I think most people are basically good (yes, even in New York City).

I get a lot of raised eyebrows and looks of pity when I say this. I understand your disbelief if you watch the television news.

A quick review of the top stories yesterday evening at 6 p.m. goes like this: "5-Car Crash Kills 3 in Hoboken," "Bronx Man Sentenced in Screwdriver Killing," "Jersey City Police Discover Body in Vehicle." I know I’m going to sound either whiny or deluded when I say I honestly wonder why the stations can’t air more positive stories. Defenders and non-challengers of the status quo say the answer is simply that bad news sells.

I want to be a well-informed citizen of my city, country, and world, but the local television news (and often the national news) airs enough doomsday reports to make me not want to leave my apartment. Ever. Obviously sticking one’s head in the sand isn’t a good idea either, but really how can anyone’s day be enriched by learning that a five-year-old boy was killed in a forklift accident at his father’s place of business?

Besides, isn’t it just as important, perhaps even more important, to share some feel-good news? There really are plenty of encouraging things going on these days, but you have to dig to find them. Here is a story I learned about a few days ago from one of the free morning papers. It didn’t appear on the nightly television news, or in the award-winning newspapers, or even on their corresponding websites.

Seemingly this would be an attention-grabbing story: a man clings to the railing right next to the tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge, and he’s threatening to jump.

For almost 45 minutes, as six MTA employees inched ever closer, the man incoherently mumbled his goodbyes to this world. The workers, three track employees and three crew members of the Manhattan-bound J train, tried to calm the man to keep him from plunging into the icy waters of the East River.

The poor soul on the bridge screamed, “I want to be with my wife. I want to be with my wife.” Every time the man looked down to cry, the workers took another step closer. I know what the New Yorkers are thinking: "What about all of the people on the train? Were they all late to work?" (Admit it. You know it’s true.)

Finally the man reached over to shake one of the workers’ hands. The worker, Thomas Bodai, seized the opportunity and grabbed the man’s waist. He and the others pulled him to safety. Later, Bodai said, “You do what you have to do. It’s part of being a New Yorker.”

In the end, this story probably didn’t make headlines because there was no bloodshed or visit from the coroner. So for now I’m going to do what I have to do and keep the news turned off. Maybe if it doesn’t sell, they’ll get the message.

Jacquelin Cangro

the subway too long when…

you don’t even notice that your jury summons lists directions to the courthouse by subway and by bus but not by car.

Jacquelin Cangro

Ladies, come here for a minute. Let’s have some girl talk.

Remember last week, when I posted how proud I was of you for seeing past the Palin, past the Republican condescension? In light of the new polls showing white women flocking to McCain, I just have to ask, as the kiddies say these days: WTF? Thank God for the Women Against Palin.

There is no limit to my love of Le Fey (Tina, that is). If we’re going to vote in this election based on looks, popularity, and lack of political experience anyway, then I choose Tina Fey for president. Who’s with me?

The Women opened this weekend. I saw the original version months ago, and while I thought it dragged on a bit, I loved it. It didn’t have men, but it had heart. And real wit. I’m hearing differently about the new release.

Naturally, as I have not seen the new one, I can’t comment on it. But…it has Annette Benning (underrated genius), haughtily, confidently, bitchily refusing an offer for "a face lift in a jar" by responding, "This is my face — deal with it," which I would like to hear more women proudly declare, about various parts of themselves and their lives. As in, this is my chosen career — deal with it. This is my ass — deal with it.

Alas, The Women were trounced by the Coen Brothers. Oh, I can just hear it now: "See, women can’t sell a movie." "What do you expect from a chick flick?" (although I’d like someone to explain to me how pieces of garbage like 27 Dresses can be considered a hit). I would hate to see all future female-centered films (there have just got to be good ones out there. I mean, where is Allison Anders?) shelved or discounted on the basis of one bad box-office receipt.

Although I still have three volumes to go, I’m addicted to Y: The Last Man on Earth. Cinematical surprised me with the following news: "DJ Caruso Wants to Shoot Y." Oh happy day. Until my eyes reach the line: "As for casting, they still want Shia LaBeouf to play the title role of Yorick (the only surviving male mammal on the planet Earth)." Oh…just…oh — like he would survive the plague! If he would be the only one left, women would start to look pretty good to me.

Jennifer Leblanc

I was preparing to write a post begging American women to vote for the candidate (whomever it may be) they felt could best run our country, not just to see a woman in the White House. But — huzzah! — as occassionally happens, my fellow Americans have restored my faith in their intelligence and sanity.

From Yahoo!News:

Women voters remain unswayed by the Republican choice of…Sarah Palin for vice president, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

The poll…shows that 50 percent of women voters felt McCain picked Palin out of political expediency and not because he believes she has the experience to do the job.

Only 29 percent said he had picked her to run in the November 4 elections because he believed she was qualified to be vice president.

Only nine percent of Clinton supporters said they thought they would vote Republican because Palin was on the ticket.

Asked which ticket understood better the issues and concerns which are important to women, 53 percent opted for the Obama-Biden ticket compared to 35 percent for McCain and Palin.

The Republicans thought we could be satisfied with a token and a pat on the head. They thought we wouldn’t see the desperate, transparent attempt to win us over. They thought that, for us, gender would trump experience and qualification.
American women, thank you.

Now, please don’t disappoint me in November. Let me rephrase that — don’t disappoint the entire world in November.

Jennifer Leblanc