Popular Culture

5 May 2003


Tribeca Film Festival Opens
Tribeca is a part of the island of Manhattan, and until September 11, 2001 was best known as the part of town JFK, Jr. lived in and where Robert DeNiro had a restaurant and screening room. Now, the TRIangle BElow CAnal (New York names things poorly; there is also a DUMBO, but one digresses) is known as where the rubble of the Twin Towers fell. To revive the area, Mr. DeNiro has started the Tribeca Film Festival, a drop in the bucket, perhaps, but noblesse oblige ranks highest in Kensington's opinion. For more, click here.

Funny Cide Wins 129th Kentucky Derby
A gelding from New York won Saturday's Kentucky Derby (Brits note: rhymes with kirby). Funny Cide, not the favorite in the race, came home a good ahead of the opposition. What was disturbing at Churchill Downs was the traditional presentation of the roses to the winner. They have customarily been brought by the jockey's assistant. This year, a member of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines did the honors. The respect and support of the troops is giving way to an uncritical acceptance of military values that is bad for any country. Click here to read on.

New Hampshire's Old Man is Gone
Those who have not visited New Hampshire's White Mountains may still recognize the state's Old Man of the Mountain. The rock outcropping that showed the profile of a man not entirely unlike Abraham Lincoln is featured on the reverse of the quarter-dollar coin that represents the state in the US mint's new design. Sadly, the Old Man collapsed Saturday, the victim of erosion, despite the best efforts of New Hampshire's residents to save him. It is a parable of life. Click here to read more.