Stacy Horn

I haven’t left the apartment and don’t plan to except to go to the roof to watch the fireworks. Instead, I’ve been puttering and catching up and holy shit, you have to read this history of the group Anonymous. I stopped mid-post to read it and was utterly riveted. You may think you don’t care about the subject, but trust me, it’s well worth reading.

I know they have a dark side (don’t we all) but it was exciting to read how at times they morph into an army for good. It reminded me of how scared I was at one point when I was about to take on an NYPD chief. Someone from the Detective’s Endowment Association said, “I don’t know a single detective who won’t stand behind you.” It was amazing feeling. I wasn’t going into battle alone.

I also just read that there might be an unexplored treasure trove of writing from one of my favorite writers, Joseph Mitchell (his New Yorker pieces were put together in a book called Up in the Old Hotel). They seem to be in the control of an unnamed executor. I wonder if this person is doing anything with it? And who is this person?

I took this while cutting through Washington Square Park on my way home. This is Manhattan!

There has been a strong response to the group of school kids who threw garbage into the 9/11 memorial pool recently. I am not saying they shouldn’t have been stopped and reprimanded, but I think there’s been some over-reaction here.

I read one of the comments of one of the kids involved. Even though he wasn’t being particularly apologetic, he was mostly defending himself, something he said made me think. I pictured myself at that age at a World War II memorial. I would not have comprehended what was being memorialized there either, or how people who’d lost friends and family might feel. Intellectually I would have, but not emotionally. I don’t think I would have experienced the kinds of emotions that would have quieted me. I might have behaved, but I could also see myself acting like a stupid kid too. Especially if I was with a bunch of friends and we were in a particularly stupid mood. I was not evil. Those kids who threw the garbage may or may not be bad kids, we can’t know from this one act alone. Do we react like this when people behave similarly at the Vietnam veterans memorial a short walking distance away? Do people even know there is a Vietnam veterans memorial that close by? (It’s at 55 Water Street. More info here.)

For the record, I was a 9/11 volunteer for almost the entire recovery period. It’s true I’m influenced in part by my own preference for living memorials. I love the memorial pool (which I still haven’t visited, have only seen in photographs and videos!) but I would also like to see the space become a thriving, active space. Perhaps one where we talk about freedom of religion, or, in my case, the freedom to not practice any religion of all.

Bottom line: I like the idea that while I am there, reflecting on my own thoughts, I might be surrounded by laughter, and kids acting out (but not throwing garbage) or people talking or arguing. That would comfort me more than a muffled silence.

I say this with all respect to my friends who feel differently. I know you want to honor the people who died, and the response to that terrible event.

This is a view of One World Trade Center, I took it as I was walking home on Hudson Street.

Where the hell is Matt? has a new dancing video up. (I danced with Matt in 2007.) Speaking of dancing, I couldn’t do the easy dance routine for National Dance Day. I’m thinking of writing them a letter about it. They go way too fast when demonstrating the steps, and they don’t break it down enough for non-dancers. Maybe it’s just fine for most people, but for slow people like me, I just can’t grasp what they’re doing.

Re: Scientology stalkers. A number of places have posted the location of Katie Holmes’s new apartment, and about the fact that she may be being stalked by Scientology goons. From TMZ and the Post (via Gothamist):

“People who have photographed Katie multiple times tell TMZ there have been several ‘mysterious’ men and vehicles around Katie’s apartment and following her when she’s out. Specifically … a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV have been seen near Katie’s NYC apartment for the past week.”

“A team of beefy armed men parked themselves in a white Cadillac Escalade outside Holmes’ place all day yesterday, snapping pictures of people outside the building and demanding to know who they were.”

I feel like going by with a sign that says, “Leave Katie Alone!” with a little crying face. Except, she voluntarily married Tom Cruise, and Scientology’s aggressive tactics have been well known for decades.

The ruins on Roosevelt Island.

Prometheus. I saw this in IMAX 3D. On the one hand this is a profoundly stupid movie. On the other hand, I was entertained the whole time. Go figure.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. I think I might have already posted about this one, but it was lovely. Highly recommended. Steve Carell, endlessly sweet and charming and lovable.

The Avengers. Also highly recommended. Yes, I’m a Joss Whedon groupie, but there’s a very good reason I’m a Joss Whedon groupie. Most of what he writes is very smart and funny.

Men in Black III. It was okay. I wanted to like it more, but I can’t say that I did. There’s a lot better out there to see, alas.

What I was thinking about seeing today, but I don’t seem to be moving on it: Moonrise Kingdom, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Magic Mike, (I love watching people dance).

I took this on my walk up the east side. Why would someone put Medusa’s head on the front of their building?

– Learning one of the dance routines for National Dance Day. Last year even the so-called “easy” one was too hard for me. Talk about an esteem-crusher. But I must not have been alone because this year the easy routine actually looks do-able.

– Participating in an International Standard Pitch survey. The standard pitch is the A above middle C, it’s used in tuning. The survey is being conducted by the Levitin Laboratory for Music Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University. I came across their work while researching my book, so anything to contribute to their wonderful investigations! “The objective of this experiment is to investigate whether the general population has a preference for one pitch standard over another.”

Actually, I did go out this morning. On my way home I passed by a photo shoot a half a block from my apartment. Note to model gawkers: Hang out on Perry Street. The thing is …

… this model looked so fantastic every shot I took came out great. I wonder how the photographer will be able to pick just one. The suit she has on is incredibly beautiful, but completely unwearable.