Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — Officials said a metal homage to the late punk rocker Joey Ramone may be New York City’s most-stolen street sign. The Department of Transportation recently reinstalled the “Joey Ramone Place” sign in lower Manhattan for the fourth time since 2003. This time, it was raised 8 eight feet to curb temptation. The New York Post reported that puts it about 20 feet above street level. The group’s longtime drummer, Marky Ramone, said he thinks Joey would appreciate the most-stolen distinction. But he added: “Now you have to be an NBA player to see it.” The sign is at the corner of Bowery and East Second Street. The department said Broadway, Wall Street and Love Lane signs also have attracted sign thieves. The sign’s move was first reported on the blog EV Grieve.

Ozzy Osbourne said that alcohol, not politics, has stopped him from playing in Israel until now. Osbourneis in Israel this week as part of this year’s international Ozzfest tour, along with Soulfly and Korn. Today’s performance will be his first ever in the Holy Land. Asked why he hadn’t played in Israel before, the heavy metal rocker, known for decades of decadence and substance abuse, told reporters in Tel Aviv on Sunday: “I guess I was drunk for so many years.” He said politics had nothing to do with it. “I try to stay away from politics. They don’t understand me and I don’t understand them,” he said, sitting next to his wife Sharon. On Monday, Osbourne and his wife toured Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum, Israel’s Tourism Ministry said in a statement. Pro-Palestinian activists in Europe and the U.S. have urged artists to boycott Israel to protest the country’s policies toward the Palestinians.