damn birds

so i took seven to centre island today to watch the boat races.

now i could talk about the fact that just about every single person under forty riding the subway this morning was busy tuning out the world thanks to their ipods. (music was intended to bring us together, people, not isolate us from one another.)

or i could talk about the fact that i was greeted at the docks by a phalanx of asian seniors handing out placards denouncing the chinese government for their treatment of the falun gong. (hey, i don't support repressive communist regimes, either.)

or i could talk about the fact that it rained for about eight minutes on the island this afternoon even though the forecast called for overcast skies and thunderstorms all day. (why don't meteorologists just admit that their "science" isn't really a science at all. you wanna know tomorrow's weather: open the window... tomorrow.)

or i could talk about the fact that while on the island, i witnessed a second-rate local band perform a third-rate version of genesis' "that's all." (i hate it when a so-called "tribute band" needlessly butchers a timeless classic from perhaps the greatest progressive rock band of all time.)

or i could talk about the fact that i saw at least three passengers smoking on the ferry today even though there was a sign clearly posted prohibiting smoking on the boat. (did i mention that one of the persons lighting up was actually a member of the ship's crew?)

or i could talk about the fact that a large pepperoni pizza on the island goes for more than $22 these days. (you do realize that we're talking about cheese and bread and a little sauce, don't you?)

or i could talk about the fact that the boat crew from my current high school was racing in the lane immediately adjacent to the boat crew from my high school alma mater. (neither team won, but still, what are the odds?)

or i could talk about the fact that for maybe the 30th time since the release of titanic, i was forced to look on today as an amorous middle-aged doofus and his lady friend attempted to reenact the famous scene from the 1997 james cameron masterpiece where jack stands behind rose at the bow of the doomed ship before shouting, "i'm the king of the world." (uh, no. no you're not, doofus. and besides, jack didn't actually utter the "king of the world" line during that scene.)

but instead, instead i would like to talk about the fact that today, on the island, a giant seagull made off with my $5 hot dog while i wasn't paying attention.



um... today, on the island, a giant seagull made off with my $5 hot dog while i wasn't paying attention.

the way it's supposed to sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR-ixnPtxU8&feature=related