If you want cheap eat's, buffet style, in the Murray Hill area of Manhattan, I have a few do's and don'ts.

The real reason I am writing this is to warn people off of a terrible place that will more than likely make you feel ill if you have the misfortune of eating from their buffet table. This place is called Miss K's Italian Eatery on the corner of 30th St. and Madison. It has a deli counter, groceries that look like some have been there for years, a salad bar and a steam table buffet of hot food. I have twice made the mistake of catching a quick bite from this place going from work to Brooklyn if I knew I'd have no chance to grab a real dinner before, for example, a political meeting.

Both times I grabbed dinner from Miss K's I found the food largely repulsive and felt literally ill afterwards. I have a strong stomach even for cheap food. But Miss K's made me nauseous twice. Their food just isn't right. Perhaps their deli counter or salad bar is less nausea inducing, but their hot buffet sucks. One time I threw out a fair amount of what I bought because I just didn't want to eat the crap. I am NOT the sort who throws stuff away if I'm hungry!

You may have noticed that posting volume has gone down markedly recently. To a large extent, this reflects the slower news environment after the election. As far as I'm concerned, however, it also reflects the irritating fact that I apprently have a case of anemia; as do, interestingly, several friends of mine who worked equally hard on that electing Democrats thing. If you have a good name for this syndrome, please post in comments.

There's no need, though, to worry about me. The treatment for anemia consists of steak and sleep, two of my favorite things. I'll be going to a doctor too as soon as certain clients of mine pay their late bills.

What you will notice, though, is that low posting frequency. I do apologize for that; I estimate, just based on how I'm feeling today, that we'll be back to normal in a few days. Meanwhile, I'm sharply curtailing my social schedule; so sorry, but I won't be able to see your play, go to your event, and so on. This is not by choice, it's by necessity. I can't even drink, imagine that. Cruel.

Long story short, the blog will be for the next few days in the very capable hands of Mole and Dan.

On the same day that Mayor Bloomberg signed the term limits extension into law (and held that mockery of a "hearing"), the Campaign Finance Board issued an "Advisory Opinion" in which they gave people who had spent a lot of money on higher office a "do over" if they choose to run for their current seat.

It's a clearly and obviously illegal ruling, to anyone who bothers to read NYC's campaign finance law, something the CFB theoretically should have done. For those who haven't read the law, ask yourself if high-spending incumbents should be allowed to pretend they didn't spend the money, just so that they can get your tax money to spend on their campaigns, and so that their opponents' spending was limited while they went crazy. Ask yourself if the campaign finance system, which was supposedly designed to level the playing field, should be [ab]used to tilt that playing field instead.

There will be a press conference to announce the lawsuit, Tuesday, December 2, at 2:30, on the steps of City Hall (where better to announce we're fighting City Hall?).

Come on out and support this fight -- see you at City Hall!

Today is the 20th anniversary of World Aids Day. Over the last twenty-five years, since the disease was first discovered, science has made some remarkab;e advancements in treating it, and regrettably few towards and outright cure.

From an affliction primarily of gay men and IV drug users, Aids has moved into new demographics; the black and Hispanic communities have been grievously affected, aided in part by the rampant homophobia that leads men to have clandestine sex with other men before going home to their wives and girlfriends.

In New York City today, there are roughly 100,000 citizens infected with HIV, per the NYC Department of Health.

New York City remains the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. More than 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV, but thousands don’t know they’re infected. New York City has the highest AIDS case rate in the country, with more AIDS cases than Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington DC combined. HIV is the 3rd leading cause of death below age 65 in New York City. HIV is also the health problem with the largest racial disparity; 80% of new AIDS diagnoses and deaths are among African Americans and Hispanics. Prevention, testing, and treatment programs are being expanded, but more must be done.

Indeed, more must be done. Aids is not over.

I have always been a fan of Japan. I have been there four times, including on my honeymoon. I even had the pleasure of living for a year in Kyoto working at Kyoto University. It is, in many ways, a wonderful place and I do hope to go back when time and money permit. I even am teaching my son what little Japanese language I still remember.

But there are always strange undercurrents in Japan. Korean and Chinese friends of mine cannot understand why I ever would visit Japan. They have an anger towards Japan that Americans have a hard time understanding. The presence of the yakuza (Japanese mafia) in Japan is omnipresent, once you are aware of it, which seems strange for an otherwise so law abiding nation. When World War II comes up in conversation, many Japanese still think Japan was justified in its imperialism and that America should apologize for the nuclear bombings and for the occupation. It is a constant source of scandal that Japanese leaders frequently downplay and misrepresent Japanese imperialism in Asia. I was amazed at how unresolved WW II seems in Japan and in Asia.

What is a "fair price" to charge for a subway ride?

Before I start to answer that question, let me preface my remarks with this: I am not letting the MTA off the hook for their colossal waste of money on everything from their offices at 2 Broadway, to their interminable "construction projects" on, among other things, the #7 line I ride every day, to any other waste, fraud or incompetence. This is not about fixing that problem; this is about what's a fair fare. Got it? Good. Now...

Historically (for the last 25-30 years, anyway), prices have, up until the introduction of the MetroCard, varied more or less with inflation. Some fare increases have outpaced inflation, while others have fallen short.

Today, an average fare of about $1.75 would be in line with historical levels, after adjusting for inflation. Clearly, the $2.00 top price is too high, and even the "15% bonus" cards cost about $1.79/ride, slightly above historical averages. While that price is not far off from the average, any increase in that price, which the MTA is threatening, would be out of line.

From the Norm Siegel Campaign:

New Yorkers for Norman Siegel will be holding a birthday bash for civil rights attorney Norman Siegel as we rev up the campaign to elect him NYC Public Advocate in 2009. The celebration will take place at Azza Restaurant & Lounge on 137 East 55th Street (between Lexington and Third Ave) from 6:00-8:30 PM on Monday, December 1st.

The program for the evening features guest speakers State Senator Eric Adams, former ACLU Director Ira Glasser, Vanessa Ramos, Deputy Director for Policy at the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, and Connie Steensma, Chair Emerita of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. There will also be a performance by the New York Granny Chicks of the Granny Peace Brigade. The event has already attracted a wide array of hosts and sponsors from all five boroughs, reflecting the diverse, grassroots, citywide campaign that New Yorkers for Norman Siegel is ready to wage.

Chalk one down for Bronz bigot Ruben Diaz: in his bid to keep gay people down and unwed, he seems to have carried the first round: Democrats won't introduce marriage equality legislation for the time being.

But now, party leaders have sent strong signals that they may not take up the issue during the 2009 legislative session. Some of them suggest it may be wise to wait until 2011 before considering it, in hopes that Democrats can pick up more Senate seats and Gov. David A. Paterson, a strong backer of gay rights, would then be safely into a second term.

Of course, all that could change the instant there's a special election for a Senate seat. Stay tuned, because there will be special elections this cycle.

Apparently (and not surprisingly) some of those sales pitches you get about switching your energy provider are actually scams. I want to pass along a warning on the scams and pass along my own view of a legit energy choice.

From Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights (a group I was not previously aware of, and thanks to Park Slope Neighbors for pointing them out) comes this info on a scam hitting New Yorkers (PDF):

Been watching the terror attacks in Mumbai and I keep thinking of how Bush has accomplished NOTHING in his time in the White House. Terrorism is still on the rise worldwide. The Mumbai attacks seemed targeted at business intersts, Americans, Brits, and Jews.

Among the dead are a NYC Rabbi and his wife, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka. They were killed in the attack on Nariman House. Their infant son was smuggled out to safety.

(Picture of Moshe Holtzberg being rescued, from Chabad Info)

For more coverage of the Mumbai attacks from someone in India, go to this Daily Kos diary. Or check out BBC coverage.