CompactFlash reader that I just bought, I can now post a couple of the digital pictures that I took of last night’s Bronx fireworks show from our Manhattan roof seven miles away. Check ‘em out!

Also, although I still don’t have access to the bulk of my pictures from Becky, Shannon, and Adrienne’s recent visit to the city (the pics are on my laptop’s hard drive, which is at a repair shop in Queens), I can now show you a few photos from the tail end of the weekend:

Becky and Shannon share a smile near Fort Tryon Park on Monday.


Shannon, Adrienne and I pose for a picture in the apartment Monday morning.


Becky and Shannon drive away, waving their rainbow flags from the gay pride parade.

That’s it for now. More pictures coming soon, I hope!

My state is seeming more and more like a third-world kleptocracy these days. Now the former mayor of Connecticut’s largest city, Bridgeport, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Just picked up this week’s issue of The Onion from a box along Eighth Avenue. Among the headlines: “Strom Thurmond Finally, Finally Dies.”

Also: “Bush Asks Congress For $30 Billion To Help Fight War On Criticism.”