Stacy Horn

The picture below is of New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and First Grade Detective Wendell Stradford of the Cold Case Squad (I wrote about Wendell in my book The Restless Sleep). I forget what Wendell told me this picture was for! Probably for a ceremony for the plaque of Jack Maple they are standing in front of. Jack Maple was a Lieutenant with the New York Transit Police when he came up with the system that would later evolve into Compstat. Bratton was then the Chief of the Transit Police. When Giuliani appointed Bratton Police Commissioner in 1994, Bratton brought Maple along as his Deputy Commissioner of Operations.

The early history of Compstat is fascinating and brutal, and not everything that came out of it is a great thing. I remember thinking it was hard to understand why something like Compstat wasn’t in place long before, but it’s not surprising that the murder rate dropped so dramatically once it was (and other crimes too, but when I was researching my book I was only looking at homicides and the history of homicide in New York City).

No one could tell me for sure who first floated the idea of a cold case squad, but everyone was pretty sure it was Jack Maple. Thank you, Jack Maple.

This is Blackwell’s House. I pass it by each time I go to the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Some day I will go inside. Some day I will walk around the perimeter of the Island, but I am waiting for nicer weather.

Building started on Blackwell’s House in 1796 and finished in 1804. Must have been exciting times, except for all the yellow fever. But the war was now firmly in the past and everything was on the way up. Mostly. God, I really do wish we had time machines. But would anyone stay in the present when there is all of time to visit?

I’ll post about these events when we get a little closer but I have two events coming up where I’ll be one of the speakers.

The first will be at NYU, at the April 17th event titled: Mistakes Were Made: Computer History, Decompiled. This event is being produced by Laine Nooney, a computer and video game historian in the Media Studies Department at NYU, who seems like the nicest person in the world and she was very kind to invite me.

The next will be a June 16th symposium at the Yale International Choral Festival. I was invited to speak by the Artistic Director of this event, Dr. Jeffrey Douma, Professor of Conducting, Yale School of Music Director, Yale Glee Club and Yale Choral Artists, who also seems like lovely person.

I sound calm don’t I? I’m terrified. Talking in front of VERY smart people. ACK!!

I took this shot on my way to my doctor’s appointment. There was some sort of medical emergency in the subway at Union Square. FDNY to the rescue!

My first post was 15 years ago, on January 22, 2005. Here’s what I said at the time:

It’s so rare when you like a photograph of yourself! I love this one. This is me and my friend Ellen Cooper (much better drummer), drumming at her party. I’m actually drumming on a ottoman, I think. Because drumming on the drums was too loud.

A relatively quiet beginning to my blogging life. I was just talking to myself, basically.

I only drum rarely these days, maybe once a year. And I still own those glass! Although I converted them to bifocals to wear at choir practice. I still have that sweater but I never wear it.

I’ve had a stressful week so I’m really looking forward to completely indulging in Oscar frenzy. I’m going to go out and get some delicious snacks and park myself on the couch for the 5:30 pre-show and onwards for the rest of the day and night.

Another picture from the recent Best Friends adoption event. What is cuter than a man and a cat? Only a man with any other animal. (I love them all.) Thank you for existing Best Friends, and for all you do.