-I was in the subway last night, and I saw a homeless guy wearing a backpack that said “Zions National Park” on it. I would bet money that the guy has absolutely no concept of the significance of Zions National Park. I, however, do. With the temperature dipping down the way it did last night, I couldn’t help but reflect on the hot sunny days that I have spent in southern UT. It was straight back into reality for me, when I came above ground at my stop. That cutting east coast wind in my face was very sobering. Today’s weather is no better, topping out in the low 30′s. Man, I cannot wait for ti to warm up. I bet if that homeless dude with the backpack knew what Zions Park was, he would daydream about being there, too. FYI the photo above is not of Zions, it is from a different park near Bryce Canyon.

-Getting my photo credits on, again. Woo hoo

-Reagan just told me that there is a D train derailed up town. Not a good day, in NY for commuting. There was the plane upstate. There was the LIRR v. Car in Syosset. Looks like it is going to be a long commute tonight, since the D and the A share the same West Side Tunnels. Not the best way to start off a 3 day weekend. But I won’t complain. At least I’m not dead or derailed, yet.

If you get bored easily, do this instead. If you are looking for a less entertaining way to burn through this Friday afternoon, read on. It seems like not matter what I do, I can’t get away from Ryan freaking Seacrest. It all started when he was on the cover of one of my magazines, recently. I mean, the guy has always been around. How long has American Idol been on, now? But Lately, it seems like Seacrest over-saturation/inundation, has been taken to new heights, at least as far as the media that I subject myself to, is concerned.

It used to be that I would only have to put up with the guy during American Idol (by default) because Reagan is a pretty regular watcher. Even if I’m not in the same room, I have to hear his mindless banter with the contestants, and attempts to land a verbal zinger on Simon. This was more than enough for me. In fact that only thing that made it bearable was watching Joel McHale make fun of the exact same Seacrest garbage that was making me crazy. If you ever watch the Soup, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Ok, so there was that. Then suddenly, Seacrest starts hosting the Times Square New Year show with Dick Clark. Holy crap. Is Seacrest the new Dick Clark?

Not that I really have anything against Seacrest. I don’t. It just seems like his face and name are everywhere lately (possibly seems like this since American Idol is underway, again). But today was the kicker.

As I mentioned previously, I have a pretty hefty stack of books on the reading list for this year, already. So I have been trying to push through and finish one of the books that I got for Christmas. It is TSAR, by Ted Bell. The book is like a modern James Bondish, spy novel. The main character, Alex Hawke, is even British. The author does a pretty good job of dropping all sorts of Pop-culture knick knacks into the plot, making it relatable. So there I am, reading a long, as I ride the train into work this morning and whose name pops up in the book? The little sport coat wearing guy himself, R. Seacrest.

It is comforting to know that Seacrest will still be getting gigs in the future even if it is  hosting a media junket to showcase the launch of a modern Russian airship, styled after the old Zeppelins.

Ok, I know that I just finished writing about some crap that I read in a magazine. I’m sorry that this is what I’m writing about today. But, you have to check out this article about General David Petraeus. I feel like the majority of the media that I have been reading about the war, is so depressing and negative. It was really refreshing to read something upbeat like this story. I have to admit that my cynical side (which, I have been trying to work on), is telling me that the media is shifting its focus, to take the heat off of their new hero in the white house.  It’s a stretch, I know. I’m not even a conspiracy theorist!

Anyway, check out the article, if you get a chance. Could it be that this is the nascent beginning of a political career for Petraeus? I would probably get on board, and I’m not even a baby boomer.