Tom gets quoted in the NY Post

'NET LOSS IN PARKS
CITY IS BUNGLING WI-FI PLAN: CRITICS
By SAM GUSTIN

October 23, 2006 -- Bureaucratic bungling, incompetence and old-fashioned greed have short-circuited a plan to install free wi-fi in city parks, critics charge.

Two years ago, the city Department of Parks and Recreation awarded a contract to set up wireless Internet access in 10 city parks, but to date, only two of those parks are up and running.

Parks spokesman Ashe Reardon conceded that only a handful of "hot spots" in Central Park currently work. Wi-Fi Salon, the company awarded the contract two years ago to take the parks wireless, claims Battery Park also is online.

"It's been a long process," said Reardon. "But we're working on it."

City Councilwoman Gale Brewer told The Post she's "frustrated" by the situation and blasted the Parks Department as "technologically challenged."

Wi-fi activists also are fed up.

"No one at the top of the Parks Department food chain knows anything about wi-fi or the Internet," said Dana Spiegel, the executive director of NYC Wireless, a volunteer group.

In one case, she said, the department demanded a $1.5 million insurance policy from the community group Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza after it said it wanted to install a free hot spot there.

"I don't know what liability the city was worried about," said Friends director Tom Payne. "That the antenna would fall on somebody's head?"

In another example of bureaucratic bungling, a firm building Philadelphia's free, citywide wireless network offered to construct a hot spot in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn at no cost to the city - but the department held it up, critics said.

Sources inside and outside city government charge that the department is dragging its feet in order to sign up corporate sponsors - and pump revenue out of them.

Tristan has 5...no 6...teeth

When Jen and Tom returned from their trip to New Orleans, Jennifer noted that her wonder boy had a new tooth...number 5. But during a later feeding, dad Tom did some checking of his own and found number 6.

A Big Easy Wedding

Jen's friend Laurie spent most of her holidays at Grandma McNeely's in New Orleans. So when it was time to get married, Laurie and fiance Richard thought is would be cool to get hitched in the Big Easy. and boy did they do things right. A Creole Shrimp Boil at Grandma's...a balcony hospitality suite overlooking Bourbon Street...and a ceremony and reception at a classic Southern Plantation house.



Apart from the highpoints, the torrential rain and the bus with a flat tire will certainly be memories that last a lifetime. Best wished to Laurie and Rich!

Tristan turns 7

...months, that is. To celebrate, he put on his new "Rensselaer" shirt. It's size "18 months" and is already a little small. This is gonna be trouble.

Fall Foliage in Harriman

This weekend saw the leaves changing in Harriman State Park...and Jen, Tom and friends hiking once again to the lake at the end of the "red" trail.



Friends Jeannette and Rob took some pictures, too. Click here to see those

'git along little doggie

Tristan took his first pony ride today. There was a fair at the Dominican grounds in Orangeburg, near his grandparent's house.



This was also the start of Tristan's first full night away from mom and dad. He spent the night at grandma and grandpa's house. All went well...he didn't seem skip a beat.

The Office

Jennifer surprised Tom with a surprise visit to the office with Tristan. In order to give dad a break, Tristan took over for a while...