Just a comment on a small item in Liz’s post:

She says "Oh, yes, many restaurants are empty in New York, but segueing on to Sirio’s Le Cirque after the Literacy gig, there wasn’t a table free. "

I have been a member of our local opera company for 6 years.  My "opera buddy" and I have had the same seats for all that time (she’s fantastic!!!  that’s a post for the friends column that WOW should have here soon :)) and the seats to either side of us are not owned by season ticket holders. 

When the economy was good, those seats (NOT cheap by the way) were often open.  In the last few months, since the economy has gone phhht!  those seats have been TAKEN!  Not only that, but the opera has been absolutely packed.

My opera buddy and I have wondered why this would be the case?  Logic would dictate that the opera would be empty, that people watching their budgets wouldn’t spring the $150 a ticket for the opera.  But not only has the opera been packed, people are starting to dress up more (we saw a ton of formals there last night, in the past we’ve even seen a gal in a tye died tshirt and sweatpants!!!), the lines for refreshments are long, and it takes twice as long to get out of the parking garage.

Why?  Why in this economy would an entity like the opera thrive?  Why would a great restaurant thrive?  The answer is simple: we all need glamour in our lives, good food, the company of intelligent people, the soaring  emotions of the opera.  In short, what we need now is FUN!

I also think that’s why I love to read you, Liz, so much.  Who needs another post on the economy or politics, we have a zillion of those here and it’s the same ole story: polarization on the issues and angry nasty words.  I’ve stopped reading some of the posts because of the negativity (one poster even said her favorite thing was trashing other posters from WOW on Facebook! How mean is that?  Can you only be happy when hurting others?)

So, keep giving us the glamour, Liz.  Keep reminding us that one day the sun will come back out, but for now we can turn on the lights by going to the opera, focusing on the positive and reading you.

This little not is directed to Barbara Walters.

Last year during a 5 time hospital stay for bi polar I sent my

two books of poetry to Barbara.  I forgot a cover letter and just

ran out to post it in a hurry. I sent it to the View in care of Barbara

Unfortunately I  don’t have any other copies and I afaid they would get

thrown out or did not reach her.

They were all written During mood swings They mean allot to me and

                                   I just want to know if they are still around. 

Thank you Barbara for reading this I’ve always been starstruck

and  now i really am.                          Myr

.

I’m glad to read that the children from the movie Slumdog are moving out of the slums………

When they arrived back home after appearing at the Oscars they were treated differently…….the young girl was marched through the streets with people shouting and in praising her.

The Young boy Azharuddin Ismail ended up getting slapped by his father. The Photo’s of the sadness in that child’s eyes made me want to slam his father against a wall someplace. (I don’t believe in violence) but seeing a child hurt is something I can’t stand.

He was taken directly back to the slums.  I hope he’s out of there now and has someone outside his family who is looking out for his welfare. Otherwise it appeared (from articles I read and photo’s a saw) he was going to just be a meal ticket to his father.

I can’t imagine what it would do to the psych of a child who goes from One night being applauded by thousands of people (at the Oscars) to the next day being humiliated in front of newsmen by being abused by his father.