A few months ago, after Times reporter David Chen left the Trenton bureau for New York's City Hall, and The Times decided against sending a replacement, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine decided to meet with Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. at the paper's skyscraper on Eighth Avenue.

"I wanted to register a sense of serious disappointment that we weren't seeing the kind of coverage that I think would be good for The New York Times' distribution as well as, certainly, the public," said Governor Corzine in a phone interview with Media Mob.

Essentially, Mr. Sulzberger relayed this message back, according to Gov. Corzine. "They have tough choices to make because it's a tough time for media in general. They had to make choices they otherwise wouldn't have wanted to make."

"I think it may feel good in the short run," Governor Corzine said, "but I think in the long run it'll be detrimental."

Since the early summer, The Times has emptied everyone out of their Newark and Trenton bureaus. Coverage has been reduced to spot news and trend stories.

"I'm a pretty avid newspaper reader, and when you see the Metro Section of The New York Times shrink, with the number of pages and the width of pages and the infrequency of coverage and a great reporter like David Chen pulled out of the participation from the public dialogue, you know the world is changing.

"You're watching it shrink!" he continued. "You're watching in front of your very eyes."

There are 18 daily newspapers that are members of the New Jersey Press Association, a trade organization. All that competition is killing the news industry in-state, according to Mr. Corzine. During the summer, the Star-Ledger announced it would cut about 100 from its newsroom--about a third of the size of the newsroom--and the Record of Bergen County announced it was shutting down its main newsroom, leaving its reporters out on the streets, filing from laptops in their cars. Meanwhile, a number of Gannett papers have already cut 100-plus newsroom positions from a series of its smaller papers in the state.

"I think [the problem] is a reflection of a historic failed strategy that no one ever built a statewide franchise," he said. "As a consequence, it doesn't have a big enough market to actually sustain itself on a broad basis."

He said he can't really do anything about it other than with "moral suasion," and so far no one has expressed any interest in either (a) saving a franchise like the Ledger or (b) starting a new one.

"I do believe that the fragmentation ends up hurting, and it's costly," he concluded.

Debunking conspiracy theorists, new report shows that a major fire, not an explosion, caused 7 WTC’s collapse. [NY Times]

LES tenants accuse landlord of harassing residents with rent-regulated apartments. [City Room]

Queens gets an unprecedented apology from Con Edison for 2006 blackout. [City Room]

Curbed previews new "Curbed Marketplace." [Curbed]

DOB’s maligned self-certification program—where architects get to approve their own building plans—would cost $7.5 million to scrap. [Curbed]

Monthly report from the Real Estate Group of New York says “rental market continues to soften in its summer slump.” [TREGNY via Curbed]

Kellogg’s—the (in)famous diner off the Lorimer stop in Williamsburg—finally gets its makeover. [Eater]

The Naked Cowboy on the boob tube. [Gothamist]

Target to launch “Bullseye Bodegas” on 9/11, capitalize on terrorist chic. [Jossip via Gothamist]

The Lofts of Greene Street—a Soho condo owned by Robert O’Neel III and designed by restaurateur Tony Goldman—is in danger of foreclosure. [Real Deal]

Astroland owner, Carol Hill Albert, still refuses to put her Coney Island amusement park up for sale. [Urbanite]

The attorney general of California is considering whether to honor a request to investigate Chuck Schumer's role int the collapse of IndyMac.

Obama knows who his running mate is, but he's not telling.

However, it won't be Sam Nunn.

Former Bloomberg spokesman John Gallagher is going to work for Tishman Construction.

Barack Obama is up by 10 points in Minnesota, but the race in Nevada is essentially a tie. 

A Gowanus Lounge blogger makes a passionate case for preserving Admiral's Row.

John Hall's district is now officially "Solid Democratic."

The last McCarren Pool party will be an Obama fund-raiser, naturally.

Liz reports that City Clerk Hector Diaz is expected to resign after only six months.

The state D.E.C. is trying to get Indian Point to alter its cooling system and save over a billion fish per year.

Upstate Congressional candidate Jon Powers blogs an approval of political progress in Iraq.

The New York Times may have a new John Edwards angle, Choire says.

McCain actually owns at least eight houses.

But a spokesman notes that most are investment properties--he only lives in about four.

The Paris Theatre, the nation's oldest continuously operating arthouse cinema, now owned by developer Sheldon H. Solow, is about to turn 60. So to celebrate its anniversary, on Sept. 13 the theater will commemorate its 1948 opening—when Marlene Dietrich cut the ribbon with the Ambassador to France—with a special showing of Claude Miller's A Secret, a film that follows a large French Jewish family from World War II to the present. Last October, the International Herald Tribune called the film "a movie about ordinary Jewish people in extraordinarily savage times," noting its success among French audiences. But if you're still not sold, maybe just go for the one-day-only free popcorn and soda. (If you think about it, that could mean a savings of about $20 by New York movie-going standards.) Also, there will be prizes, including a one-year pass for two to the theatre, for randomly selected ticketholders (or anyone who can prove he or she was born on Sept. 13 1948). The theater is currently showing Transsiberian starring Emily Mortimer, Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley; A Secret opens on Sept. 5.

The Hills' Whitney Port will reportedly leave Kelly Cutrone's fashion PR and production company People's Revolution during the current season of The Hills; she may depart for Diane von Furstenberg as the label's in-house PR rep. And the cameras might follow. [The Cut, Fashionista]

Anna Sui has designed a T-shirt that says "Save the Garment District" with e-mails and names of New York officials on the back to raise awareness about the struggle of companies to stay in business in the neighborhood. [Vogue UK]

Patrick Robinson has brought khaki back to The Gap. [NY Times]

Gemma Ward is not retiring to pursue a full-time acting career as was recently reported. According to Ms. Ward herself, she's only 20, for God's sake! [The Cut]

Steve and Barry's, which carries lines by Sarah Jessica Parker, Venus Williams and Amanda Bynes, was bought by Bay Harbour Management for $168 million. [WWD]

Jane Birkin will join guest designers like Carine Roitfeld, Kirsten Dunst and Sofia Coppola for luxury knitwear line Lutz & Patmos. [Vogue UK]

Peter Som loves the way you wear his clothes. [Vogue UK]

DKNY is working with food rescue program City Harvest to paint the company's trucks in the label's fall 2008 colors of apple green, teal, purple and cobalt. The label will also design a special necklace that will be featured in its stores, the proceeds from which will go to the nonprofit. [WWD]

We're a little late getting to this, but earlier in the week, Pitchfork ran this terrific interview with the elusive and reclusive David Berman, lead singer of the Silver Jews and current Nashville resident. As Mr. Berman is hardly your typical rock god (and a god he is, to some of us), the interview is hardly typical either, ranging the topics of home ownership, relationships, health insurance, songwriting and, well, American history. We're glad for the reminder of his awesomeness; it's spurred us on to pick up the Silver Jews latest record, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, recently released on Drag City.

The RNC is countering Obama's opportunity-maximizing assault on McCain's failure to keep track of his seven houses with a new Web site called "Obama-Rezko Shady Deal."

According to the RNC announcement, "The Web site will provide users with videos and the latest news pertaining to Barack Obama's lack of judgment and questionable dealings with campaign fundraiser and convicted felon Tony Rezko."

It’s kind of hard not to hate Jeff Lewis, the star of Flipping Out, when you see him in action on his hit Bravo reality show about rich people who buy expensive California homes, fix them up, and sell them for more money to even richer people. He’s smug. Obnoxious. Often rude to his staff. Neurotic in the sort of way that actually makes neurotic people cringe. Which is why we now sort of hate ourselves for thinking that maybe, just maybe, Mr. Lewis isn’t such a terrible guy after all.

On a recent Bravo special that recapped season two of Flipping Out, the 38-year-old real estate investor joked about the hideous portrait of his devoted housekeeper, Zoila Chavez, that he’d commissioned for her as a birthday present. Ms. Chavez, it seems, hated the painting, which isn’t surprising considering it sort of made her look like a beast. So Mr. Lewis, gracious boss that he is (from the same special: he apparently wouldn’t approve the new uniform Ms. Chavez had been begging him for unless she filled out a formal request to his assistant), told her that she could sell it.

And sell it she did!—for a whopping $10,050, The New York Times reports of the online Bravo auction that closed last night. The proceeds will go to Ms. Chavez, who is of Nicaraguan descent and still has relatives in her home country

"If it was a painting of me, I don’t know if there would be any bids, to be honest," Mr. Lewis told The Times. “She’s always sending money home or my clothes that I’m done using. She does a lot for her family and this will enable her to do even more.”

Jeff Lewis: Worst guy ever? Or heartwarming philanthropist? You be the judge.

Attention all DVR addicts, the New York Television Festival is approaching (Sept. 12-17). Today, organizers announced their lineup for the 2008 edition of Premiere Week, featuring shows from ABC, Fox, CBS, the CW, NBC and HBO. It'll be like the upfronts for viewers instead of ad executives. There will be screenings of pilot episodes, followed by Q&As with actors and producers.

Some highlights?

On Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ABC’s American remake of Life on Mars will have a preview. The show is about NYPD Detective Sam Tyler (played by Jason O' Mara) who finds himself transported from 2008 to 1973 during the tumultuous times of the Vietnam War, Watergate, women's lib and the civil and gay rights movements. He is suddenly hurtled back in time when he's ripped from 2008 after being hit by a car while chasing down a criminal. Life on Mars will premiere Thursday, Oct. 9 (10-11 p.m., ET).

J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated show on Fox, Fringe, will be presented on Sept. 13, even though the special extended series premiere will have already aired on Sept. 9. But there will be a red carpet with the stars, including Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv and John Noble as an "unlikely trio" investigating fantastical events.

On Sept. 17, HBO will sneak preview its new half-hour animated comedy series, The Life and Times of Tim, followed by a chat with the show's creator and executive producer, Steven Dildarian. According to press notes, "Tim is a typical, twenty-something New Yorker who's looking to get ahead at work, while his girlfriend Amy just wants him to be normal, like her friends' boyfriends. But in Tim's world, the simplest everyday decisions get in the way, thanks to his habit of befriending unreliable characters who repeatedly get him into serious trouble."

There is more information on premieres here.

Screenings will take place at Gotham’s New World Stages, located in midtown. You can get passes and tickets at the NYTVF box office.

Like a parent who threatens to turn around a car full of unruly kids unless they behave this instant, Vice magazine has decided to suspend its letters page until readers can send them something worth printing.

"You know what? No letters page this month," declare the editors of the Brooklyn-based youth culture and integrated marketing magazine. "You know why? Because we aren’t receiving enough real letters. We mainly get emails now, and people don’t think when they write emails."

Lamenting the fact that they used to receive "great letters... in decorated envelopes along with goofy little tokens, tchotchkes, gizmos, and gifts inside," the editors are throwing down the gauntlet:

In protest of this state of affairs, we are suspending the letters page for one month. We would like to formally do a wee curtsy and invite those among you, readers, who still have most of your fingers and know how to hold a pen, to send us actual, tangible letters. You can use a typewriter too, or a computer and then print it out.

Weirdly, this statement was posted online, allowing readers to respond—anonymously—in comments, even though the editors would prefer them to send "real letters written on real paper like a real person."

The lack of printable letters to the editor hasn't been this pressing a problem for a magazine since at least last century when McSweeney's "The Service Industry" column featured the behind-the-scenes story of a letter-less month at Man: The Magazine for Men.

Last November--on what must have surely been a sad day for the kind of New Yorker who obsesses over 17-room Fifth Avenue apartments with ballroom ceilings imported from 17th-century Venetian palaces and marble staircases carved from Michelangelo’s quarry--the Kress family’s famous penthouse duplex at 1020 Fifth Avenue was taken off the market.

At that time, a source told The Observer that the listing, which, oddly, hadn’t been given to any one broker (though certain shiny-shoed brokers from certain brokerages were allowed to advertise the duplex on their Web sites), had come off the market because of “loose ends” that had to be cleared up by the estate. “Nothing scandalous,” the source said.

It was another twist in an oddball history that goes back to Samuel H. Kress, the dime-story chain founder who helped design the place (and its 18th-century master bedroom and library shipped over from Europe). When Kress died in 1955, his brother, Rush, inherited it, but he died the next decade. In April 1990, a broker memo went out announcing that Rush Kress’ widow “may consider putting it on the market."

Four years ago, after her death, a broker named Judy Kress Auchincloss, who had once been married to Rush Kress’ son, sent out another broker memo: “Not officially on the market at this time, call me for appointments and questions. This is my son’s grandmother’s apartment.”

Nothing happened until last January, when an article in the Sunday Times announced that the duplex was quietly being offered for more than $50 million. A Kress family member's phone number was listed in the article, but within a few months real brokers like John Burger, Kirk Henckels, and the Corcoran Group’s Leighton Candler had put the apartment (without photographs) on their sites for $50 million. Those quasi-listings were all down by November.

Next month, the penthouse, with its 800-square-foot salon, roof terraces, and five staff rooms, will come back on. Ms. Candler (who also has the bright blue blooded, knee weakening Astor listing) will be the sole broker, and the price will be down to somewhere around $45 million. Duplex penthouse obsessives rejoice!

Last November--on what must have surely been a sad day for the kind of New Yorker who obsesses over 17-room Fifth Avenue apartments with ballroom ceilings imported from 17th-century Venetian palaces and marble staircases carved from Michelangelo’s quarry--the Kress family’s famous penthouse duplex at 1020 Fifth Avenue was taken off the market.

At that time, a source told The Observer that the listing, which, oddly, hadn’t been given to any one broker (though certain shiny-shoed brokers from certain brokerages were allowed to advertise the duplex on their Web sites), had come off the market because of “loose ends” that had to be cleared up by the estate. “Nothing scandalous,” the source said.

It was another twist in an oddball history that goes back to Samuel H. Kress, the dime-story chain founder who helped design the place (and its 18th-century master bedroom and library shipped over from Europe). When Kress died in 1955, his brother, Rush, inherited it, but he died the next decade. In April 1990, a broker memo went out announcing that Rush Kress’ widow “may consider putting it on the market."

Four years ago, after her death, a broker named Judy Kress Auchincloss, who had once been married to Rush Kress’ son, sent out another broker memo: “Not officially on the market at this time, call me for appointments and questions. This is my son’s grandmother’s apartment.”

Nothing happened until last January, when an article in the Sunday Times announced that the duplex was quietly being offered for more than $50 million. A Kress family member's phone number was listed in the article, but within a few months real brokers like John Burger, Kirk Henckels, and the Corcoran Group’s Leighton Candler had put the apartment (without photographs) on their sites for $50 million. Those quasi-listings were all down by November.

Next month, the penthouse, with its 800-square-foot salon, roof terraces, and five staff rooms, will come back on. Ms. Candler (who also has the bright blue blooded, knee weakening Astor listing) will be the sole broker, and the price will be down to somewhere around $45 million. Duplex penthouse obsessives rejoice!

Bill Clinton will speak at a fund-raiser tonight for Representative Ed Towns, whose challenger, Kevin Powell, is trying to frame Towns' support of Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary as a political liability.

The event is taking place at the home of attorney Sanford Rubenstein, on East 64th Street. Clinton is expected to speak around 7:30 p.m. Others expected to attend include Representatives Anthony Weiner and Yvette Clarke, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

The invitation, which was forwarded to me by a reader, also lists notable figures like Governor David Paterson, City Comptroller Bill Thompson and Representative Charlie Rangel, although it doesn't say whether they will attend.

According to the Associated Press, Barry Diller's redundantly-named IAC/InteractiveCorp is splitting into five publicly traded companies. Presumably, there will be 10 names between them.

According to AP:

With the split, home shopping network HSN Inc., time-share business Interval Leisure Group Inc., ticketing service Ticketmaster and lending and real estate business Tree.com Inc. are due to begin regular trading Thursday under their own ticker symbols. The symbols are "HSNI" for HSN, "IILG" for Interval, "TKTM" for Ticketmaster and "TREE" for Tree.com.

The company's remaining Internet properties, including search engine Ask.com, are staying under the IAC name and will trade for the next 20 days as "IACID," due to Nasdaq rules. After that, IAC will regain its original "IACI" ticker symbol.

The split has been in the works for a long time. In December, The Observer's Doree Shafrir wrote, "The spinoffs came after pressure from an increasingly impatient John Malone, the reclusive billionaire head of Liberty Media who owned 24 percent of IAC and had been agitating for changes in the months before the announcement."

In a June profile of Mr. Diller in Portfolio, writer Duff McDonald estimated that "Since taking the helm of IAC in 1995, Diller has pulled down $1.1 billion for his efforts." No wonder he looks so pleased with himself in every photo in that article's accompanying slideshow.

The Obama campaign is doing everything it can to turn John McCain's failure to name how many houses he owns into a major campaign narrative. They just sent out audio of the Politico interview.

Responding to a report in the New York Post, Michael Bloomberg did not rule out supporting changes to the laws governing term limits that would let him run for mayor again, although he didn't say he would, either.

Fielding questions from reporters this morning at a press conference on West 124th Street, Bloomberg said, “I’ve always had a policy of never saying what I’m going to do.”

He went on, “I’ve been very flattered that a number of people have said, ‘Mike, you should try to change term limits and stay on,' but the bottom line is, I have 497 days left to go.”

One reporter asked if he is backing away from staunch opposition to extending term limits, but Bloomberg brushed the question aside.

“It’s like saying, 'No new taxes,'" he said. "You’d be derelict in your duties to ever say that. I don’t have any plans whatsoever to try to change term limits and stay on. But I’m not going to go hypothetically and let you come up with anything in the whole world - any mayor who did that would be derelict in their duty. You have to be open to everything.”

Somewhat annoyed, he added, “This is not a game, O.K.? I’m not running for president, I’m not running for governor.”

After last night's Senate debate between Kevin Parker, Kendall Stewart and Simcha Felder, two attendees got into a yelling match on the sidewalk about capitalism and President George Bush.

The man identified himself to me as Ira Weinstock, and he said he's an adjunct professor at Toro College teaching political science and history. The woman said she was born in Eastern Europe and had once run for Congress in the 10th Congressional District as a Republican.

About halfway through the yelling, the woman storms off, and Weinstock yells at her, "Support George Bush and bankrupt yourself."

"George Bush, I love him," the woman replies.

"He bankrupted America," Weinstock says.

"Shut up!"

And so on.

First came the overhaul of the old Jewish Hospital into quasi-luxury rentals. Then came Saje. Chavella's. Bristen's. Two clothing boutiques. The beer garden. Abigail. The gentrification of Crown Heights -- in all of its prickly glory -- continues apace with the impending arrival of Lily & Fig Fine Cakes and Confections on Franklin Avenue and Park Place.

The high-end sweeterie sells its Florette cake (above) -- which is described on the store's Web site as "[f]our layers of chocolate sponge with a raspberry ganache filling, coated with your choice of Belgian dark or white chocolate icing and topped with an exquisite corsage of sugar-paste flowers" -- for $75. A tin of scrumptious-looking "Rum Twigs" sells for $12.50.

With the apparent demise of Saje cattycorner to the new cafe, the neighborhood could, frankly, use another place to sip tea, eat sweet things and work on master's projects. (Let's hope the place has Wi-Fi.)

The locals who frequent Brooklynian.com sure seem excited. Someone calling himself "WR" wrote, "I really hope they have baguettes and fresh croissants. I hate having to leave the nabe for this. Id be there every other day if they do..."

Another commenter, "LauraPhoenix," had the wherewithal to actually call Lily & Fig. She reports, on Brooklynian, that "they plan to open Sept. 20, 2008, barring any licensing/permit issues. Yay! See y'all there."

Sweet!

In a creepy new ad called "Voices," from bipartisan anti-poverty group ONE, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and others speak through Matt Damon's face.

Mr. Damon opens up the ad with his own voice, saying, "Thanks to everyday Americans who chose to make a difference, millions of lives have been saved in the world's poorest countries." But the rest of the message is relayed through the voices of politicians and other Americans coming out of the actor's lips, Exorcist-style.

The ad is meant to encourage people to vote for a president who promises to commit to fighting world poverty. The organization, while not endorsing any candidate, believes that more can be done for an issue that hasn't gotten much airtime yet this election cycle.

[via HuffPo]

Gay-rights activist Storme DeLarverie -- who famously punched a cop during the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion -- will be honored tonight during an exhibit of artworks at the famously arty Chelsea Hotel, where Ms. DeLarverie also resides.

"The Stonewall Veterans Association is bringing the blue Cadillac for Storme," said event organizer and abstract painter Susan Olmetti, referring to the convertible Ms. DeLarverie often commandeers for the city's annual Gay Pride Parade.

The event, which begins at 6 p.m. at the famous hotel, located at 222 W. 23rd St., will also feature live portraiture by noted artist Antony Zito.

Full details are as follows:

MEDIA AVAILABLE: Aug. 21: Live Painting Portraiture By Zito Meets Whimsical Art Abstraction By Susan Olmetti At The Chelsea

From 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Birth of a Primordial Breath will be accompanied live by Zito's signature 7-minute watercolor portrait painting

Media Advisory

NEW YORK/EWORLDWIRE/Aug. 6, 2008 --- From Antony Zito's portrait painting on materials found on New York city streets to intricate abstractions painted by Susan Olmetti while perched on city sidewalks, art enthusiasts' eyes will behold a feast in the Grand Ballroom of the Chelsea Hotel (222 west 23rd Street, NY NY 10011) in a single presentation of never-before-seen paintings by Zito and Olmetti.

Among the pieces, Zito captured notable gay rights activist Storme DeLarverie impromptu on the balcony of the Chelsea Hotel one recent July evening (acrylic on canvas 24" x 36"). "King" Storme DeLarverie, born on Christmas Eve (December 24), 1920 (the year that women won the right to vote) will have a special tribute to honor her, a leader who has regularly led the annual procession of the New York City Gay Pride Parade. DeLarverie's persona may best known for her part in the Jewel Box Revue, a popular drag performance group which toured the U.S. during the '50s and '60s, in which DeLarverie was the only male impersonator in the troupe of 24 entertainers.

During the three-hour soiree, Zito will apply his artful mastery to paint his critically acclaimed 7-Minute Watercolor Portraits - a signature quick-draw style, of anyone who is willing. Portraits painted at the event will be available for sale that evening.

Recognition, Contributions and Contributors

. Sam Bassett.
Artist, filmmaker and celebrity photographer Bassett's recorded journey to unbury the hidden talent of friend, artist and neighbor Bettina Bashyi captured the attention of the New York Times among others. Bassett has contributed a photograph of Storme for display.

. Lisa Ackerman, Photographer
Chelsea Hotel resident Ackerman is best recognized for her talent and work photographing New York City venues and people - including celebrities.

. Purple Beverage Company
Adding power to the punch, refreshments for the evening's events are tenedered by Purple Beverage Company (http://www.drinkpurple.com/the_story_of_purple.htm).

About Susan Olmetti (http://www.susanolmetti.com)

From features in international newspapers such as Canada's Globe and Mail and magazines such as Today's Chicago Woman, Olmetti has attracted attention to her work, described as having a sophisticated and intricate feel. Olmetti's focus on nudes has been featured in a recent book publication by Fletcher Cowan and Holly Hay in the U.K. entitled, "When Fletcher and Hay Met ..." which presents a mixture of illustrations, photography, personal notes and informal interviews.

Olmetti has previously exhibited in The Chelsea Hotel and in galleries throughout Chicago and New York including the Thomas Gathman Gallery in Chicago, and The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Evanston, Ill.

A part-time Chelsea resident, Olmetti's bright and vibrant canvases emit a frenetic energy as viewers' eyes traverse the obsessive and whimsically interwoven honeycomb of color and form. Speaking with the artist while immersed in this chaotic universe of paint reveals the artist's complicated struggle with bi-polar disorder, the social and economic obstacles of having an eighth-grade education, and how art became her healing tool.

About Antony Zito (http://www.zitogallery.com)

The New York Post has called Zito's portrait paintings "sensual."

Zito's renderings of people on recycled materials other than canvas have prompted The Village Voice to refer to him as "a master of the found object."

NY Arts Magazine has said, "Zito is able to use his substantial skill as a painter to create a portrait that borders on a sublime reflection of the sitter's being."

Portraits painted by Zito from photos and live sittings exude a particular power and energy that give them the true breath of life. An ardent resident of New York City's Lower East Side, his paintings have been seen in Milk Studios, The National Arts Club, and The American Museum of Natural History, to name a few in New York City, The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, as well as in La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, and in museums and galleries in France, Austria, London and Tokyo.

In the summer of 2007, Zito set his Portrait Painting Marathon, painting over 100 watercolor portraits in a round-the-clock, 40-hour stretch.

Patti Smith, the godmother of punk rock, is still going strong. In October of 2006, she brought the curtain down on CBGB with a fiery closing night performance at the legendary Bowery venue. More recently, she’s garnered acclaim for her live double disc and Robert Mapplethorpe tribute, The Coral Sea, on which she collaborated with Kevin Shields of My Blood Valentine. And Steven Sebring’s new documentary, Patti Smith: Dream of Life (shot over the course of 11 years), was also met with critical praise. Next on her agenda? Writing the intro for a new book of photography by Jessica Lange.

Michael Musto reports today on his blog that Ms. Smith has teamed up with the Oscar-winning actress for a book called 50 Photographs, which, as the title suggests, will feature 50 photographs shot by Ms. Lange “in an arty black-and-white mode.” Mr. Musto’s take?

It turns out the woman's been aiming a camera at stuff for 15 years now, "approaching the art as an antidote to the constant fervor of Hollywood." But doesn't Hollywood itself also involve photographing things, sometimes for the sake of art? I guess not when you consider films like Hush and Prozac Nation—but now I'm totally digressing. Lange says she likes the fact that photography, unlike acting, can be a solitary and private endeavor. Still, I bet she likes the fact that her book—which comes out this fall on powerHouse—wasn't done completely without company. Patti Smith, of all people, wrote the intro. Make sense? Not in the least. Sound interesting? Yep!

You can preview some of the photos on the Brooklyn-based powerHouse Books’ Web site, which lists the price of the 108-page hardcover as $60. Also, a quote from Ms. Lange: “I find photography a most mysterious process—capturing that moment in time and space, elusive and fleeting, and crystallizing it. You have made a photograph. It is its own thing now. To me, that is thrilling.”

Mark Halperin says everyone is talking about the possibility that Barack Obama will surprise the world and pick Hillary Clinton as a running mate. [The Page]

Obama met with Tim Kaine this morning. [CNN]

John McCain isn't sure how many houses he owns. [Politico]

Obama notes that he only has one house, and McCain gets very defensive. [The Swamp]

The Obama campaign already made an ad about the houses, which must be some sort of record. [YouTube]

Under McCain's definition, Obama actually isn't rich. [Ben Smith]

The presidential debates have been finalized. [Political Wire]

It's potty time at the embattled Chelsea Hotel, where Arnold Tamasar has been hired as the new director of operations, replacing the much maligned former manager, Glennon Travis.

Chelsea Hotel gossip site Living With Legends notes that Mr. Tamasar is the former assistant director of housekeeping and style at the W New York Times Square Hotel, where he earned accolades from toilet tissue giant Kimberly-Clark for maintaining restrooms with the highest standards of cleanliness and ambiance:

The restrooms overflow with greenery. There are three tiers of wheat grass, Egyptian green limestone and white oak doors with gingko leaves embedded in the frosted glass. For special occasions such as weddings or wine tastings, the hotel adds an extra touch by providing a restroom attendant to hand out towels.

His expertise should come in handy at the old Chelsea, where plumbing issues are quite prevalent.

It's potty time at the embattled Chelsea Hotel, where Arnold Tamasar has been hired as the new director of operations, replacing the much maligned former manager, Glennon Travis.

Chelsea Hotel gossip site Living With Legends notes that Mr. Tamasar is the former assistant director of housekeeping and style at the W New York Times Square Hotel, where he earned accolades from toilet tissue giant Kimberly-Clark for maintaining restrooms with the highest standards of cleanliness and ambiance:

The restrooms overflow with greenery. There are three tiers of wheat grass, Egyptian green limestone and white oak doors with gingko leaves embedded in the frosted glass. For special occasions such as weddings or wine tastings, the hotel adds an extra touch by providing a restroom attendant to hand out towels.

His expertise should come in handy at the old Chelsea, where plumbing issues are quite prevalent.

Jim Romenesko has posted a press release from the Chicago Tribune announcing the promotion of Jane Hirt to managing editor. Ms. Hirt had been the editor of RedEye, the Tribune's young, hip [sic] paper, not to be mistaken with Fox News' young, hip [sic] late night show where bloggers are stars. (In fact, the Tribune Company tried to get Fox News to change the show's name in 2007.)

Ms. Hirt was named to Chicago Business' "40 Under 40," in 2006, telling writer Gregory Meyer, "We know our audience is interested in reading a little bit about foreign and national news, but by far, our research and all our readers tell us that local news and pop-culture news is what they want."

From the Tribune's release:

'Jane has the experience and credentials to move our newsroom toward the future,' Kern said Gerould [sic.]. 'At RedEye, she has demonstrated a true understanding of the newspaper's audience, and I'm happy that she will bring that expertise to the Chicago Tribune and its readers.'

Before joining RedEye, Hirt was the Tribune's foreign/national news editor. Other assignments during her 15 years at the Tribune have included the position of foreign / national copy desk chief and tours of duty on the sports and national copy desks. Hirt graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

It's been a tough year for papers, especially in the Tribune Company. Ms. Hirt has her work cut out for her.

Calling fans of Hard Candy (the pedophile movie starring Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, not the makeup): Variety reports today that David Harrower will be adapting his harrowing play Blackbird, which was put on by the Manhattan Theater Club last year with Jeff Daniels and Alison Pill, for the big screen. The story features only two characters—a middle-aged man and a young woman—who are reunited when the young woman hunts down the man to confront him about the affair they had when she was a girl. Don’t worry: There won’t be any castrating going on here (remember what happened to Mr. Wilson?). But that didn’t make the play any less affecting. Fingers crossed for a re-casting of Ms. Pill and Mr. Daniels, who shocked us with their terrifying and riveting stage performances.

Aaaaand they're off! We're barely out of summer blockbuster and silly movie season (Pineapple Express, anyone?) but the Oscar race is already on for the fall. Directors will be releasing their very serious and important films for the Academy's consideration. One of the first out the gate with a new trailer is Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon, based on the acclaimed Broadway play about reporter David Frost's televised talks with Richard Nixon after he resigned. Frank Langella is playing the fibbing president and Michael Sheen plays Mr. Frost. The movie will be in theaters Dec. 5, but slashfilm has the trailer for a preview.

Scarpetta chef Scott Conant may be "too modest" to say it, but here's proof that Italian is the new French.

Literally, in this case: beloved former French bistro Cocotte in Park Slope is being converted into some type of red-sauce joint, described simply as an "Italian restaurant," according to some new signage posted on the premises.

Cocotte, one of this author's favorites in the neighborhood, was suddenly shuttered back in February, with chef and co-owner Bill Snell blaming stiff competition along Fifth Avenue, the Slope's premier restaurant row.

Microsoft Corp. has retaliated against Apple's clever, youth-targeted ads by writing a $10 million check to Jerry Seinfeld to appear in its new ad campaign, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The company, whose recent quarterly profit growth has been upstaged by Apple, is hoping that the 54-year-old comedian will help make Windows seem less stale and outdated. But the choice of Mr. Seinfeld--who is most associated with his eponymous, and quintessentially '90s, New York-based sitcom--has left more than a few industry observers scratching their heads, especially since Mr. Seinfeld will reportedly appear in ads with 52-year-old Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. After all, there is a reason Steve Jobs recruited Drew Barrymore's ex-hottie Justin Long to be the cool young Mac representative, and glasses-wearing author John Hodgman as the uncool PC, in the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads, rather than appearing in any ads himself.

The campaign was conceived by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, a Miami-based ad agency recently hired by Microsoft to redefine its image. The new ads are expected to premiere Sept. 4 and will use a variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls," according to several people close to the deal that the WSJ was able to reach off the record. Also considered for the ads were comedians Will Ferrell and Chris Rock.

Robert Passikoff, the president of the New York branding firm Brand Keys, said of Microsoft, "They are not seen as cool. Apple is cool. Can anyone even recall a Microsoft ad? No."

From the article:

"People familiar with the Microsoft campaign say that the company was aware of trying too hard to pander to youth, so didn't want a celebrity that was too hip, or a possible flash-in-the-pan."

At least they knew what they wanted.

Microsoft Corp. has retaliated against Apple's clever, youth-targeted ads by writing a $10 million check to Jerry Seinfeld to appear in its new ad campaign, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The company, whose recent quarterly profit growth has been upstaged by Apple, is hoping that the 54-year-old comedian will help make Windows seem less stale and outdated. But the choice of Mr. Seinfeld--who is most associated with his eponymous, and quintessentially '90s, New York-based sitcom--has left more than a few industry observers scratching their heads, especially since Mr. Seinfeld will reportedly appear in ads with 52-year-old Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. After all, there is a reason Steve Jobs recruited Drew Barrymore's ex-hottie Justin Long to be the cool young Mac representative, and glasses-wearing author John Hodgman as the uncool PC, in the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads, rather than appearing in any ads himself.

The campaign was conceived by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, a Miami-based ad agency recently hired by Microsoft to redefine its image. The new ads are expected to premiere Sept. 4 and will use a variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls," according to several people close to the deal that the WSJ was able to reach off the record. Also considered for the ads were comedians Will Ferrell and Chris Rock.

Robert Passikoff, the president of the New York branding firm Brand Keys, said of Microsoft, "They are not seen as cool. Apple is cool. Can anyone even recall a Microsoft ad? No."

From the article:

"People familiar with the Microsoft campaign say that the company was aware of trying too hard to pander to youth, so didn't want a celebrity that was too hip, or a possible flash-in-the-pan."

At least they knew what they wanted.

The New York Times has been hard on Anthony Weiner recently, and he thinks that's a reflection of how the paper has changed.

This morning, The Times ran a story about the departure of yet another staff member from the congressman's office, and that was a follow-up to a July 23 front-page story about his high staff turnover.

(Also, last week, one of his likely mayoral rivals, Christine Quinn, got a more favorable profile.)

I saw Weiner this morning near Brooklyn Borough Hall, where he was handing out campaign literature with State Senate candidate Dan Squadron, and asked him about this theme.

The Times is making its "own theme,” Weiner said.

“People can cover this campaign any way they want," he went on. "But on the same day they did a story on my staff, they didn’t do a story about my speech at Crain's where I rolled out--I thought--a thoughtful plan on how to preserve middle-class jobs in New York City.”

He doesn't think the paper is covering the issues he's speaking about.

“Look, The Times has become more and more tabloid-y," he told me. "They have to make the decisions on how they chose to cover these races.”

Asked if they are on to something about his management skills, Weiner said no.

“Even the people that The New York Times finds--who seem to be disgruntled--even they say they want me to be mayor."

UPDATE: A reader points out that the Times did, in fact, cover Weiner's appearance at the Crain's breakfast.

The New York Times has been hard on Anthony Weiner recently, and he thinks that's a reflection of how the paper has changed.

This morning, The Times ran a story about the departure of yet another staff member from the congressman's office, and that was a follow-up to a July 23 front-page story about his high staff turnover.

(Also, last week, one of his likely mayoral rivals, Christine Quinn, got a more favorable profile.)

I saw Weiner this morning near Brooklyn Borough Hall, where he was handing out campaign literature with State Senate candidate Dan Squadron, and asked him about this theme.

The Times is making its "own theme,” Weiner said.

“People can cover this campaign any way they want," he went on. "But on the same day they did a story on my staff, they didn’t do a story about my speech at Crain's where I rolled out--I thought--a thoughtful plan on how to preserve middle-class jobs in New York City.”

He doesn't think the paper is covering the issues he's speaking about.

“Look, The Times has become more and more tabloid-y," he told me. "They have to make the decisions on how they chose to cover these races.”

Asked if they are on to something about his management skills, Weiner said no.

“Even the people that The New York Times finds--who seem to be disgruntled--even they say they want me to be mayor."

UPDATE: A reader points out that the Times did, in fact, cover Weiner's appearance at the Crain's breakfast.

A raucous debate infused with racial tension took place last night in Brooklyn between Democratic State Senator Kevin Parker and his two primary opponents, term-limited City Council members Kendall Stewart and Simcha Felder.

Each candidate is representative of one of three major demographic voting blocs in the district--Felder is an Orthodox Jew, Stewart is a Caribbean immigrant and Parker is African-American--that sometimes clash over issues like immigration.

During the part of the debate when the candidates questioned each other, Stewart began by welcoming Felder to “this side” of the district--ostensibly a note about geography, but also a reference to his Council district, which is demographically much different.

Stewart went on: “What promises did the Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg make to you, a supposed Democrat, to get into this race? And do you think Caribbean people can be bought?”

(Reminder, for the record: The mayor is no longer enrolled in any party.)

Felder, after a little joking, said people shouldn’t be bought. Then he asked, “How many years have you been living in Brooklyn, Dr. Stewart?” Both Felder and Parker have lived in Brooklyn their entire lives, while Stewart was born on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent.

The remark drew cheers from the crowd and a high five from Parker.

Stewart turned to Parker next and asked if the reason the senator missed 323 votes in Albany is because he was attending anger-management classes--which Parker actually was required to take after he was accused of assaulting a traffic officer in 2005.

Parker said he missed the votes because his father and uncle passed away.

“Being angry is not against the law, Dr. Stewart," he said, then invoked Stewart's connection to the City Council slush-fund scandal, which resulted in the arrest of two of Stewart's aides. "But having a slush fund where your staff is stealing the money, however--that is against the law.”

More cheers from the crowd.

The event was organized by a local church on Glenwood Road. Parker said he’s been a member there for decades. The audience, according to a few people I spoke with, was mostly volunteers and supporters already aligned with one campaign or another.

Also at last night's debate in Brooklyn, Kendall Stewart was handing out campaign literature, a 16-page broadsheet designed to look like a newspaper, complete with a masthead.

The front-page has a letter from Stewart, in which he uses the word “change” a lot, and a huge picture of Barack Obama next to a photo of Stewart.

Inside, there are photos of Stewart with other elected officials, like Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Senator Chuck Schumer, Brooklyn Democratic County Leader Vito Lopez, and City Comptroller Bill Thompson, all under the headline “Stewart Supporters.”

There is also an article reprinted from Gotham Gazette; original “articles”; a section called “Immigration Korner”; and glowing praise for Stewart from elected officials like Christine Quinn, Bill de Blasio and Hiram Monserrate.

More pictures here.

John Gallagher, who served as first deputy press secretary for Mayor Bloomberg until he quit in early June, is moving into the real-estate and development business, taking a newly created job with the title Director/Vice President of Public Affairs for Tishman Construction.

Mr. Gallagher's not a stranger to the development world; his City Hall job included work on economic development, PlaNYC and the city budget. He starts his gig at Tishman early next month, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The move comes as the city is tightening its oversight of the construction industry, an industry where Tishman is a giant, responsible for building the Freedom Tower, the new Goldman Sachs headquarters and the Bank of America tower near Bryant Park. Tishman—a separate company from megalandlord Tishman Speyer—also has a development arm, and has plans for a hotel on Eighth Avenue and 44th Street that needs some city approvals.

Mr. Gallagher, who came to City Hall in 2006, worked previously at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, on Jeanine Pirro's campaign for attorney general, for the Senate Republicans and for the Assembly Republicans.

Simon Says: Grooming

More of what Simon Says
Simon Says: Jane Fonda	Simon Says: Scarving	Simon Says - Shortboots
Simon Says: The Fabulous Life	Simon Says: Freudian Handbags	Simon Says: Eccentric Glamour
Simon Says - Bustlines	Simon Says: Collars	Simon Says: Curls
Simon Says - Eccentric Accessories	Simon Says: Delicate Fabrics

Steve Kornacki says that despite the former mayor's position on abortion and other hot-button issues, he was a natural choice to keynote the G.O.P. convention.

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson bailed on the birthday celebration that Ms. Ronson celebrates every year with her twin sister Charlotte because of the lurking paparazzi at the Bowery Hotel. [P6]

Meanwhile, Ms. Lohan's reported ex and daughter of Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, Courtenay Semel, got arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday for having an altercation with a security guard at Pure nightclub; she had been asked to leave because she was rather intoxicated. [P6]

John Edwards' lawyer pals reportedly helped Rielle Hunter escape to the Virgin Islands a day before his public confession on August 8. [NY Daily News]

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are reportedly back together. [Hollyscoop]

Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana, have welcomed a baby girl named Gia Zavala. This is their second child together. [US Weekly]

Bill Clinton celebrated his birthday on Tuesday with his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and his daughter, Chelsea, and her boyfriend, Marc Mezvinsky, at Allegretti on West 22nd Street. [P6]

Lara Logan, the comely war correspondent for CBS News who recently became the network's chief foreign affairs correspondent based in Washington D.C., recently sat down with Men's Vogue for an interview that appears in the magazine's September issue.

According to the style mag, Ms. Logan wore an "unabashedly feminine—and sheer—blouse and a black pencil skirt" to the wide-ranging interview, which took place at Washington's Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. Along the way, Ms. Logan reveals that she's not much of a life planner, believes that Iran's role in the war in Iraq is underreported, and that she'll spend the fifth month of her current pregnancy reporting for CBS from Afghanistan.

Lara Logan, the comely war correspondent for CBS News who recently became the network's chief foreign affairs correspondent based in Washington D.C., recently sat down with Men's Vogue for an interview that appears in the magazine's September issue.

According to the style mag, Ms. Logan wore an "unabashedly feminine—and sheer—blouse and a black pencil skirt" to the wide-ranging interview, which took place at Washington's Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. Along the way, Ms. Logan reveals that she's not much of a life planner, believes that Iran's role in the war in Iraq is underreported, and that she'll spend the fifth month of her current pregnancy reporting for CBS from Afghanistan.

Report finds significant “communication lapses” marred response to Deutsche Bank fire in 2007. [NY Times]

Paterson opens up about his first five months in the hot seat. [NY Times]

Experts express doubt over Bloomberg's windmill proposal. [NY Times]

Windfarm developers offer more comment on windmill proposal. [NYDN]

After a five-year-old’s fatal fall down an elevator shaft, a busted elevator finally gets some attention. [NYDN]

Madison Square Park on the verge of a residential renaissance. [NY Post]

Gimme Shelter: Mike Piazza puts his $6.8 million Tribeca loft on the market to look for snazzier quarters; the Plaza gets a new tenant; a stubborn Park Ave. “mansion” finally goes to contract for $32 million. [NY Post]

Bloomberg privately considers changing legislation to allow him more time in office. [NY Post]

Rising dollar scares off foreign real estate investment. [NY Sun]

Experts “bullish” over local retail economy despite a spat of high-profile closings. [NY Sun]

Riverside Drive tenants sue their Pinnacle Group landlord. [NY Sun]

Business owners protest Willets Points plan. [NY Sun]

Williamsburg residents say demolition of 102-yeard-old Con Edison building is an environmental hazard. [NY Sun]

Housing crisis forces closure of “shelter” publications. [WSJ]

The New York Post cites an unnamed source who said after the November elections Michael Bloomberg will try to change the rules around term limits so he can run again.

When asked, Andrew Cuomo didn’t rule out a run for mayor.

Tom Golisano's P.A.C. named two candidates it will support: Richard Dollinger and former fighter "Baby" Joe Mesi.

The New York Times took note of another staff departure at Anthony Weiner’s office.

Chuck Schumer will speak at the Democratic National Convention.

David Paterson says he has feelings--and attack ads hurt them.

Paterson later said that cuts to next year’s budget will be much bigger than the cuts the legislature just approved.

Paterson said if revenues continue to decline, “We will be right back here.”

Paterson also wants to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations.

The editorial board at the Syracuse Post-Standard isn’t impressed with the state budget cuts.

Sheldon Silver is moving swiftly to investigate allegations of fraternization between Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and a former intern.

The Post has excerpts of some of the emails that exposed the relationship.

Silver allegedly told members not to worry about their member items.

A person who read a letter from Scott Stringer aloud during a public meeting may face charges of criminal impersonation.

Here's more on Curtis Taylor’s employment.

The city is proposing drastic cuts to school bus service for special-ed students.

Parents are not happy about it.

Windmills in New York City, it seems, are nothing new.

The Daily News notes that Bloomberg's proposal for windmills is really expensive, and would take lots of time to actually build.

An investigation found that nobody actually had a permit to do construction on the Deutsche Bank building when a fire inside killed two firemen last year.

Hilary Clinton is putting together an ominous-sounding "whip team" to control her rowdy supporters during roll call at the D.N.C.

John McCain will not pledge to serve only one term if elected, as some have suggested he would.

Two national polls this morning have the same result: Obama 45, McCain 42.

The New York Times editorial board is wary of corporations that pay the bills for the conventions.

"I don't want to be in GQ," says McCain aide Steve Schmidt in this Washington Post profile. "I want to go home."

Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Democratic representative of Ohio's 11th district, died yesterday from a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 58. The Associated Press, CNN, CBS, Fox News and The Washington Post jumped the gun, reporting that Congresswoman Tubbs Jones had died several hours before her doctors confirmed the news.

On Nov. 3, 2005, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones appeared on Comedy Central's then-nascent Colbert Report in the third part of his 435-part series, "Better Know a District."

Mr. Colbert's show had only been on a few weeks, so his blustery persona was still developing: In the taped segment, his hair appears cow-licked; his suit not yet sharply tailored. The fake newsman gently parried with Congresswoman Tubbs Jones ("May I call you T.J.?") and asked her about her recipes for potato bread and other dishes. "When I cook, I cook for an army," Congresswoman Tubbs Jones said.

At one point, Mr. Colbert asked the congresswoman if she considered herself "the Halle Berry of the Ways and Means Committee?" A game Congresswoman Tubbs Jones answered that she prefers to be the committee's Harriet Tubman.

"The Harriet Tubman-Jones?" Mr. Colbert asked. Clearly knowing how to let a punchline stand, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones nodded knowingly.

The Huffington Post's Media page alerts us to a note from Bob Costas on NBC's 'The Daily Nightly' blog. In it, Mr. Costas apologizes to his colleague Brian Williams and Olympics superstar Michael Phelps for passing along an erroneous report that Bruce Springsteen had dedicated "Born in the U.S.A." to Mr. Phelps:

I had every reason to believe this information was accurate, and its source was reliable. In fact, I had intended to use it in my own interview with Phelps, but when time didn’t allow for it, I passed the story on to Brian, who did use it. As you may have seen, Phelps lit up at the story, which rang true for the additional reason that it’s the sort of thing Bruce might very well have done.

Then Mr. Costas sent a very personal plea to Mr. Springsteen, which we're passing along in the hope that he's a Media Mob reader:

Now if The Boss could just cover our butts by giving Mr. Phelps a shout-out on Thursday night in Nashville, or Saturday night in my hometown of St. Louis – a show I’d definitely be at were I not in Beijing – I think I’d feel a lot better.

With injuries to veterans like Moises Alou, Ryan Church and Luis Castillo, the Mets have taken to using a number of young players in an attempt to patch right field, left field and second base. The result has been increased playing time for Argenis Reyes, Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy, who have combined for 208 at-bats this season.

Since Murphy’s call-up, with all three playing major roles, the Mets are 12-6. Both Murphy and Reyes had hits Wednesday night in a 6-3 win over Atlanta. (Murphy’s was a two-run single.)

Mets fans have been justifiably excited to see the team turn over a large portion of playing time to youth—under former manager Willie Randolph, it seemed that the primary role of New York’s young players was to wait around on the bench or serve as trade bait. Jerry Manuel, out of necessity, has taken a difference tack, talking them up and rewarding their early success with more playing time.

What is noteworthy about the Mets’ youth movement, particularly in comparison to a similar set of moves by the Yankees last season, is that none of the three Mets were particularly highly regarded, both by scouting-based minor league observers and stat-based projections. Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy were all top draft picks and at the forefront of any Yankee prospect list. By contrast, Reyes was picked up by the Mets after the Indians let him languish in their farm system for six years, while Evans and Murphy were 15th and 20th on Baseball America’s 2008 Mets prospect list—in a minor league system notoriously thin on talent.

This makes for a more dramatic story, but leaves New York with more questions than answers about what each can bring to the team for the rest of 2008 and beyond.

The biggest surprise has been Argenis Reyes, who has earned raves with his defense and surprised many with his bat following his July 3 debut, hitting .302 in his first month with New York. While he has continued to excel in the field, his bat has regressed—his season line entering last night's game was .272/.306/.309. This is likely closer to the real Argenis Reyes—his lack of patience and power made him a relatively feeble hitter even in the minor leagues, with a career minor-league line of .286/.329/.346, well below league average for a major league second baseman.

With just three walks in 85 at-bats, Reyes will need to hit for an extremely high average to justify a spot in the everyday lineup, even with his plus glove.

The news is more encouraging for Nick Evans, who hit just .226/.242/.323 in his first 13 games as a Met. He has improved that line to .311/.360/.422 in 18 games since the All Star break, and manager Jerry Manuel has named him a part of New York’s left field platoon, sharing time with Murphy.

Evans has also improved his defense in left field—he had been a natural first baseman, but converted to fill the team need—and the Mets have yet to see his power. Evans hasn’t hit a home run in 76 at-bats with New York, but had 29 home runs in 674 at-bats for High-A St. Lucie and AA Binghamton in 2007-2008, for two teams that play in pitchers’ parks.

Still, Evans will have to replicate his minor-league hitting, or greatly improve his defense, to become even an average contributor out of either corner outfield position. His career minor-league OPS of .813 is exactly what the average National League left fielder is hitting in 2008. And should he return to his natural position of first base in 2009, he’ll need to improve his offense even more—National League first basemen are posting an OPS of .823. Considering that Evans doesn’t turn 23 until next January, however, that is far from an unrealistic possibility.

The most intriguing of the three young players is Daniel Murphy, and not just because he’s hitting .419/.510/.651 as a Met in his first 43 at-bats. (His RBI single in four at-bats Wednesday lowered his average to just .404.)

Murphy, who is learning left field on the fly just like Evans, has had similar ups and downs defensively. But not only has Murphy hit, he has hit for power—five of his 19 hits have been for extra bases, including a pair of home runs. He has exhibited uncommon patience, drawing eight walks, and has rarely been overmatched, striking out just six times.

The most intriguing part of Murphy, however, is his versatility. Clearly, he has no hope of unseating the incumbent at his natural position of third base. But in addition to playing some left field, he also played 15 games at second base for Binghamton, holding his own defensively. With Luis Castillo’s future with the Mets, long-term contract or no, uncertain, Murphy could provide a plus bat at a position where New York has few other alternatives.

If his lack of a platoon split at AA holds in the major leagues, it just adds another dimension to his ability to help the Mets down the road. (When asked about playing Murphy at second base in 2008, Jerry Manuel claimed he didn’t want to put Murphy at a new position during a pennant race—leaving unanswered, of course, why he plays him in left field.)

In the meantime, Reyes, Evans and Murphy will all be asked to help shepherd the 2008 Mets the rest of the way. With the team’s obvious reluctance to call up Luis Castillo, who has been playing rehab games for nearly three weeks now, and the uncertainty surrounding the health of twice-concussed Ryan Church, New York has little alternative.

Rudy Giuliani is not the first person many conservatives would have picked to deliver the keynote address at the Republican convention later this month, but given the uphill battle many of them see John McCain facing in November, it appears to be a choice they can live with.

"Maybe in other years I'd be more picky about it," said Gary Bauer, an evangelical leader who is an informal adviser to the McCain campaign. Citing Republican fatigue and a severely sluggish economy, Bauer said, "People understand that this is a tough year and that Rudy Giuliani is admired nationally for both his success as New York mayor but also his performance after 9/11."

He added, "While people have significant differences with Rudy Giuliani, they will understand the value in showcasing him at the convention."

The McCain campaign announced Giuliani as the convention's keynote speaker on Wednesday afternoon. According to one source close to Giuliani, the McCain campaign recently notified Tony Carbonetti, Giuliani's senior political adviser and longtime aide, who then personally informed the mayor about the pick. Carbonetti, who is also personally close to McCain, has appeared at several McCain campaign events around the country and often rides in McCain's car.

For now, the official reaction from the former mayor was humble appreciation.

"I'm honored to be a keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention and tell the American people why John has the experience, character and courage to lead the country," said Giuliani in a statement. "There is no better opportunity to remind people what I have known about John all along -- he is a proven leader who will put country first and tackle the tough issues head on."

Meanwhile, Giuliani's supporters argued that putting the former mayor in a visible role would improve Mr. McCain's chances in November because he appealed to the moderate Republicans and independent voters who very well could determine the outcome of the election.

"The McCain campaign makes decisions in what is in the best interests of the McCain campaign," said Randy Mastro, one of Rudy Giuliani's closest aides. Giuliani, he suggested, echoed McCain's independent streak. "John McCain is running a very powerful ad right now characterizing himself as the original maverick and as one who is ready to lead. It is something that he and Rudy Giuliani share -- they have proven leadership in the toughest of times."

Another former adviser, speaking on background, put it this way: "The battleground is always in the middle. It's not the party regulars on the left or the right, but slam dab in the center. Yes, Rudy will help with the independents, but he'll also rally the troops by his ability to get the convention rocking and rolling."

The trick for the McCain campaign now will be getting Giuliani to the convention in one piece. In his public debut as convention keynote speaker, on a conference call arranged by the McCain campaign, Giuliani