New Yorkers are generally passionate to a fault. Recent construction controversies have made them even worse.

“[It] is really a sign of the gentrification of the neighborhood, and you never know what will happen,” says artist Serge Mikel, 37. Carrie Dutcher, 36, disagrees. She is “totally against [it] because we don’t need it. Maybe in the morning it will help, but people always figure out the way it is now. And [it] is going to make people drive crazier.” They aren’t talking about the Islamic cultural center, though. They’re talking about a traffic light being installed in DUMBO (at Jay and York) — the first traffic light in the neighborhood.

But if you want to hear a somber person’s opinion on the Islamic cultural center, look no further than Mr. Tasteful himself.

“I’m a big believer in freedom of religion, but I think the mosque being in that location is absolutely wrong,” offers Donald Trump.

And if you’re after some more purposely misleading fearmongering, check out the article on page 6 (not to be confused with Page Six which is on page 10 today) titled US worse than al Qaeda: imam.

Did you hear that, people? The imam behind the mosque-that-isn’t-a-mosque at near Ground Zero said that we’re worse than al Qaeda! Expect that he didn’t. Which you’d know if you read any of the accompanying article which begins, “The Islamic cleric who wants to build a mosque two bocks from Ground Zero once claimed in a jaw-dropping speech that the United States has killed more innocent civilians than al Qaeda.”

1) It’s not a mosque.

2) Rauf was citing the US-led sanctions against Iraq, which the United Nations credits for the deaths of “over half a million Iraqi children.” Has al Qaeda come close to killing half a million people? And how many innocent people did we kill in order to end World War II? Rauf didn’t say we were “worse” than al Qaeda and what he actually did say is numerically accurate. Shame on the Post for implying otherwise.

But we aren’t finished with New Yorkers’ passions towards Muslims. ‘BAD FAITH’ IN REGENTS EXAM points out that Islam and Buddhism are being given “the kid-gloves treatment” on the Regents exam, while Christianity is treated more critically. Two of the examples of the obvious bias against Christianity (as cited by the Post): “Idols, temples and other material evidences of paganism destroyed.” and “In a converted community, services and fiestas were regularly held in the church building.”

Disgusting. Why don’t they mention all of the Buddhist monks that molested children and then got moved to other temples instead of facing consequences? Why must they focus on fiestas and things that actually happened?

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Speaking of religion, I just saw this on Facebook. Watch it before it gets removed.

I totes want to be a Mormon now.

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The case against Joran van der Sloot is at a standstill. Why? Because Peruvian authorities can’t find a Sanish-to-Dutch interpreter.

Will someone call Peru and tell them that there are Web sites that do that for free?

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Page Six reports that Donna Karan and Christie Brinkley showed up to a benefit in the Hamptons wearing the same dress.

“A rep for Brinkley said that she wore the dress to honor Karan and that they ‘were the perfect example of the versatility of her brilliant de-

And that’s the end of the item. I can only assume that the writer was dictating and died unexpectedly.

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“Service on the Long Island Rail Road yesterday was cut nearly in half during the evening rush hour after a fire ravaged a main switching tower at Jamaica station.”

Keep up the great work, MTA!

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Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino will make $5,000,000 in 2010. He is expected to make $10,000,000 in 2011.

Most of it will be spent on penicillin.

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US District Judge Royce Lamberth has ruled that the lawsuit brought by the nonprofit group Nightlight Christian Adoptions can do ahead. Which means that the expansion into stem-cell research that the Obama administration put forth is now on hold.

And why is NCA suing? They claim that “the government’s new guidelines will decrease the number of human embryos available for adoption.”

Oh no! People might have to adopt actual children that are already alive!

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There’s a traffic jam in China that has been going on for nine (9) days. It’s 62 miles long.

Local merchants have been selling meals to the motorists at grossly-inflated prices.

I thought the Chinese were communists, not capitalists…?

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Ben Lieberman’s op-ed (Post-Spill, It’s Still ‘Drill, Baby, Drill!’) explains that, “If the Deepwater Horizon spill really was the absolute worst that could happen, then the benefits of producing American oil sure seem worth the risks.”

Ben is credited as “an associate fellow in environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington. Who is CEI (according to their Web site)? “Founded in 1984, the Competitive Enterprise Institute is a public interest organization dedicated to advancing limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty.” Ben also works for The Heritage Foundation. Ben is also a scumbag.

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Crude oil is just $73.10/barrel. And Citigroup is at $3.75/share.

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The Yankees lost and Tampa Bay won, so we’re once again tied for first place in the AL East.

The good news is that Ivan Nova gave up just two runs on six hits in a little over five innings.

In other news, Johnny Damon might be returning to the Boston Red Sox. Hilarious.

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There is work to be done. I must away. Try to enjoy your rainy Tuesday.