This is the home of the Libertarian Party of Manhattan. We tried to get Frank Kennedy's store, but it was booked for a more popular political movement.

That gaping hole in America's defenses in the war on terrorism, the Brooklyn Public Library, is finally being shored up. Despite being a loyal, active, cardholder for two years now, I had to reapply for the new identity papers. In order to pick up my new card, I have to show proof of my address, which is pretty lenient, any piece of mail addressed and delivered to me within the last 90 days, and RealID caliber photo ID. The library's requirements are even more stringent than Homeland Security's--to prove right to work, you can show your employer an expired passport; the library will only accept a current one. I am no better than Germans obeying the Nuremberg laws. I check my eight ounces or so of liquids through when I fly, I take off my shoes, and I'll produce a dossier to pick up my new library card. I don't feel good about those things, but that and four bucks will get me a Vente. I am a beaten-down citizen.

Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die" died a couple of weeks ago. He saw about half of the things in his book before he fell down in his home, hit his head, and died. He was 47. I mention this, not to bum anyone out, but to say if there's something you want to do before you die, do it.