THIS is what confronted me this morning in a little camera store Times Square, NYC on my way to the White House Project's  Inauguration Watch Party at Carolines' Comedy Club. What happened to the sprawling Times Square newstands selling everything from comics to cigars to, well, I would think flag pins? Or the gawdy tourist emporiums on every corner with their Statue of Liberty paperweights three feet deep on the shelf? Mostly they've been replaced by the NewTimesSquare® courtesy of the Disney Corporation. One enormous branded mall store after another with barely space in between for the old familiar sidewalk detritus of everyday New York. When I finally found a newstand (festooned with Obama caps and beer holders) and asked for a flag pin, the only one available was one with, of course, Obama's face on it.

A half a lifetime ago, or at least a staff job ago, back in November, I wrote about the Brave New World in which I actually felt the urge to wear a flag pin...  and while I couldn't find one on short notice, I'd promised myself I would be wearing one for the inauguration, dagnabbit.Well my excuse back then was not having time look because of my day job, and now my excuse is I've been having to look for, and then really work a new job.It's a freelance position, so that at least gave a few hours reprieve today to not only party at Carolines but to search Times Square high and low, winding through the chilled morning workaday crowds.To make a long story short, because I have to leave this Starbucks now (just watched the Obamas being greeted by the Bushes on the White House portico on the overhead flatscreen) and run to join my lovey at our table in Carolines, from where I hope to post more dispatches. I'm off. Oh by the way:

Mission Accomplished.