first, the times wrote a long sunday piece on may 7th about blaine and did a television review on the 9th, all before our supposed wink-off of blaine on the 10th. second, i like stunts and magic. i just don't embrace faux crises when we have enough real ones. i don't like professional sufferers with christ complexes. i measure bravery a little differently. and, lastly, i suggest this faux drama -- gee, i hope his liver is all right! -- was a distraction, even a welcome one, from realities beyond lincoln center, like war and murder.

Well, I still think Blaine is brave, and people respond to that. But I apologize; I should have been more nuanced.