Man, it really sucks to live in a TV market where I can’t watch Red Sox games! Boston cut its wild-card magic number to three with a dramatic comeback tonight: a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth tied the game, then a solo shot in the bottom of the tenth won it, as the Sox beat the Orioles, 6-5! Woohoo!

The Sox and their wild-card competitors, the Mariners, each have five games left (including Seattle’s game tonight). That’s a total of ten games. If at least three of those ten games go Boston’s way — in other words, a Red Sox win or a Mariners loss — the Sox will make the playoffs.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are about to clinch the American League East. They lead the White Sox, 7-0. But no matter: the Red Sox will get ‘em in the ALCS. :)

UPDATE: It’s official: the Yankees are AL East champions. Meanwhile, the Cubs have taken the lead by one game in the NL Central standings! Go, Cubbies, go! :)

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The president just came by, preceded by dozens of motorcycles and endless flashing lights. Very cool!

Police lights and blockades in advance of the motorcade.

I’m at Columbus Circle, where, if I understand correctly, President Bush’s motorcade is about to come through. People are being kept well back from the road.

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A ferocious cold front brought torrential rain to Manhattan — and tornadoes to New Jersey — this morning, but conditions are improving now. Here is a radar loop from earlier today:

When I arrived at work, the first thing my boss, Lyn, said to me was, “Tornado in New Jersey!” Then, recalling my (eventually abandoned) plan last week to take public transit to the Jersey Shore as Hurricane Isabel approached, she added, “Get on the bus, quick!” Heh.

Well, we can’t compete with D.C., but here’s a fallen branch in NYC. :) It’s a rainy and windy first morning of fall here.

Shelob will make Her big-screen debut in Friday’s Return of the King trailer, according to TheOneRing.net. Woohoo!