They caught the Central Park Coyote!

In case you guys hadn't heard, there was a wild coyote loose in Central Park for a few days, until they caught him yesterday morning.
He was first seen Tuesday in the south-east corner of the Park, near the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, so he was christened 'Hal'.
On Wednesday morning, Hal led dozens of cops on a two-hour hunt, running from the Sanctuary, to the ice rink, where he ran through the set of a Robin Williams movie, halting filming. They thought they had caught him, but then Hal jumped an 8-foot fence, and headed north, traveling through Literary Walk, the Mall, past the Bandshell and through Bethesda Terrace. He ran around the Lake, through the Ramble, and then ran out of luck when he was cornered in Belvedere Castle and was shot with a tranquilizer dart. Hal made one last run - across the 79th Street Transverse, before falling asleep behind a Fire Department substation.

What baffles me is how a wild Coyote makes its way into Manhattan... According to the New York Post, there is a railroad trestle that crosses the Hudson River under the George Washington Bridge, which leads into a heavily wooded area... From there, Hal must have travelled down the West Side, through Hudson River Park. How he crossed over to Central Park, I don't know.

The Parks Department plans to release Hal back into the wild...

Cool stuff!
C
- posted by Christoph Roggenkamp @ 3/23/2006 10:18:00 AM

 
Just a quick post:
New York University is now the number one "Dream School" for college applicants, according to a study by the Princeton Review.
Granted, I went to NYU for grad school, not undergrad, but it's nice to see the old alma mater do well.
The New York Post reports that tuition, room and board for NYU undergrad is now $43,000 per year! That's almost how expensive NYU law school was 10 years ago!
Wow... and congrats to NYU!
C
- posted by Christoph Roggenkamp @ 3/22/2006 03:08:00 PM

 
dear family,

I was thinking about the upcoming festivities for dad's bday...

Friday night, 3/24, JP's flight from LA gets into Philly at 9:30 pm. C, I was thinking maybe you (and Siobhan if she is coming), could take a train to philly some time Friday evening, and you could go with us to pick up JP, and then go to Mad Mex for late night dinner and drinks. Happy hour starts at 10 pm that night. I figure JP will be famished from traveling and the meager nuts and twigs they give him on the plane. so if you wanted to hold out on a big dinner until then, we could get some nachos, or real dinner; whatever. We wouldn't stay up too late that night, and would go to bed at a semi-decent hour. Saturday a.m. we would drive to hanover and then the bday festivities would begin. that's my plan for now, let me know what you all think.
dad said something about C wanting to go to baltimore's inner harbor for food on Saturday, and gavin's dad could join us, as that is close to his house in annapolis. I am fine with that.

Dad, a package will be arriving for you, but you are NOT allowed to open it until we get to hanover on the 25th.

let me know what you all think.

I am fine, working on my application for the Penn pre-health program. Am talking to my current boss today about it (and to get a recommendation out of him, which is no sweat), and one of my old CHOP bosses next week (also for recommendation purposes). I think it's better for me to meet with them face to face about these sorts of things, especially if I am asking them to do something for me. I think it is a sign of respect, and people are also flattered when their opinion matters. Of course at this point, I have my mind made up about what I am going to do, but it's the thought that counts. I met with the professor whose class I am taking and he thought my career change was a great idea, and supported it whole-heartedly. Every single point that i brought up infavor of the change, he agreed with, and he gave me some insight into differences in earnings, which I had a inkling of, but hadn't heard from the horse's mouth. It was especially good to hear this stuff from him, as he is an MD himself and doing really great research that I am interested in. So I figure if he can do it with an MD, so can I. he also said that he could probably find some work for me in his lab, both volunteer now, and paid possibly in my second year of the program when I will have a lighter course load. So it's exciting and each day I am happier with my change of plans. this professor has a website where you can check out some of his stuff, here. Really nice nerdy guy.

all from me, gotta get back to the old grinding stone.

love to all,
H
- posted by H @ 3/16/2006 10:19:00 AM

 
JP.
Well, you said: anyone hear anything controvertial, or want to talk about it?
But I don't know if you are trying to be funny with this:
what about the UAE trying to buy six major american ports?
or if you maybe are reflecting the general impression out there on the issue.
The UAE company wanted to take over the management of the ports; they weren't buying them and they weren't going to be responsible for their security. Big difference.

My gut feeling, however: bad idea, and I'm glad the UAE company has changed their plans.

What I find amazing is the fact that the Democrats' message on this issue was "We can't let an Arab company manage the ports."
This is the first time I've noticed the "Arabs can't be trusted" theme coming from either party, but I guess it makes sense that the Democrats would make it their own. If the Republicans pushed a "Don't trust Arabs" message, the media would be all over them for racism, but the Democrats get a free pass on the issue. I find it to be a risky stance, but I'm not an advisor to the Democratic party, so what do I know?

Hillary cracks me up on this one. She was one of the first to say "No Arabs!"; at the same time, Bill was offering his consulting services to the UAE on the matter, and trying to get one of his former staffers hired by the UAE as a lobbyist on the issue. Plus the hundreds of thousands of dollars Bill got in speaking fees from the UAE.

Hillary is confusing me these days as it is. Just a couple of years ago, she said in a radio interview:
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants"
and
"People have to stop employing illegal immigrants"
yet a couple of days ago, she spoke at a rally FOR illegal immigrants.
I guess her opposition isn't quite as adamant any more...

I haven't been following the progress of her proposed legislation banning flag burning. Does anyone know how it is doing?

C
- posted by Christoph Roggenkamp @ 3/10/2006 11:06:00 AM

 
Hey, all.
Dad - I don't know if you have internet access in the hospital, but we're all hoping your bronchitis heals up soon!

I actually watched the Oscars, and they were even more boring than I expected, but the fact that "It's hard out here for a pimp" won the Oscar for Best Song was hilarious!

I was amazed that ABC broadcast the lyrics in the chorus:
"You know it's hard out here for a pimp...
Because a whole lot of bitches talking shit.."

I guess they shut the bitches up, because, as John Stewart said, "I think it just became a lot easier to be a pimp!"

The last lines of the Oscar-winning song are the funniest:
"That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin change off these women, yeah"

Maybe it'll get easier for a pimp if he can find some women who'll make more than change for him - move up to bills or something.

Anyway, the Pimp Oscars ended on a funny note. I actually saw Crash, and thought it deserved Best Picture, at least more so than any of the other nominees (although I didn't see them all...)

Hope everyone is doing well, and keep blogging!

C
- posted by Christoph Roggenkamp @ 3/06/2006 02:21:00 PM

 
Hello all,

I realized that I hadn't posted in a while, so figured I should put up a little blurb.
Things are pretty good in philly right now. Our new kitchen is almost done, just need to put a few more cabinet doors on, the range hoodm, and a tile back splash for the sink and counter. it looks AMAZING! I can't wait for you all to see it. I assure you, you will be dazzled by it. The new fridge is so much bigger than the old one, and doesn't make loud clunking noises when it turns off. The walls are now all white, not off white or, dare I say, yellowed. Gavin's dad was here from Monday till Saturday night working on it, and he did a great job.

We had a nice weekend in Hanover. I got to dad's at around 2 pm on Saturday, and we hung out while he washed dishes (several weeks worth!), and I got the beds ready for Amy and Rory, who were to come over later. It was a very leisurely afternoon and we just talked and ate cashews from Trader Joe's. C, we will have to go there on our way to dad's birthday celebrations this month: I know you liked those chocolate covered fruit things... anyway. We made rice and beans and salad and had a good long dinner with Amy and Rory, Dad needling Rory about various things "you have a degree in English, you should know these things!" while we killed a large bottle of Shiraz. Dad went to bed soon after and the rest of us stayed up pretty late (1 am), and rory whipped out the guitar and we sang a bit. a little kum bai yah (hehe). We did attend church in the morning, but were late. sorry dad. Rory and Amy went home so Amy could do her homework and dad and I napped and ate China Buffet for lunch. So not exciting, just relaxing.

I am going to Indy next Monday for possibly my 9th and LAST time. right now I am planning doing some thin women stuff for our study in Scranton, which has the right demographics and is pretty close to philly. so I might be going up to good old central PA in the near future. who knows.

JP, I liked the article on Thomas touching the wounds. I always find the search for the "literal" meaning of bible texts fascinating.It IS important to get things straight. I mean, did he touch the wounds or not? Was Jesus a real human being after resurrection or more like a spiritual body? We must develop doctrine around this!!

gotta go.
love to all,
H
- posted by H @ 3/01/2006 04:53:00 PM