New York City notes, Day 1

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• Our Airtran captain pilot from Atlanta to Newark (who the stewardess referred to as "Captain Mad Dog") played the harmonica over the intercom before the flight. It was AWESOME and really made my day. Everyone was smiling.
• We barely made the train to Penn Station - the doors closed behind me while my sister was left outside. Thankfully I pushed the door back up and yanked her onboard just in time.
• Raining in NYC. We walked around and enjoyed a big city atmosphere - Bryant Park and the New York City Library were great.
• We had an Uzbekh lunch with our midtown tour guide Luke Crawford (of Joyent fame). It was really, really tasty. I liked the rice pllaf.
• Walking around Times Square - I highly suggest the Times Square Visitor's Center. The flagship Toys R Us store was INSANELY huge.
• Subway and more walking in the rain to Zach's place at 349 Broadway. We got everybody to sign a copy of their book, which- while awkward- had to be done. (Actually, we didn't get everybody yet. Will complete on Monday.)
• Napping, then we went to see Zach and Paul and Jake's amazing Universal Space Agency. I was VERY impressed. No joke - these guys have built a really inviting space. The atmosphere tonight was very positive and the place has really turned around since Zach first signed the lease. Everybody was working good as a team and Emily and I got to do our share before the big art auction tomorrow.

This gave me occasion to observe, that, when men are employ'd, they are best content'd; for on the days they worked they were good-natur'd and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day's work, they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc., and in continual ill-humor, which put me in mind of a sea-captain, whose rule it was to keep his men constantly at work; and, when his mate once told him that they had done every thing, and there was nothing further to employ them about, "Oh," says he, "Make them scour the anchor."