Catch 'Catch Me' Before It Disappears!

Maybe it was because we loved the movie on which it is based.
Maybe it was that we found ourselves mesmerized by the electrifying Tony Award-winning performance of Norbert Leo Butz.
Maybe it was because we finally got around to discovering one of the brightest, most talented, most appealing new leading men on Broadway -- Aaron Tveit.
Or maybe it was just the way Kerry Butler belts out a song or the mere presence of the great Tom Wopat.
For whatever reason, we loved the new Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can and we urge you to catch it on Broadway (if you can) before it closes on Sunday, September 4. Because, if you don't catch this show you'll have to wait till 2012 or 2013 to see a traveling production when the whole thing goes on national tour.
We had heard so much about "Catch Me" and we suspected that the show might be a lot better than some of the critics said it was.
We were right.
If you saw the 2002 movie (based on a true story) starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abingale, Jr. you know that Catch Me If You Can is a fascinating tale. So, the musical automatically benefits from a good, strong book -- and that's rare for a musical.
Plus, the adaptation for the stage is written by Terrence McNally and the words and music are by Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman. This is a Tony-winning dream time that has given us several other blockbuster hits.
But this this show ain't no happy-tooting lark. This is a dark story -- a story of deceit, abandonment, crime and loneliness. Which makes it all the more incredible that the creative team and the fine company of actors and musicians on stage have still managed to send the show soaring with up-to-the-minute humor, retro sixties trendiness and a huge dollop of hope -- all based on fact.
Criticisms? Well, the show is way too loud at times. But most current Broadway shows are over-amplified these days and tunes (even ballads) are frequently oversold. And sometimes the breathlessness can't keep up with the sheer volume and weight of this stranger than fiction story. Plus, I wondered if the show might have been improved without the device of the full orchestra on stage. It seemed to cramp the production values at times.
But no shortcomings warranted the less-than-fair deal that this show got from some critics and the Broadway cognoscenti. Surely it was worthy of more than the four Tony nominations (and one Tony) that it received.
In many ways, this type of entertainment is (or should be) what Broadway is all about.
Catchy and notable songs include: Live In Living Color; Butler's magnificent Fly, Fly Away; Little Boy, Be A Man; the darkly humorous Christmas Is My Favorite Time Of Year; Seven Wonders and Norbert's show-stopping Don't Break The Rules.*
And we need to mention that from Tveit and Butz and Wopat and Butler right down to every chorus member the cast is wonderful. This too: Miraculously, the second act is even stronger than the first.
Catch it. Hurry! Or hope to see it on the road.
The touring company is set to open in Providence in fall, 2012.
*I've already purchased the album.

Bush Did Too Litlle But Christie Does Too Much? What?

I find this darkly amusing:
Has anyone noticed that the people who are now suggesting that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is OVERreacting to Irene are the very same people who relentlessly bashed George W. Bush for not reacting properly to Katrina? Interesting . . . . .

Irene: Areas Covered By NJ Governor's Directive

To ensure the safety of New Jersey residents in the areas expected to be most impacted by Hurricane Irene, Governor Chris Christie announced the mandatory evacuations of the following areas:

                                                                                                                                                                                          

ATLANTIC COUNTY

·         Absecon (east of Rt 9)

·         Atlantic City

·         Brigantine

·         Corbin City

·         Galloway Township (east Rt 9)

·         Linwood (east of Rt 9)

·         Longport

·         Margate

·         Northfield (east of Rt 9)

·         Port Republic (east of Rt 9)

·         Somers Point (east Rt 9)

·         Ventnor

·         West Atlantic City in Egg Harbor Township (east of Rt 9)

CAPE MAY COUNTY

·         All municipalities

OCEAN COUNTY

·         All of Long Beach Island

·         Berkeley

MONMOUTH COUNTY

·         Keansburg

·         Spring Lake

·         Sea Bright

·         Monmouth Beach

·         Asbury Park (limited areas – coastal)

·         Wall Township (limited areas – low lying/coastal)

·         Town of Highlands

·         Manasquan (limited areas – low lying/coastal; beginning Saturday, August 27^th at 6:00am)

·         Union Beach (beginning Saturday, August 27^th at 11:00am)

Governor Christie again stresses the importance of residents’ preparedness and urged New Jerseyans in affected areas to heed evacuation orders ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
Residents are urged to check for further information about safety precautions, evacuation routes and best practices by visiting ready.nj.gov or by calling 211.

Category One Hurricane: What Winds Can Do

Here's a description provided by the National Hurricane Center explaining exactly what kind of wind damage can be caused by a Category One hurricane. This is according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.:

Category One Hurricane (Sustained winds 74-95 mph, 64-82 kt, or 119-153 km/hr).
Very dangerous winds will produce some damage

People, livestock, and pets struck by flying or falling debris could be injured or killed.
Older (mainly pre-1994 construction) mobile homes could be destroyed, especially if they are not anchored properly as they tend to shift or roll off their foundations. Newer mobile homes that are anchored properly can sustain damage involving the removal of shingle or metal roof coverings, and loss of vinyl siding, as well as damage to carports, sunrooms, or lanais.
Some poorly constructed frame homes can experience major damage, involving loss of the roof covering and damage to gable ends as well as the removal of porch coverings and awnings. Unprotected windows may break if struck by flying debris. Masonry chimneys can be toppled. Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof shingles, vinyl siding, soffit panels, and gutters. Failure of aluminum, screened-in, swimming pool enclosures can occur. Some apartment building and shopping center roof coverings could be partially removed. Industrial buildings can lose roofing and siding especially from windward corners, rakes, and eaves. Failures to overhead doors and unprotected windows will be common.
Windows in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm. There will be occasional damage to commercial signage, fences, and canopies. Large branches of trees will snap and shallow rooted trees can be toppled.
Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
Hurricane Dolly (2008) is an example of a hurricane that brought Category 1 winds and impacts to South Padre Island, Texas.

Click here for more information.

Bloomberg Insists: NO Clergy At 9/11 Commemoration

New York Mayor Michael (The Imperious One) Bloomberg insists there be NO clergy at the event in lower Manhattan commemorating the tenth anniversary of September 11.
As you  might expect, he's come in for a lot of criticism over this. But he's not backing down.
It turns out that keeping this man in office is looking more and more like a dreadful mistake. As he has assumed more power he has become increasingly dictatorial. It's scary.
Here's an excerpt from a Fox News story:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will not reconsider his decision to exclude clergy from the ceremony marking 10 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, a spokesman said Friday.
The statement comes despite increased pressure from religious and conservative leaders who say that even though the mayor has not allowed clergy at other services, he should make an exception this time.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said Americans "turned to God for solace" after the 2001 attacks, and clergy were intimately involved in helping the nation heal. 
"Unfortunately, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would have us look the other way," Perkins said in a statement.

 Click here to read the whole story.

Irene: Important News From Philly City Officials

The City of Philadelphia continues to prepare for Hurricane Irene and its potential impact on Philadelphia. The Emergency Operations Center will open on Saturday, August 27 at 6 p.m. to monitor the storm and coordinate the City’s response and recovery activities. The City will not issue an evacuation order; however, citizens should evacuate if they are in a potentially dangerous situation and proceed to a City shelter or other safe location.  The City’s 311 Call Center is currently open 24-hours through Monday, August 29. SEPTA will suspend all transit services beginning at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday.  All City park and recreation centers will close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. 

“This is a dangerous storm, and I want to urge our residents to exercise extreme caution,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Residents and businesses in low lying areas should prepare immediately. If you need to evacuate, please leave as quickly as possible for your own safety.”
The National Weather Service is forecasting that Irene will be a Category One hurricane when it arrives along the coast of New Jersey. As a result, Philadelphia can expect:

• Rainfall amounts between six and nine inches.
• Sustained winds 50 - 60 mph with gusts reaching 70 mph.
• Rain could start as early as tonight ahead of the hurricane.
• Heavy rains could affect Philadelphia through Sunday.
• Heavy winds could affect the city Saturday night into Sunday. High winds may continue after the storm passes. The highest winds will be felt Sunday afternoon.
• Flooding of creeks and streams will likely begin on Saturday night.
• Significant localized flooding on roadways, flooding of streams, and flooding along the Schuylkill River. 

Philadelphia has many flood prone areas, including but not limited to:

• Cobbs Creek and the marsh lands in the southwest sector of the City;
• Other City creeks & streams including Pennypack, Poquessing, Tacony, Frankford, and Wissahickon Creeks;
• Main Street Manayunk;
• Portions of the Philadelphia Naval Base;
• Delaware River which is usually first observed along Delaware Ave & Ben Franklin Bridge;
• In the Northeast where Linden Avenue meets the Delaware; and
• Kelly and Lincoln Drives. 

If you live in an area with a history of flooding, plan now to stay with family or friends whose homes are not prone to flooding for the length of this storm and until the flooding threat subsides. 
The City will open shelter operations on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Bartram High School, 2401 S. 67^th Street
• Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Avenue
• Roxborough High School, 6498 Ridge Avenue 

Sustained tropical storm force winds could cause downed trees, downed power lines, as well as the disruption of phone and cable service. 
If a Power Outage Occurs:

• Keep a battery-operated radio tuned to local news for updates.
• Disconnect or turn off all appliances that would otherwise go on automatically when the power comes back on. If several appliances start up at once, they could overload the circuits.
• To prevent food spoilage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Never touch or go near downed power lines.

Prior to the storm, Liam O’Keefe, Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management, encourages residents to check on loved ones and neighbors, especially seniors and those with special needs, who may need special assistance or care during the storm. Also make sure you have the necessary supplies for a Shelter-in-Place Kit or an evacuation Go Bag.
A Few Items to include:

• Non-perishable food like granola bars and energy bars
• If you use canned foods, make sure you have a manual can opener.
• Have a supply of bottled water for everyone in your home.
• A battery-powered radio with extra batteries
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• If you take medication, make sure you have an adequate supply for the next several days.

A complete list of emergency supplies can be found on the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management’s website, www.phila.gov/ready. Remember to stock supplies for everyone in your household including your pets. 
Do not travel, unless it is absolutely necessary or an evacuation order is called.

• Do not attempt to walk across flood water more than knee deep.
• Never drive through flooded roadways. Just two feet of moving water can sweep a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) off the road.

While Philadelphia’s 311 call center will be operational 24 hours a day through Monday, August 29, there are several ways to stay updated on the latest storm and emergency information.

• Stay tuned to local news for updates.
• Sign up for ReadyNotifyPA, the region’s emergency text and email alert system at www.phila.gov/ready or texting PHILA to 411911 from your cell phone.  Future updates on flooding will be sent to the Weather Warnings groups and the River - Schuylkill at Philadelphia groups.
• Monitor the National Weather Service forecasts at http://weather.gov/phi   
• Check Channel 64, the City of Philadelphia’s Government Access Channel

For additional information on emergency preparedness or for the latest storm information from the City of Philadelphia, visit www.phila.gov/ready.
Call PECO at 1-800-494-4000 to report electrical problems or downed power lines. Call 911 to report downed trees blocking highways. To check road conditions call 511.
Please take all precautions possible & be safe.

Video: Christie Says 'Get The Hell Off The Beach!'

You don't often hear the Governor of New Jersey tell people to stay away from the Jersey shore -- more than 130 miles of the most beautiful beaches anywhere.
And few Governors are as direct as Chris Christie.
But, as usual his message is rooted in common sense.
Prepare for the worst. Abandon the beaches. Hope for the best and pray that Irene is nothing more than a harmless coquette.

Is Irene Being Over-Hyped? Some Say 'Yes!'

They're already beginning to ask the question that been on a lot of people's minds: "Have the media over estimated -- indeed, over-hyped -- the potential impact of Irene?
And many are quickly answering: "Yes!"
Dr. Simon Atkins is CEO of Advanced Forecasting Corporation. Here's just part of what he has to say:

The demise of Irene has already begun. There is no visible eye. The storm intensity is down to 99 mph. This would be a low-end category 2 or a strong category 1 storm, while 36 hours ago some predicted a catastrophic category 4 storm. . . . Irene's eyewall has collapsed, and the central pressure has risen -- rising pressure means a weakening storm. The reduction in storm intensity likely confirms that this storm is not going to be as monstrous as it has been publicly forecast to be.
Yes, it will be windy. However, north of Delaware most hurricane force winds will very likely be gusts, not sustained winds.

Click here to read more of what Dr. Atkins has to say.

Irene: Christie Announces Further Actions

West Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie this morning announced additional measures being taken to prepare for Hurricane Irene and aid New Jerseyans in shore evacuations. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. this evening, contraflow will be in effect on Route 72, running for 28 miles to Route 70, closing all lanes to eastbound travel and utilizing all lanes of traffic for use in moving traffic westward. The measure is the latest action to aid residents in evacuating Long Beach Island in Ocean County. 
 
In addition, Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) offices in Atlantic, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties will close beginning at 4:00 p.m. today until further notice. To aid New Jerseyans whose licenses will expire at the end of the month, the MVC will also provide an extension until September 10th for renewals on expired drivers licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations and inspections effective September 1. Authorization was previously provided for MVC office closures in Cape May county.
 
Governor Christie has called on people to leave voluntarily and, in order to support coastal evacuations, has authorized several measures that will make evacuation easier.
 
Yesterday, the Governor ordered a temporary suspension of tolls on all parts of the Garden State Parkway south of the Raritan River and the Atlantic City Expressway beginning at 8:00 a.m. this morning. Governor Christie also announced that Routes 47 and 347 in Cape May County will be closed to eastbound traffic and that the use of all lanes of traffic will move westward beginning Friday evening at 6:00 pm. As part of this process, all ramps will be tightly controlled and additional personnel will be used to ensure safety.
 
The announcement reiterates the Governor’s strong call from yesterday, urging all residents and visitors to the New Jersey barrier islands and shore areas to leave for safer locations. Following a briefing at the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, Governor Christie signed a Declaration of a State of Emergency for New Jersey and called on people already at the shore to begin to leave immediately and advised anyone who has shore rentals or was planning to go to the shore this weekend not to go. It is important residents and visitors heed the advice and direction being given by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM). In order to conduct an orderly evacuation of the coastline and barrier islands, residents and visitors should begin evacuating today if they have not already done so.
 
The state OEM is continuing to coordinate with every county as they mobilize preparations at the county and local level. Any request for assistance must come through from the local to the county up through the state OEM in order to ensure there is a real-time, coordinate response.
 
For further information about safety precautions, evacuation routes and best practices please go to ready.nj.gov.
 

Here's How To Make A Hurricane

The Hurricane became popular at Pat O'Briens bar in 1940's New Orleans, apparently debuted at the 1939 World's Fair and was named after the hurricane lamp-shaped glasses the first drinks were served in. It's said that O'Brien created the heavily rummed drink as a means to get rid of the large stock of rum his Southern distributors forced him to buy.
Ingredients:

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
juice of a half a lime
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
orange slice and cherry for garnish
Preparation:

Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice.
Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker.
Shake well.
Strain into a hurricane glass.
Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.