Empire State contender…
(28 Aug 10)

I've noted below how the Empire State Building is getting a new energy efficient make-over, but there is trouble brewing at a new building that could encroach on the famous building's vista. Just a few blocks away, a new skyscraper is being planned that would soar up to 1,216 feet – a mere 34 feet shorter than the Empire State Building. City planners have approved the building, and Mayor Bloomberg has fully endorsed it. However owners of the Empire State Building say it is simply too close to their iconic structure and have begged that it be either shorter or further away – lest it ruin the city skyline. City planners say no. Although some planners have called the building "elegant", to me it looks like a sore thumb next to the 30's grace of the Empire State Building.

The imposter - as portrayed by the ESB owners

Talking New Yorkers…
(28 Aug 10)

One of the traits that New Yorkers have is that they love to talk. However in new statistics just out, New Yorkers use their mobile phones a lot less than many other states of the Union, and when they do talk, speak for shorter times too. The average New Yorker uses his or her cellphone for 713 minutes per month – which puts it down in a lowly 15th place for the number of minutes spoken per month. By contrast, residents of Georgia speak for over 800 minutes per month. And when New Yorkers do use their cellphone here, they average only 3.7 minutes each time. This could be partly as New Yorkers don't have so much time to yak, or perhaps as there is no cellphone coverage in the subway system. The one thing that is the same across the country is the gender split. Almost universally in all states, women talk on their mobile phone around 22% more than men do.

Lost and found…
(28 Aug 10)

I never got into the whole "Lost" TV phenomenon, and now it has finished once and for all, I still couldn't tell you what went on, who got off the island, or what the series finale was all about. But the series did have a huge following, and those fans have been hitting the auction rooms as props and artifacts from the series went under the block last week. A copy of "Watership Down" that was read on the series went for US$3,000, an original script was sold for US$18,000 whilst a set of water bottles seen in the very first episode and branded with the "Oceanic Airlines" logo, was a steal at US$1,650. Unfortunately for "Lost" fans, some of the prime items were already removed by the actors in the series, whilst others were, well, lost.

Walk safe…
(21 Aug 10)

New York is a pretty safe city – one of the most crime-free in the country – however it is still a risky place for pedestrians. There are thousands of accidents involving pedestrians each year, and so this week the Mayor and his team vowed to make the city streets safer. The Department Of Transport will be looking at 60 miles of city streets every year, and trying to find ways to make them safer. Intersections will be examined for safer ways to cross, and there will be more countdown clocks on the pedestrian stop / go signs – so that pedestrians know how long they will have to wait before they can cross the road safely. But will those countdown clocks actually make a difference? For notoriously impatient New Yorkers… perhaps.

Green Empire…
(21 Aug 10)

The Empire State Building is probably the most iconic building in the city. Perhaps not the most beautiful (I'd say the Chrysler Building took the honours there) but it is the tallest, and most famous. And slowly but surely, it is becoming one of the most green in New York too. It is in the middle of a half billion dollar renovation to make it ultra energy efficient. And most of that revolves around the windows. But that's not a matter of taking the old ones out and replacing them with new ones – that wouldn't be very green – but instead taking them out, one by one, and then covering them in different chemical films, before baking them in an oven to form a perfect seal. Then they are re-installed. There are 6,514 windows that must be replaced, but the benefits will be big time energy efficiency savings which will pay for themselves over time. It may take a while, but as the building has been there since 1931 and isn't planning on going anywhere any time soon, that's probably a wise - and green - investment.

Still no subway cells…
(21 Aug 10)

The New York Subway system is different to Hong Kong and many other transit systems in several ways: it's older, more decrepit, less efficient, and there is no mobile phone coverage in the tunnels or on the trains within the underground sections. A new project to get wireless and cell-phone coverage in the subway was approved back in 2007, but failed to go ahead due to budget problems. But now the stalled plan to provide cellular and Wi-Fi service in all 277 underground subway stations is back on track. A company will soon start work on wiring stations so riders can make calls and send texts during everyday travels. And bring the subway into the 20th century. Improvements for the 21st century will have to wait a little longer.

Spiderman on Broadway…
(14 Aug 10)

Although residents do head to Broadway to see shows, visitors to New York are more likely to spend big bucks heading to see a show. And one of the big attractions this autumn will be the stage version of "Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark". And it's a musical too… though how spidey will sing through his mask I'm not so sure. It is set to be the most expensive musical in Broadway history, with a billed price of around $50 million. Flying and dance rehearsals began last month, whilst the general cast will be assembling for the first time later this month. Previews for the show begin in November, whilst the grand opening is just before Christmas. There is the bonus attraction of the music being written and supplied by Bono and The Edge. So now we know where the $50 million budget went…

Pop tart haven…
(14 Aug 10)

Times Square in the 70's was a den of iniquity and porn. These days it is more like a family theme park. One of the breakfast institutions in the USA (one which surely has an effect on the health and obesity problem in this country) is the phenomenon of Pop Tarts. Heavily sugary, insanely artificial, and only notionally fruity goo-fests, that you pop in the toaster and have with your morning coffee. And as of this week there is a Pop Tarts World based in Times Square. There are plenty of other sweet selections in Times Square to choose from as well – including a Hershey's store, and an M&M venue too. But at Pop Tarts World however they strive to deliver something different – including the unique Pop Tarts Sushi. But don't worry, there's not an ounce of healthy fish in there…

The real NYC treasure hunt…
(7 Aug 10)

If you are smart, and are good at sleuthing and cracking clues, then you could find US$10,000 in buried treasure somewhere in New York City. Two Brooklyn puppeteers say they have buried a treasure chest filled with 10,000 $1 coins somewhere in the city, and it's waiting for whoever cracks the clues in their swashbuckling series of online videos. The treasure hunt began Sunday when they posted the first of eight videos on the website welostourgold.com. The videos follow a crew of pirate puppets. Each short contains clues pointing to where to dig up the real treasure. The organizers request that people don't just start digging up the city randomly hoping to strike gold – nor looking at the end of a rainbow come to think of it – as apparently when you have found the treasure, you will know it. Obviously.

241 ballerina record…
(7 Aug 10)

So New York City didn't break the record for the hottest July on record, however there was a rather different record broken in Central Park on Monday this week. 241 ballerinas converged in the park to stand "en pointe" together for one minute. That is (I believe) standing on the tippy toes of both feet at once with your hands on your waist. And yes, that is apparently a world record.

Naked Cowboy gets competition…
(31 Jul 10)

In Hong Kong you have Melvis in Lan Kwai Fong. Here in New York we have the Naked Cowboy in Times Square. He's not quite naked (he does wear tighty whities) but otherwise is much the same. He'll strum you a song and you can get photographed with him – and perhaps give him a tip afterwards. But now, the Naked Cowboy has competition from "The Naked Cowgirl"! She is a bawdy, bikini-clad female busker and he says that she is ripping off his income, and so is threatening to sue her. The cowgirl is a fixture of the city comedy scene and a former stripper famous for closing her act by lighting her breasts on fire. So who would you like to be photographed with most?

Mr Softee feels the heat…
(31 Jul 10)

Yes it's been a sweltering summer so far, and so people have headed to the parks, beaches, swimming pools – or maybe stayed at home in air-con-land. So with rising mercury you'd imagine that New Yorkers would be grasping for ice cream, frozen yogurt and iced coffees and teas -- anything that would keep them cool. But it may actually be too hot for ice cream! According to Peter Bouzio, the manager for the Mr. Softee ice cream trucks in New York City, people simply aren't out buying ice cream. So it's either the heat, or that ultra-annoying jingle the trucks insist on playing around the neighbourhood…

Man Men party…
(31 Jul 10)

For hardened TV aficionados, last Sunday was a big day with the season 4 premiere of 'Mad Men' on TV. The tales of Don Draper and the 60's Madison Avenue advertising execs has been a great success both commercially and critically. To celebrate the event, the first programme in the new season was screened live in Times Square – with many avid viewers arriving in period 60's dress and show star Elizabeth Moss hosting the event. I'll have to wait a little longer – as I've not even started season 3 on DVD yet!

New York toilets among the best…
(31 Jul 10)

It can be pretty tough to find a good toilet in New York City. There are remarkably few public restrooms, and most restaurants and bars only have their washrooms for customers. But in a new survey just out, New York City does indeed have some of the best toilets in the country. A toilet supply company announced that the restrooms at Bryant Park and also in the Muse Hotel were among the 10 finalists in its “America’s Best Restroom” competition. The Bryant Park restroom – which is a public restroom - was noted for its “full-time attendant, fresh cut flowers, scented oils and electronic seat covers.” And I have been there, and do remember that it made an impression – though I don't remember all those features! Anyway, the national winner will be announced in September.

Wanted: the real Cinderella…
(10 Jul 10)

New York City might seem like a big fairytale at the best of times, but sometimes truth can mirror fiction. A man has posted various online ads in the city looking for the owner of a shoe… not any old shoe either, but the other half of an US$800 Christian Louboutin heel. Moshe Billet found the right-footed pump with a 4 inch heel on the street, and assumed that the owner would like it back. It is an open-toed heel, in a European-sized 39 shoe, and was lost near the intersection of 96thSt. and Broadway on the Upper West Side. The man doesn't expect a reward, but would need the owner to bring the other show with her (assuming it is a her), so that ownership could be confirmed. But 10 days on, nobody has owned up to the missing shoe. Perhaps the New York City Cinderella is too busy sweeping the floors and attending to the needs of her ugly sisters to come down and pick it up. But if you do see a horse and carriage – with the carriage shaped like a super large pumpkin – then that might be a clue…

Facebook addiction…
(10 Jul 10)

How addictive is Facebook? According to a new survey here, very, and with women in particular. 39% of women aged 18-34 are now self-proclaimed Facebook addicts, 34% say checking Facebook is the first thing they do in the morning - even before brushing their teeth or using the bathroom, whilst 57% say they talk to people online more than they do face-to-face. More strangely, 46% say it's okay to be Facebook friends with someone they don't actually like in real life…

4th and 5th of July…
(10 Jul 10)

The 4th July weekend is a huge holiday weekend here in the US, but for many countries the July 5th is rather more important. It is independence day in Algeria, Cape Verde, and Venezuela. July 5th was also the day when Spam was first introduced into the market (luncheon meat not the internet variety) back in 1937. Also Dolly the cloned sheep was born on July 5th 1996. Arthur Ashe became the first African American to win Wimbledon in 1975, but perhaps most of all, we should be celebrating 5th July for what French fashion designer Louis Reard unleashed on the world on that day in 1946. It was named after the Atomic bomb test that had just happened in the Pacific, but this was an explosive twin-piece of fashion that the world could hardly have done without since… the bikini!

Love on the "L"…
(3 Jul 10)

The New York City subway system is divided into routes with numbers and routes with letters. But the L line is where you find lurve! Using the often porn-laden CraigsList site as a reference, more people were looking for love on the L train, than on any other line on the system, as per a new survey just out. The hottest subway spots for "Missed Connections" postings (where readers try to reconnect with someone they may have seen in a fleeting moment) are indeed on the L line. More than the N, , A, 4, 6, or any other subway line. The line goes from Manhattan through the trendiest parts of Brooklyn and it seems that it a potent mix for those looking for lurve. Or conversely a symbol of those who can't find it…

Topless in Asbury Park…
(3 Jul 10)

One of the musical pilgrimage places in the New York area is Asbury Park – the place where Bruce Springsteen came from and made famous. Actually on the New Jersey coast, it is a beach town, and could soon be going topless! Although it may sound archaic to others around the world, there are only some places in the area that you can sunbath topless. In New York, every beach in the state is legally a topless beach after a 1992 ruling from the state's highest court threw out a law that made it illegal for women to take their shirts off in public. Not the same in New Jersey. So New Jersey topless advocates are looking to change that status. Women there are as beautiful as in other countries where topless-ness is allowed, they claim, so why can't it be allowed in Asbury Park? Fair enough, but I've seen those women featured on "The Real Housewives Of New Jersey". Equally beautiful yes, but undoubtedly more crazy…

Cat woman strikes…
(3 Jul 10)

You might think that Cat Woman only exists in Batman, but not so. A female thief has been doing the rounds in New York City in the last couple of weeks – with a cat Woman mask. She hit a high end shoe shop in Manhattan first, and then a beauty store in Queens after that. Police described her as 5-foot-6, 115 pounds, armed, possibly Middle Eastern, and dressed with a cat mask on. Though no tail between her legs…

The fitting sponsor…
(3 Jul 10)

One of the things to experience on July 4th is the famed hot dog eating championship at Nathan's at Coney Island. It's a prime example of speed-eating gluttony and is known all over the world. Held since 1916, the hog-dog eating contest is an iconic summer ritual with thousands of spectators watching heavyweight contestants scoff as many hot dogs as they can in just 10 minutes. It is even televised on ESPN – as a sport! The contest does have an official condiment provider in Heinz, but this year it will also have another sponsor – the stomach settling relief pills Pepto-Bismol! Apparently competitive eaters have been using it for years – but would it really make that much difference if you had consumed 60 dogs in 10 minutes?

The iGrab…
(3 Jul 10)

Even though many are still to be swayed by its use, the Apple iPad is a hit – especially with thieves. There has been a string of robberies of the new gizmo, even before they reach the Apple store. Thieves are targeting deliveries of the iPad at the Apple store on the Upper West Side. The first incident happened last week when an unsuspecting delivery driver was stacking boxes outside of his truck, when a man approached and grabbed a box containing five iPads. Two days later the same thing happened again – though seemingly with a different thief. The gadgets are so hot that even the sales team in the store don't know when the deliveries will be. So is it a deep inside job, or just i-opportunists who like the idea of selling off a $500 tablet to cut-price Apple fans…

Wall Street sold…
(26 June 10)

Along with the perennial question "how long is a piece of string" is the equally unanswerable question "how much is Wall Street?" Until now. As the answer is US$116,500. Which may not seem much for one of the biggest banking centers in the world, but that price is just for the street sign! A vintage street sign that once marked an intersection on Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange has just been sold at auction. It has “Broad St.” in one direction and “Wall St.” in the other.
The sign went up in the late 19th century and probably came down sometime in the 1920's. So Wall Street costs US$116,500 – and you get Broad Street into the bargain too!

60 Pianos…
(26 June 10)

As part of a public art "installation" (and I still don't like that word for art – it should really be reserved for kitchen cabinets or plumbing) there are now 60 pianos in New York's parks and public spaces – free to be played by anyone passing by. British artist Luke Jerram is behind the keyboard bonanza, with help from the "Sing for Hope" non-profit organization and the mayor's office. The upright pianos were bought on the cheap and are chained to heavy cinder blocks - just in case someone decides to try to take one home. Everyone is encouraged to tinkle the ivories, and then once the fun is over, the pianos will be donated to worthy causes.
www.nystreetpianos.com for more information.

Blame it on train…
(19 June 10)

Most of the city is at the behest of the subway system for getting to and from work. And with much of the system 100 years old, it does break down and create delays on a daily basis. So if you are late for work, the obvious excuse is because the subway had delays - an excuse that many would use even if they couldn't get out of bed in that morning! But soon, the subway system will offer instant verification on whether that subway delay claim at work was real or bogus. Last week, the MTA (the authority that runs the transport here) unveiled a revised part of its website that can provide commuters an official verification of a train delay. The old system could take weeks to get an official verification – and by that time, your boss might have fired you for slacking. But the revised site will allow instant verification on delays. It's like getting an online doctor's note for the sick subway system.

More ferries..?
(19 June 10)

Manhattan is an island. Obviously. And a very nice boat trip it is sailing around the whole island too, but one thing that is fairly surprising is that there are remarkably few ferries shuttling from the boroughs and New Jersey to Manhattan. Yes there is the famous Staten Island ferry, and there is even a ferry (or water taxi as they are often known here) from Manhattan to the nearest branch of IKEA in Brooklyn, but very few commuter ferries that work the whole year round. Why? Well that's something that is being pondered more by mass transit officials at the moment. It's partly as other public transport interchanges – like Penn Station or Grand Central Station - are quite a bit inland from the watery side of Manhattan. But ferries are a growth opportunity. To add new routes, you don’t need to dig a tunnel, lay a track, build bridges or add lanes. So will there be integrated ferries added to the transport infrastructure here in the years ahead? Possibly, and that is certainly one option being looked into by city planners.

Texting at the movies...
(19 June 10)

One of the most annoying things when at the movies is having that phone go off, or hearing that text message peep. However in collaboration with Universal pictures, a local store here is actively encouraging users to text whilst watching the flick. The Best Buy company is giving away a smartphone app released in connection with the movie “Despicable Me” next month. The app - called the Minionator - translates the gibberish words of one of the movie characters and sends them to your mobile phone. In theaters, this will work only during the closing credits, but when watching a Blu-ray disc at home, users can translate lines throughout the movie. The app has infuriated many who feel that ANY sort of phone usage during a movie is too much, and so the app tries to appease those people by turning off the phone’s ringer and dimming the screen. It will still vibrate however. Ideal for 'adult movies' then…

Trying to spend $100...
(19 June 10)

It's easy – far too easy – to spend money. However there are ways to spend less here in New York – by using bigger denominations of banknotes. Usually at ATMs and banks you will get $20 or perhaps $50, but never $100 bills. And in fact, 100's are quite rare – mostly because shops are very reluctant to take them. Even though many restaurants might be 'cash only' they will draw the line at anything over $50. More of the $100's are counterfeited and so shops won't take the risk on such a relatively large denomination. But must they be accepted by law? Actually no. According to the Department of the Treasury's website, businesses "may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy." So if you are on a budget and need a good reason to be more thrifty, take out a few 100's and you may still come home with them afterwards!

Crime & punishment…
(19 June 10)

The rate of some crimes in the city of New York has been on the up this last year, but any prevailing sense of lawlessness is still very low. And NYC remains one of the safest big cities in the country. And in fact new stats just out show that the NY prison population is at an almost record low. Fewer inmates are behind bars in New York on any given day than at any time in the past 24 years, and the number admitted to the city’s jail system has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since 1987. While the plunge in the city’s crime rate has undoubtedly been a critical factor, a number of other large cities where crime has also fallen have not seen a parallel drop in their jail population. Instead, steps taken by the city, including special courts to deal with nonviolent offenders and programs to deter former convicts from returning to jail, appear to be working. So that's more fines and less jail time. And that's a double whammy for the city and state – as the daily cost of housing one prison inmate for one day is over $200. And so fewer inmates saves the state a whole lot of dosh.

Too sexy to work…
(5 Jun 10)

One of the hottest tabloid stories recently was about the woman fired from her job because – allegedly – she was too sexy! Debrahlee Lorenzana, 33, who the tabloid papers described as "dangerously curvy", claims that her bosses at Citigroup fired her for flaunting her ample assets at a midtown bank and that she was "too distracting" for other employees. The woman says that the bank told her to dress for frumpily because her pencil skirts and clingy clothes were drawing too much attention in the workplace. Her lawsuit claims that she was moved to an out-of-the-way spot in the office first, and then a month later, was fired. The bank disputes the claim and says that the woman was let go due to her work performance and not her appearance. Toxic assets for sure. Watch the TV interview and you decide.
(You can also play "spot the nipple".)

Bye to the V and W…
(5 June 10)

As part of the cost cutting measures on the New York City Transit system, two subway lines are being cut - or actually being consolidated into other subway lines. So as of the end of June, the W line and the V line will be no more. But to change the system in this way is a monumental process. With 468 stations, maps will have to be replaced on all those – many times over – plus on the trains, and on all the platforms that service the V or W lines too. In total, some 3,000 signs and 25,000 maps will be switched within the span of about two weeks before the service changes take effect at the end of the month.

Scary posters…
(5 June 10)

Like many cities and countries around the world, New York tries to stop people from smoking. One of the current campaigns is based around a set of pretty scary posters that show the harmful effects of smoking – cancer-ravaged lungs, a decaying tooth and a stroke-crippled brain with the simple message "Quit Smoking Now." These posters have to be placed near the cash register anywhere where cigarettes are sold in the city – by law. New York is the only city in the country to take such an approach with such a visual impact. And naturally, some people are fuming – most obviously noticeably the big tobacco companies. So those big companies are now funding a federal suit that says the ads are unconstitutional. Not because they are untruthful (that part is hard to wriggle out of) but instead that a city shouldn't be allowed to describe its own health warnings – that duty should be only on a federal level, country wide. They have also got some small support from shop owners that sell cigarettes who say that the gory posters upset people who aren't even coming in to buy cigarettes. Acceptable collateral damage perhaps.

Twitterer post…
(5 June 10)

A good job vacancy for geeks: The Mayor's office here is looking for a twitterer. Officially, the city is looking to hire a chief digital officer who could unify the city’s efforts to communicate via social media and online. It could also pay up to US$125,000 per year – depending on your level of geekdom.

New city park…
(17 Apr 10)

Good news for green spaces this week. I've mentioned before the wonderful island between the southern tip of Manhattan and Brooklyn called Governors Island. It was an old coastguard station, and since it was opened up to the public for parts of the summer 6 years ago, it's been one of those little known secrets of the city. Many of the houses are really old style from maybe 100 years ago, and now you can cycle all the way around it. It had been under the remit of the state of NY, but this week the deal was done that the city would be looking after it in future and would become an official city park. The City generally has slightly better finances than the state, and so this ensures a better future for it – one that will include some development, but also that will enable that this awesome summer oasis will continue as this hidden green gem - but please, don't tell anyone about it.

Good time for dogs…
(17 Apr 10)

“There’s never been a better time to be a dog in New York City.” Those were the words from Mayor Michael Bloomberg this week, with the news that the percentage of dogs and cats put to death at the city’s shelters hit an all-time low last year. Not only that, but the adoption rate for shelter pets increased from the year before. The good news came at the same time as the A.S.P.C.A. handed over a US$1 million grant to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals - a coalition of more than 160 animal rescue groups and shelters in the city. The money will be used to increase the numbers of adoptions and to provide free neutering services to low-income pet owners. But any dog or cat euthanized is one too many – and even with the drop in numbers, over 13,000 animals were put to sleep in 2009.

Adams family failure?
(17 Apr 10)

Shows on Broadway come and go, but many are a gamble on whether they will pay off or not. It is really expensive to put on a show, and so they usually need long runs with full houses to make them break even. There's a Spiderman show in production, but one show that had been tried out in Chicago and moved here last week was a new production of the Adams Family. Yes, that classic cartoon turned TV show, turned movie, now turned stage show. And with a strong cast and a lot of popular appeal, then it should work – right? Not according to the critics who universally panned the production the day after it opened. Not funny, not spooky, and when the actors burst into song… well, it just doesn't work. It cost about US$17 million to put on, and advance ticket sales are already over 15 million bucks, so it will be a success – even if most of the critics pass on the weird synergy of horror and singingalong styles…

Mad Men Barbie…
(20 Mar 10)

As a lover of the Mad Men series - the 60's exploits of advertising executives on New York's Madison Avenue – I'm looking forward to checking out a new cash-in, tie-in item. Mattel has released four doll figures that represent the stars of the cult TV series - the prime male characters of Don Draper and Roger Sterling, and the drop-dead gorgeous female characters of Joan Holloway and Betty Draper. The dolls come with period accessories like hats, overcoats, pearls and padded undergarments, but no cigarettes, ashtrays, martini glasses or cocktail shakers – which seems contrary to the TV series. And yes, as an 'adult doll' they come with an adult price tag – about $75 each. Or around about 5 cocktails-worth – depending on where you get your Manhattan shaken…

Bees in the city…
(20 Mar 10)

As a lover of honey, I appreciate the humble honey bee. And I usually get my honey from the green markets in the city, which usually have their bees in upstate New York. But soon, I might be able to source it closer to home. Current regulations ban bee-keeping in the city but new provisions approved this week allows beekeepers to keep hives in the city – as long as they don't terrorise any of the natives. But as beekeepers will tell you, honey bees are not the aggressive type. No, really…

Taxis rip-off customers…
(20 Mar 10)

Here's a shocker for you… New York City cab drivers were ripping off customers. There have been around 3,000 cases of taxi drivers charging passengers at an inflated rate – a rate that should have been charged for out of town trips, not those made within the city. The new technology – that has a GPS screen and credit card charger visible in the back seat – should have alleviated that rip-off potential, but some cabbies found a way round. The technology has now been tweaked, and so shouldn't be happening again. Hopefully…

Legoland NYC…
(20 Mar 10)

Graffiti is still a part of NYC, but there is another strange type of unauthorized public art project that is going around, that keys in with the crumbling infrastructure of some public buildings. A German artist is going round the city and filling up some of the cracks in buildings – with Lego bricks. A few weeks ago, Jan Vormann and a team of volunteers began filling in cracks in city buildings with the celebrated plastic building blocks. It's a project called "Dispatchwork" and is unauthorized by the city, and the Lego usually gets taken down in a day or two, but the combination of stone bricks and multi-coloured plastic bricks is pretty striking.

Pot-hole alert….
(13 Mar 10)

Look out for pot-holes on the city and state's roads at the moment. In particular if you are a driver, though as a cyclist, I have to be on the look out too. It happens every year, and this year is no exception. After the winter, water seeps into the roads, freezes, breaks up the surface, melts, then it happens again… and so on… causing pot-holes in the roads. And with more icy sessions this winter, the number of pot-holes is greater than ever too. So one of the things you will see are armies of pot-hole squads spot-repairing the holes in the road. And one high profile repairer last week was Mayor Bloomberg who lent a lending had (and a shovel) to fix a few holes in the road on Staten Island. And it was supposedly the 2 millionth hole filled of his 8 year administration. So some good work done - and of course a good photo-op…

Who pays for radio?
(13 Mar 10)

I am not one to feel sorry for the music industry – an industry that I have been observing for many years, and one I still view with inherent distrust. But here in the US musicians are crying foul over the fact that if you are a singer, then you don't get royalties if your song gets played on the radio. The writer does, as does the publisher, but not the performer. So moves are afoot to pay them a fee too for the performance on air – though radio stations are loathed to pay out any more money for playing music and record companies and writers don't want their slice of the pie cut. So will an agreement be reached? Probably, but little will make me change my distrust for the record company monoliths...

Good news for bald eagles…
(13 Mar 10)

One of the symbols of all things American is the Bald Eagle. Usually found out west, they are also to be found in New York State - and in ever increasing numbers too. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts New York's bald eagle population could be at its highest level since the 1970s. A new survey shows that there are 569 bald eagles in the state, and preliminary data for this year indicate the number is expected to grow even higher after breeding gets underway. Back in 1975, when eagle tracking began, officials could only document two living birds after years of hunting, pesticide contamination and deforestation nearly wiped out the national symbol. The eagles here are not city dwellers and are found upstate in the Hudson River and St. Lawrence River areas. And long may they continue to thrive.

The Future of the hot dog…
(13 Mar 10)

According to experts, there are two truths about hot dogs: kids love them, and hot dogs are the perfect size and shape for a child to choke on. In fact many foodies have said that if you were to take the best engineers in the world and asked them to design a perfect plug for a child's airway, you couldn't do better than a hot dog. But they are also the most ubiquitous food found on carts on the city's streets. So some food companies are now trying to redesign the wheel – or at least, redesign the hot dog so that it couldn't be a potential choking hazard. Yes it has to still be meat in a bun but they are working on sausages with grooves cut into the sides and even a type of concertina dog that wouldn't block your throat if you got it stuck. But whatever the evolutionary shape, don't expect the tradition of selling them on New York City streets to change in the decades ahead…

Subway reality show…
(6 Mar 10)

Reality TV is as big here in the US as anywhere else in the world – probably bigger. But there is a plan afoot to have a reality TV series based on the lives of those who work within the New York subway system. For the last few months, officials at the MTA (the transportation authority) have been working with television producers from the A&E network on a reality show set in and around the subway here. The programme would follow an ensemble cast of train conductors, station agents and other subway workers as they handle track fires, angry customers and the grind of running the country’s biggest mass transit system. Apparently the show was inspired by one of the TV producers seeing Thomas the Tank Engine toys that his son had – though the parallels between Thomas, James, and Percy seem pretty remote from the woes of the Manhattan A line! The same producers had worked on the Paris Hilton "Simple Life" show too… another parallel that is hard to see with the subway here. But one thing is very true to form with the subway service here - the TV series has been delayed…

Help dogs… (and cats)
(6 Mar 10)

Most services in New York City are feeling the pinch, but some cuts are "rougher" than others. The city's homeless shelters for cats and dogs can no longer can afford canned dog and cat food and are already running out of kitty litter. So if you have spare cat and dog food, plus litter, then you can contribute it to the New York City Animal Care and Control, which would appreciate it. People can also donate blankets, towels, and rubber play toys…

Guard dogs…
(6 Mar 10)

Meanwhile the MTA is investing in more security dogs. These are dogs that travel around the mass transit system with a police officer companion, checking out unattended packages and chasing down criminals. The transport police currently have 45 dogs (mostly German Shepherds though with a few Labradors too) but have just invested in another 6 animals - at a cost of US$35,800 each! All are elite, highly trained, bomb-sniffing, and crime-fighting pooches. Dog prices, however, are going up — even in this economy. The last batch of male German shepherds bought by the authority, in September 2008, cost $500 apiece less. And if you think that there is equality in the doggy world, think again. Bitches are cheaper by $300….

Mafia tours R Us…
(20 Feb 10)

Think of The Mob and The Sopranos probably come to mind – the fictitious crime family that lived over the water in New Jersey. And even though the series ended some years ago, there are still regular tours that companies run in NJ to show off all the spots where the series was filmed. (The non-location studio pieces were filmed here in Queens, NY.) But soon there will be an opportunity to visit all the real (if former) places in Manhattan. Starting next month, John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia will be bringing some of the city's old gangland history back to life with a new bus tour. Hits and hangouts will be featured, and many notable spots from the 30's, 40's and 50's, which are still there – though now under different guises. For instance the Starbucks at W. 55th St. and Seventh Ave., was once the famous hotel barbershop where mob boss Albert (The Executioner) Anastasia was in 1957 when two assassins riddled him with bullets. Now of course Starbucks exercises a different sort of financial transgression – 4 bucks for a fancy coffee! Details of the New York City Mob Tour are at nycmobtour.com…

Stray voltage…
(20 Feb 10)

The idea of stray electrical voltage is pretty bizarre. I mean how does electrical current get lost? Here in NYC it manifests itself in people touching a metal object in the street, and getting some sort of electric shock from it. It happened again last week when a woman received quite a shock after stepping on a street grate in Herald Square. The stray voltage happens in particular just after snowy weather, when salt has been put on the ground to clear the snow. The salt melts the snow, turns to water, and then the salty water becomes more electrically conducting. So when that salty water drips down to an old electrical mains wire, then you have the potential for the electric shock to happen. The utility companies try hard to prevent this happening, but with an ageing infrastructure, you never quite know when you might feel a sudden jolt when walking on a manhole cover or something else metal on the street…

The great condom competition…
(18 Feb 10)

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the Health Department of New York City was holding a competition to find the best new design for the official NYC condom. (The wrapper that is, not the condom itself.) These are free condoms given out to individuals and groups to keep sex safe and protected. The city has handed out 119 million condoms since 2007, including over 40 million last year. So the winning design would reach out to millions of individuals, and could be a springboard to bigger design work. The five finalists for the new condom wrapper have been unveiled (as below) and New Yorkers have till the end of this month to vote for their fave. Designs and voting info at nyc.gov/condoms.

Saint Valentines… (woof)
(13 Feb 10)

In common with many cities around the world, St Valentines Day is a big occasion here, but draws attention again to the state of singles in the city. In theory New York City is a dating paradise, with a myriad young professional singles. But another way that love could be in the air this weekend is if you have a dog at an event billed as "Yappy Hour". It will be a group of dog owners who will get together at the Muse Hotel in Manhattan and supposedly discuss canine welfare, but is also a definite doggy owner meet-up event. Organisers say that the best way to break the ice is to bring a squeaky toy along perhaps with some wine or flowers. (Your choice on which to give your potential spouse.) Oh, but don't worry if you happen to be canine-deprived - you can rent a doggy escort for the event against a charitable donation to animal charities...

Wile E. Coyote comes to town…
(13 Feb 10)

Remember the marvelous Wile E. Coyote from the road runner cartoons? Smart as he was, he could never quite get the ACME anvil to drop on the road runner from a great height without coming a cropper himself. Well now he'll be having another try in Manhattan as Wile E. Coyote is coming to New York. Although some coyotes live up in the northern part of the Bronx, more have been spotting heading down into Manhattan. In fact this week several were spotted around the grounds of the Columbia University campus on the Upper West Side – obviously the more educated type. They have been spotted in the city before, but not in such numbers or with such regularity and are coming into the city to seek out new territory. But if you do see a coyote then don't be alarmed – as they're far more scared of us than we are of them. However if you do see one trailing a large anvil around, preparing to drop it off a cliff – then it might be wise to keep your distance…

The generous mayor…
(13 Feb 10)

It still seems strange to me that the wealthiest person in the city also happens to be the mayor. Michael Bloomberg is loved and loathed, but he is officially the guy with the fattest wallet. However he is not stingey with it. In new statistics just out Bloomberg donated US$254 million to charity last year – an increase of 8% on the year before. But please don't worry about him being able to afford it – he's estimated to be worth around US$17.5 billion...

Dirty linen…
(6 Feb 10)

If you are visiting New York City, please, please avoid staying in the Times Square area. It's the most expensive place for lodging, and there are so many better places within just a few blocks. In particular, you should avoid the Times Square Inn – which has the illustrious honour of officially being the worst hotel in the city, and the sixth dirtiest in the whole of the country – in a new survey out this week. For a room charge of US$84 (plus tax), you will be able to have a moldy room, complete with strange hairs in the bedsheets and filth-encrusted windows. And don't expect a view – as there isn't one. The survey was conducted by Tripadvisor.com and sums up what can be nasty about the hospitality industry. The hotel itself denies the charges, saying that it is simply a low-budget tourist spot in the heart of Times Square, and besides, they let potential guests inspect the rooms before they pay…

Elvis gets a haircut…
(6 Feb 10)

Themed restaurants are to be found in the city, and many other parts of the country – especially in the tourist traps. But in the Williamsburg area of the city there is a new themed barbershop – and it's a tribute to Elvis. It is called Graceland Brooklyn and is drawing a steady stream of hipsters who want to go hillbilly. Yes the salon will cut in any style you want, but it does specialize in the archetypal Elvis cut. Short on the sides, long on the top – with a quiff. The decoration in the salon is period Graceland, and there's even a piano (complete with sheet music) in the corner and a guitar mounted on the wall for anyone who gets a sudden urge to shake, rattle and roll while waiting to have their locks trimmed. The only things that aren't at 1950 levels – are the prices. Sadly a couple of quarters for a haircut doesn't cut it any more…

No cabbie-chat…
(6 Feb 10)

One of the most common things to hear when you take a taxi in the city is to have the driver yakking away on his mobile phone. I don't think I've ever been in a taxi when that hasn't happened, even though it is actually against the law – even if the cabbie is using a hands-free device. However last week some new super-strict laws came into effect, cracking down on the practice – in particular on Bluetooth-enabled devices, which had been a bit of a gray area under the existing legislation. So now police and officials from the Taxi and Limousine Commission will be on the lookout for any drivers who are connected in any way to a phone device and are also encouraging riders to report on cabbies too. On any first offense, the driver will get a US$200 fine plus a reminder of the rules, a second infraction will get him a temporary suspension, and after the third strike, the driver's license will be permanently revoked…

Manhattan cocktail faces bitter end…
(23 Jan 10)

Cocktails have always been popular in the city, even before the Sex And The City girls started ordering their cosmopolitans. But now it's getting tough to get a Manhattan in Manhattan. The classic cocktail has gotten harder to find as a worldwide shortage of one of its key ingredients, Angostura bitters, has left Big Apple bartenders hoarding stocks. The cocktail crisis begins right at the source the Angostura bottling plant in Trinidad where the parent company has been having financial problems - though it's hard to imagine why with a virtual monopoly on the market. Angostura bitters are a strange mix of water, alcohol, gentian root, and vegetable flavoring extracts, and although many others have tried to replicate the recipe over the years, the genuine article is still the only one to use in bartending circles. So if you do want a Manhattan in Manhattan, make sure you get the real thing. You may need to give the "mixologist" a bigger tip too…

Are blondes feistier..?
(23 Jan 10)

Blondes have more fun. Well, they probably don't, but that's the old saying of course – and a Rod Stewart album I seem to remember. But stereotypes aside, new research from the University of California (a state with more blondes per square hairdresser than any other) it does seem that blondes are feistier than brunettes. Women with blonde or fair hair are more aggressive and determined to get their own way, and are more likely to display a “warlike” streak because they attract more attention than other women. The survey showed that blondes were more likely to be treated better than other women and were more willing to fight for their rights - but were less likely than brunettes or redheads to actually get into a fight themselves. But what was even more amazing was that blonde-ness is not necessarily natural. If you tint, highlight, or dye your hair blonder, then you are actually more likely to develop these blonde aggressive traits too…

Encouraging illegal texting…
(23 Jan 10)

I've mentioned before the problems of sending and viewing text messages whilst driving, and now it is indeed illegal to text whilst driving in New York State. But the state also likes to keep drivers informed of any traffic blackspots and snarl-ups. And so they send… text messages. Here in New York City, more than 25,000 New Yorkers subscribe to a text alert system run by the city, and although those alerts can also get delivered via e-mail and recorded phone messages, the text message alerts seem to be the most popular. The official line of course is that once you hear the beep and know you have a text message, then you can pull over in your car, stop, and read it. But how many people actually do that, and how long could you wait after hearing the beep to actually reading the message..?

No-pants subway ride…
(9 Jan 10)

The 9th annual "No Pants Subway Ride" took place on 9th January, having encouraged riders to take off their trousers at exactly 3pm on the subway. Participants met at one of five different meeting points spread out all over the city, and then were organized into groups and assigned a specific train car. The instruction was to then sit in the train as you normally would: read a magazine, listen to your iPod, gawk at the misfits, or whatever else you would normally do. Then at a specific assigned subway stop, a team leader advised where to "depants", so you could exit the train sans-trousers. Then after boarding the next train that comes along, trousers were restored. Of course there were some provisos as organizers wanted to entertain and not offend in this expression of art. So no skimpy thongs, nothing too transparent, and if you felt more comfortable wearing two pairs of underwear, then do so. However do redress against being nibbled by the normal subway inhabitants – the rats – even though they were also pantless...

Polar Bears hit the beach…
(9 Jan 10)

Even though it's definitely winter, a band of thick-skinned swimmers braved the weather on 1st January to go swimming in the sea off Coney Island. They are the Polar Bear Club, and this year, more than 1,000 New Yorkers dipped more than a toe in the water on New Year's Day - the biggest turnout in the organization's 106-year history. Maybe it was helped by the weather, which hadn't been as cold as in previous days. Somewhere around 3 or 4 Celsius. Positively balmy. Or maybe they were just barmy…

Time to 'tree-cycle'…
(9 Jan 10)

With the holiday season here is well and truly over, Christmas trees are now banished from apartments. But with so many people having Christmas trees, what happens to them? The city of New York recycles them! Through until Jan. 15th, all you have to do is leave your rather forlorn looking tree at the curb, and then city Sanitation workers will haul them away and take them to Christmas tree heaven. They go to get mulched into tiny bits and then spread out on the city parks. Trees can also be dropped off at any of the 81 parks participating in the city's annual "Mulchfest". But trees must be stripped of tinsel, broken lights and ornaments, and left uncovered – so don't put them in plastic bags. And it can be a very sad sight at this time of year, walking to the subway station and seeing lots of limp trees lying dead on the sidewalk. But they are going to a better place…

Shredding Times Square…
(2 Jan 10)

Of course Times Square was the centre for ringing in the New Year, but before that celebration, there was a rather more interesting event held at Times Square – a mass document shredding event. It has happened the last few years, and is a chance to really cast out what has pained you in the last 12 months. Organised by the Times Square Alliance, people were encouraged to bring either already printed documents like parking fines, court summonses, or debt repayments, along with writing what they wanted to get rid of and then shredding that wish. So for many people that was – [insert name of husband / wife / boyfriend / girlfriend] add the words "I never want to see you again"… and then voila! That wish is granted – or at least shredded by the spirit of Times Square…

The true cost of Christmas…
(2 Jan 10)

It's the time to analyse what you spent over the holiday season, and realize that your credit card got quite a bruising - especially if you were shopping for the 12 days of Christmas. To get the whole gamut of gifts from the 12 drummers drumming to the humble partridge in a pear tree would have set you back over US$21,000 this season – but that is only a 1.8% rise on 12 months ago. The price of gold (for the 5 gold rings) rose a whopping 43% in 2009, however the cost of the swans declined by 6% in 2009. (There was apparently a shortage of swans in 2008.) The partridge was also cheaper this season, as were the six geese-a-laying. The four calling birds stayed the same as last year, however the two turtledoves were a shade more expensive. Wage pressures did keep down the cost of labor, but there were exceptions. The eight maids a-milking received an automatic minimum wage increase, but the eight ladies dancing received an inflating-busting 15% raise - based on figures from various modern dance companies. But the best buy was the pear tree. With fewer building projects in 2009, ornamental trees were about half the price that they were in 2008. One word of fiscal caution though: the above stats are for a one-time purchase. If you really did get a series of compounded purchases over the 12 days, then you'd have to have been a Wall Street banker to afford it…

Santacon…
(19 Dec 09)

One of the sights to behold in New York last weekend – and some other countries around the world too – was Santacon. A gathering of hundreds of Santa Clauses just in time for the festive season. And festive cheer wasn't in short supply, as here many of the Santas turned it into something of a pub-crawl. I was out and about myself on Saturday evening and spotted quite a few errant Santas, and certainly the ones I saw, looked pretty wiped out by 2am. So just imagine how Santa must feel on Christmas Eve…

Your condom art…
(19 Dec 09)

One thing that New York City has is its own brand of condom. They are free to anyone who asks, and over 40 million are distributed every year. Currently the art design on the wrapper is based upon subway lettering but now health officials are looking for a new design. Organizers are wanting a for a design that "calls attention to itself" and are hoping that creative New Yorkers will come up with some new ideas. The artwork must be original, must not be raunchy, and can't include copyrighted or trademarked images like the Empire State Building, but apart from that, anything goes. Enter before the 22nd January and although there's no cash prize for the winner, the kudos and bragging rights about getting on over 40 million condoms has got to be worth something…

No Chihuahuas left behind…
(19 Dec 09)

If you are thinking giving a pet to someone at Christmas please do think long and hard, as many pets end up in animal shelters in the weeks and months after the holidays. So if you are shopping for a dog, and you really will be a responsible pet-guardian, then try getting your new trusted friend from a dog shelter. Here in the US there is a strange imbalance of dogs to be found at various shelters across the country, and so some are trying to redress that imbalance. In California, animal shelters are flooded with abandoned Chihuahuas that were made more desirable by the likes of Paris Hilton, but here in New York, small dogs are more in demand for the smaller apartments here. So the Big Apple's ASPCA is bringing over the unwanted tiny dogs from the west coast to desirable homes here on the east coast. However please remember when giving gifts that Paris Hilton is for life, not just for Christmas…

Happy Hanukkah!
(19 Dec 09)

Special greetings to you if you have been celebrating Hanukkah. One of the traditions of the Jewish festival is to light one of 8 lights on the Menorah – the candelabra type candle-holder that will be found in most Jewish homes. And you light one light each day over the 8 day period. But in these days of global warming, two Jewish guys here have invented a wind-powered menorah – so forget all those pesky candles. A propeller powers compact fluorescent bulbs which are connected to a car battery, so that it can charge up with the wind and release the electricity when calm. It's certainly a good idea, but I wonder if a car battery instead of 8 or 9 small candles is all that green a saving…

Mr. Burns for mayor…
(12 Dec 09)

The election for mayor of New York City was held in early November, and was won for the third time by Michael Bloomberg. But as with any election there were some spoiler votes, with names written on the ballot papers and not selected from the official printed list. About 300 were spoiled in such a way this time, but those names came up with some interesting results. Yankees baseball captain Derek Jeter was nominated, as did shock jock Howard Stern, deceased funnyman Rodney Dangerfield and fairy tale legend Sleeping Beauty. Abraham Lincoln also made it onto the illegible ballot, as did fellow former President Bill Clinton. But the man who got the most votes – 25 of the 300 spoiled votes – was none other than the tycoon character from The Simpsons you love to hate. C. Montgomery Burns… Excellent!

Central Park raccoons…
(12 Dec 09)

Some problems in the usually tranquil Central Park this week - from rabid raccoons. Some raccoons have been found with rabies in the park and although they are apparently fairly common in Staten Island and The Bronx, they're rarely seen in Manhattan. It is highly unlikely that the raccoons would attack humans without extreme provocation, and there have been no human cases of rabies in the city since 1953. Even so, officials did warn that if park-goers see an animal that looks sick or has trouble walking, then you should tell a park employee or call the city helpline. Of course if it's a person that looks sick or has trouble walking, then do the New York thing - look the other way and just carry on walking…

Own a subway stop…
(12 Dec 09)

How about owning a genuine NYC subway stop this Christmas! Actually not quite, but instead just a sign that emulates the ones used on the subway. The transit authority is highly protective over the style of writing on the signs (white Helvetica font letters printed on a black background) and even more protective about the letters and numbers that denote the various subway lines – each one in a different colour. But now a couple of New Yorkers have launched a new company called Underground Signs, which makes New York City subway-style signs to order – and this company is approved by the transit authority. The pay off is 10% which the MTA gets for doing absolutely nothing, and customers can have either "real" subway station names like Times Square or 34th Street, or can order individual ones like "Neil's Place". It isn't cheap though, and a small 12-inch square one will cost US$99 whilst something 8 feet long would set you back around US$400. Details at www.underground-signs.com

Rock and Rolled out…
(12 Dec 09)

One strange thing I have whinged about before is that the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in the US is located in the musical backwater of Cleveland, Ohio. There was some comfort a year or so ago when an annex to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame was opened here in New York, with some good exhibits and a definite foothold in one of the strongest musical cities in the world. But not for much longer. It was announced last week that the NYC annex would be closing in the new year. No reason was given for the closure, but you can bet that it didn't reach its hoped for attendance figures of half a million per year. So you have until January 3rd to see a load of rock 'n roll junk, including Bruce Springsteen’s 1957 Chevy. Maybe Bruce wants it back…

Calendar daze…
(12 Dec 09)

Maybe you'd like to give a calendar as a gift this festive season. If so, then consider one of two offerings from the USA that are definitely for a good cause. The Atlantic Shores retirement community in Virginia has published a series of 12 pin-up pictures of some of the residents to raise a little extra cash for the place. And the most notable calendar-boy is Joe Manzo, originally from Brooklyn who is a sprightly 90 years old. He hasn't done a completely nude spread, but it is deemed "nearly nude". Check out the calendar at www.atlanticshores.com.

Alternatively try supporting another calendar put together by the wives of prostate cancer survivors in New Jersey – also photographed mostly naked. The "Stand By Your Man" calendar is put together by the Prostate Cancer Coalition of New Jersey, and each lush model has been the wife of a prostate cancer victim. They want to raise money for early detection and screening. Details on this one at www.pcc-nj.org.

Sidewalk Santas return…
(5 Dec 09)

Naturally this is also the season for remembering those less fortunate than yourself. Here in New York City you will often see the Salvation Army collecting on the streets, and you will also see members of the Volunteers Of America organization who are also out on the streets of the city hoping for donations, and they will all be dressed as Santa Clauses – for easy identification at this time of year. But just prior to the team of Santas starting work this season, they took part in the annual parade of Santas. And that's quite a sight with hundreds of identical Santa Clauses all parading down Broadway…

Window un-dressing…
(5 Dec 09)

One of the highlights of the holiday season is to check out all the fancy window displays in the department stores around the city, especially the swanky department stores down 5th Avenue. Saks, Gucci, Tiffany, and all the other stores that tempt you to spend a pot of cash. But with the recession, there are still a few empty stores on swanky street, and some of those too also have window displays. Most notable is one in an otherwise empty Fifth Avenue building at 38th Street. No fixed display, but a live show where two female models are basically living. They try on clothes, flip through magazines and even paint each other's fingernails. After dark they switch to evening wear, and spend hours getting dressed for a night on the town – not that they actually leave the window display. The concept has been put together by the XOXO clothing line, who call the living mannequins "window theater." The main instruction from the company is that they mustn't interact with the public, as they are wanting to encourage the whole voyeuristic angle. You want to look at them, but you wonder if you should be…

Public optimism (ticketed)…
(28 Nov 09)

The concept of public art is always alive and well in New York City, and can take many different forms. Last summer there were 4 artificial waterfalls in the East River, back in 2004 there was a project called "The Gates" which was a series of 7,000 nylon flag-like-panels installed in Central Park, but now New Yorkers have something more tangible as art in their pocket – optimism. Most people in the city will use a Metrocard - a stored value ticket to use on buses and subways. But now there are new editions of Metrocards being issued with one large word printed on the back – OPTIMISM. Does NYC need optimism? Certainly the economy is still in the pits, people are still losing jobs, and deficits mount. But will it make any difference, and is the word to be seen as an encouragement, a command, a taunt, or an aspiration? Presumably whatever you want it to be...

Miss G Train Pageant…
(21 Nov 09)

Congratulations to Elizabeth Kuchta who has been crowned Miss G Train. It's a celebration of perhaps the worst of all NY subway lines (and the only one not go into Manhattan) and it gets a pretty bad rap, but Ms Kuchta now symbolises what is best about the G line. In the past there have been beauty pageants to celebrate subway lines, but they have fallen out of fashion with advancing political correctness. Contestants for this event had to regularly use the G train, weren't judged on looks alone, but on "personality" and the depth of lurve for the G line. Hopefully not too similar though, as the G line is famous for being dirty, slow, inefficient, and never coming on time…

(pic thanks to Flavorwire.com)

The fat truth…
(21 Nov 09)

It's hardly a shocker, but Americans are fat. A new study out this week says that the obesity epidemic (which makes it sound like cholera) is rife, and set to get worse. If current trends continue, over 100 million American adults would be considered obese by 2018 – that's 43% of adults, compared to the current figure of 31%. The study also predicts that by 2018, in six states around the country, over half of all adults would be obese – Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Thanks to calories, super-sizing, marketing, education, and basic greed…

The Big Bernie Auction…
(21 Nov 09)

Now that disgraced Ponzi scheme crook Bernard Madoff is behind bars, there is the matter of raising as much money from his assets to pay back swindled investors. His Long Island beach house was sold for nearly US$9 million in September, but last week there was an auction for a lot of his lesser belongings – if anything can be classed as "lesser" in the Madoff world of finance. Nearly 1,000 bidders came and shelled out more than $940,000 on everything from lavish jewelry to paintings and even a set of golf clubs. All the takings from the auction went to the fund to reimburse investors who lost millions. As far as the items sold… A pair of ear rings worn by Madoff's wife, Ruth, were expected to sell for US$21,000 but fetched US$70,000. A blue satin Mets baseball jacket that bears Madoff's name and the number 25 was expected to go for under US$1,000 went for US$14,500. As for the set of golf clubs, they went for over $2,000 – four times their expected price, yet with no guarantee of improving your game – though maybe it does give you a better license to cheat. Perhaps the strangest item that sold, and at the strangest price, was a duck decoy - a wooden, life-size duck that you use on a duck-hunt. The pre-bid price was a pretty reasonable US$53, but it sold for US$4,750! Presumably, to some quack…

Bank donates $1M to Central Park…
(21 Nov 09)

Wall Street bankers and their firms have had a pretty bad rap in the last year or two, but at least the high fliers at JP Morgan Chase have put some of their new found profits to good use. (Must be having "Chase" at the end of their name.) But following the devastating storm that ripped through Central Park in August, and either damaged or destroyed around 1,500 trees, JP Morgan Chase have just donated a cool US$1 million to the Central Park Conservancy – the not for profit organization that runs the park – to help restore and replant trees that were affected by the blistering summer storm. $1 million might be chump change for the bankers but if every recovering bank donated more profits in such a way, then New York City would be a greener place…

Firing fewer bullets…
(21 Nov 09)

Perhaps it's a TV and movie perception that gunfire happens day in day out on the streets of New York City, and that cops are always involved in shoot outs. Yes it does happen, but NYC remains one of the safest cities in the country, and in new statistics just out, NYPD officers fired their weapons 16 percent less in 2008 than in the previous year. (Though it's harder to understand why stats from 2008 took most of 2009 to compile.) Last year, 125 New York City police officers fired their weapons, compared with 148 officers in 2007. And they fired fewer bullets too. A total of 354 compared with 588 in 2007. So an average of one bullet per day is really not bad for a city of over 8 million people – unless you're the subject of that one bullet…

Serving up tower lunches…
(21 Nov 09)

Progress on building at the World Trade Center site is slowly progressing and there are more tower cranes visible at the site now. But along side the cranes on the top of the growing tower will be a sandwich shop. As you can imagine, it will become further and further down for workers to head to for a bite to eat at lunchtime, so a new Subway sandwich branch will be available for workers at the top of the tower as it rises. The shop is expected to be in place by the end of this month and will rise with the tower, eventually stopping near the 105th floor – that's roughly the height of the old Twin Towers. Oh, and in case you're wondering, there will also be toilet facilities alongside the sandwich shop too – you can't really have one without the other…

KFC at the UN…
(31 Oct 09)

A very bizarre publicity stunt by the Kentucky Fried Chicken organisation last week. A Colonel Sanders lookalike sneaked into the main United Nations building here in NYC, and was pictured shaking hands with UN General Assembly President Ali A. Treki of Libya. Somehow the Colonel Sanders impersonator, dressed in his trademark white suit and black bow tie, evaded tight security at the midtown complex and was able to wander around the building posing for photographs. KFC's publicity drive is for the mythical state of "Grilled Nation" to be included by the UN, and although that won't be happening any time soon, the fact that the Colonel sneaked in has left the security teams at the UN very red faced …

The Godless subway…
(24 Oct 09)

Many people riding the New York subway system might feel that it is a pretty soulless experience, but starting next week, some of it will be God-less too. Atheism is coming to the subway - or at least subway ads promoting it are. Starting on Monday, a coalition of local groups will run a month-long advertising campaign in a dozen Manhattan subway stations with the slogan "A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?" The $25,000 campaign (paid for by an anonymous donor) is all part of an "atheism awakening", where atheists have been finding strength in numbers and preaching their message of… not preaching. Although religion is an integral part of United States history and culture (remember the dollar bill clearly states "in God we trust") there does seem to be more openness to those who prefer not to have a faith. Even President Barack Obama’s inaugural address included a reference to "nonbelievers" – the first time that has ever happened. But as for the atheist ads on the subway, they'll be running for a month, and then God can return to the subway system. Though if he/she/it has any sense, then he/she/it doesn't ride the subways at all…

First WiFi gift of the season…
(24 Oct 09)

Air travel in the US can be a big hassle. Frequent delays, seasonal over-pricing, and average service – at best. One of the new issues for fliers across the country is internet coverage, as some airlines are introducing WiFi coverage on selected routes between the east and west coasts. So far these schemes are costing around US$10-15 per flight. However Virgin America has teamed up with Google, and will be offering free WiFi coverage for anyone who wants it between November 10th and January 15th next year. For Google, this is a smart marketing move because it generates tons of good will among everyone who flies Virgin America, and the airline too will surely pick up some new customers from the deal too. Whether the airline can actually cope with everyone being online at 35,000 feet at the same time is another question, as is the question of whether other airlines might match the free deal just to keep up, but at least Google and Virgin are giving a nice present to internet-starved passengers this holiday season.

Return of the milkman!
(24 Oct 09)

One of the things that I remember when growing up in England was the milkman who used to deliver milk on the doorstep early every morning. New York had that custom too, but in common with many other cities around the world, the service died out when more people bought their milk from the supermarket with the rest of the groceries. But now the milkman has returned! The Manhattan Milk company has a limited number of customers in Manhattan, and has now just started to deliver fresh milk daily to parts of Brooklyn. Customers pay around the same price as they would in supermarkets for quality moo-moo juice. That's US$4.99 a quart for organic milk which comes from grass-fed cows on Amish farms in Pennsylvania. The added attraction for getting it delivered to your door is that it is very fresh, and it still comes in glass recyclable bottles. And there's something rather special about hearing the clink-clink of bottles on the doorstep before putting it on your breakfast cereals the same morning…

Roaming goats…
(24 Oct 09)

There are too many homeless people on the streets of New York, but also recently there have been rather a lot of homeless goats. All seemingly lost and without a home to go to. Just last weekend park rangers found another goat wandering the Bronx - the fourth in as many months. In the same Bronx area, two baby goats, now named Isadora and Duncan, were found in July. In early September, another sickly goat named Evan was found wandering the grounds of a nearby nursing home. But the rangers are stumped as to where the goats are coming from. It is likely that the animals were raised for the roast or cooking pot, but so far nobody has owned up to a missing goat. But fear not, the latest goat will escape the butcher's knife and has been taken to a farm sanctuary upstate where he can live out his days in peace.

The Times Square yodel…
(17 Oct 09)

The Times Square area of Manhattan is the epicentre of tourism in the city, with Broadway, entertainment, shopping, and nightlife converging in one area. However one new addition would be more at home in the Swiss Alps than in central New York City. Search giant Yahoo has just opened a recording booth above the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square as part of its global competition to discover its next corporate yodeler. Celebrity guests such as Randy Jackson, of "American Idol" fame, along with recording artists LeAnn Rimes and Jewel were all there at the opening this week to help the yodeler-wannabes. There are also recording booths in London and Mumbai. But fear not, if you are unable to visit any of those dedicated booths, you can yodel at home and upload your audio to yodelstudio.com. You have until November 8th to get your entries in.

The Twin Towers sail home…
(17 Oct 09)

The Twin Towers will be returning to New York City. Parts of them anyway. Made with steel forged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, the USS New York began its maiden voyage from New Orleans to New York for its commissioning ceremony on November 7th. It is part of the bow which is made from Ground Zero steel – around 8 tons of it - and as the commander onboard said, "Physically, literally and figuratively, that steel leads us every day." The vessel took 5 years to build, is 684 feet long, has a crew of 361, and can cruise at speeds faster than 22 knots (24 mph). Its primary mission – suitably enough - will be to deploy Marine battalions to the scene of counterterrorism operations.

Red tape doesn't stick…
(17 Oct 09)

If you are a driver in New York then you need to have your vehicle registration sticker stuck inside the windscreen so that cops and other officials can check that you are legal. And that's a pretty high-tech affair here, with all the stickers being bar-coded and the traffic cops having scanners. But there's been a problem with the registration stickers recently – they don't stick. And any time the sticker isn't visible, the driver will get a ticket and a fine – which seems unfair if the registration stickers aren't sticky enough. The department of motor vehicles has asked law enforcement officials to be more understanding under the circumstances, but cops still have a job to do in ticketing the people who don't have valid vehicle registration. It seems that the red tape isn't quite sticky enough – and it's not often you can say that in government circles…

How long till the next train…
(10 Oct 09)

Although the New York City subway system is a wonder of the modern world, parts of it are up to a century old. Stations are crumbling, trains break down, and even though improvements are carried out, it is a huge system and the money doesn't keep up with the improvements needed. However this week it was announced that there will be displays on train platforms as to when the next train will be arriving - something that many other transit systems around the world have had for years. But it won't be universal yet. By December next year about half the stations on the network will be fitted with the new system, but the rest will have to wait until up to 2016. And that's a long time to wait for a train.

Bus-cams…
(10 Oct 09)

Meanwhile travelling by bus in Manhattan can be an arduous process. The route coverage is good, but buses often get so gridlocked in traffic and travel so slowly, that it's faster to walk. There are dedicated bus lanes, but those tend to also get used by cars and taxis – especially when there is a big snarl up. However this week the MTA got a new boss, and he wants to get tough on rogue vehicles that use the bus lanes and who shouldn't. Jay Walder wants to put cameras on the front of buses that monitor cars that use the bus lanes, and then sent that licence plate info to the police, so that drivers can get fined. Proponents say that this should speed up buses in town, but those against the plan see it snarling up the roads even more.

End of the bake sale…
(10 Oct 09)

One of the traditional ways for groups in schools to raise money for clubs and teams is to have bake sales. Cakes, pies and brownies were made at home, brought to school, and sold to raise money for worthy causes. But not any more. As part of a campaign to cut down on the roughly 40% of elementary and middle school students who are deemed obese, the Education Department has effectively banned bake sales. Almost all the products sold at bake sales were high sugar, high fat cakes and cookies, and so added way too many inches to the students' waistlines. There are exceptions to the new Draconian rules however. Parent-Teacher associations are allowed one bake sale per month, but only if lunch has ended in school. Also, after 6pm on weekdays, you can sell anything you like. But by then, everyone has gone home anyway.

Rating Every slice…
(3 Oct 09)

A devoted pizza fan here intends to take this love of the slice to the ultimate extreme – and try a slice of pizza from every single pizzeria in NYC. The man (who just wants to be called Colin to protect his anonymity) began his mission in September at the north of Manhattan and is hoping to rate between 6 and 9 pizza joints per day. He doesn't try any fancy pizzas, just a plain regular slice with tomato and cheese – the classic NY slice. He is currently a svelte 5'10" and 160 pounds, but it's anyone's guess if that will still be the case at the end of his mission. You can check out his pizza prowess at sliceharvester.blogspot.com

Healthier Health Dept…
(3 Oct 09)

There have been calls over the last couple of years for a tax on sugary soda drinks like Coke and Pepsi as too much of them can be a fat wad of calories. And although that is still not going to happen any time soon, the New York City Health Department has decided to lead by example. As of next year, anyone working at the department's office in Manhattan will only be able to get diet drinks from the vending machines in the building. If you want a regular soda drink, then you'll have to go outside and get it. Maybe the walk will burn off the calories – if you do it often enough...

The Vendies...
(3 Oct 09)

One of the signature sights in New York City are the various food vendors on all the street corners. One time it was just hot-dogs, but now there is as much variation of food as there are ethnic groups living here. And the people who run their food carts take great pride in their food. So last weekend the best food carts cooks faced off in the annual cook-off awards – called The Vendies. The event was held in Flushing Meadows, Queens – where the greatest diversity of ethnic groups live. As for the winners… The prized Vendy Cup awarded by the judges went to the Martinez Taco Truck - who have been selling fresh Mexican food from their truck in Red Hook, Brooklyn, for the last 16 years. Meanwhile the people’s taste award went to the Biryanic Cart, which specializes in Bangladeshi food and can usually be found in Midtown Manhattan. The Rookie award for newcomers went to Schnitzel and Things, which serves Austrian cuisine, and for those who like sweets, the Dessert Award went to Waffles & Dinges – which beat off tough competition from the Cupcake Stop and the Big Gay Ice Cream. No, really.

Seating the president…
(3 Oct 09)

Back in May President Obama honoured a promise made to his wife before the election, and brought her to a Broadway show one weekend. They saw the little known production of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" – little known then, but of course a roaring success afterwards following the free presidential plug. However now the show has closed, and the Belasco Theatre where it was held is being renovated. And up for auction are seats K101 and K102 – the seats where the president and first lady rested their behinds. They have a starting bid of US$500, and all proceeds will be going to an AIDS based Broadway charity.

Exhibiting yourself…
(3 Oct 09)

One thing that New York has is a wealth of art galleries and museums – from classical art to the most contemporary. However if you are a struggling artist, then it can be a problem to get your art exhibited in the main museums. But one painter here took matters into his own hands last month when he hung his own painting in the Brooklyn Museum – and it stayed there for two days until officials noticed and took it down. Mat Benote decided on the stealth method of showing off his work, which he describes as "high-art graffiti." And this is not just a one-off either. For the last month he has crisscrossed the country and secretly installed paintings at 11 other museums. Usually the establishments notice the unapproved addition immediately and remove it, but some are less vigilant and leave it up for days. But due credit for his ingenuity in getting the paintings into the galleries. He divides the paintings into quarters, covers them with Plexiglas, sneaks them into the museum, and then hangs them on the wall with double sided tape when nobody is looking. The man defended his actions by saying that each canvas was a gift to each museum.

Doggy day care center for football fans…
(3 Oct 09)

Day-care for babies and toddlers is something that most working mothers here in the city consider. Drop the kids off to day-care, go to work, collect them on the way back. Simple – if you can afford it that is. But what about those people who can't find babysitters for their dogs when they want to go to a football match? Now a special day care center in Brooklyn has the answer and is offering special packages for football lovers. The "Unleash Brooklyn" company offers the deals to dog owners, so that they can drop off their hounds and head to the games with a clean conscience. The Sunday only football service costs US$25 for eight hours, Monday night is US$20, and a "season pass" is US$400.

Fashion taxi purse…
(19 Sep 09)

It's been Fashion Week here in New York and although most of the designs are more stylish than practical, one Manhattan designer has blended the two with a new fashion handbag that helps to hail a taxi. The "taxi clutch" is designed by Regine Basha and is a simple clutch purse, but with the word TAXI spelled out in gold letters. But those letters can light up and flash! Ideal for flagging down cabbies, especially at night or in the rain. The purse is a snip at a mere US$225 – taxi fare and tip not included.

Beer on your iPhone…
(19 Sep 09)

The iPhone continues to do well, complete with all the 'apps' that are available. But for any self-respecting iPhone user who likes a tipple, there is now the Guinness app. It is GPS-powered and locates the nearest pub across the country with the brand on tap. So you will never be lost in finding your way to the pub, although you might get lost after too many pints – but for sure there'll be another app to help you find your way home.

Shock sugar ads…
(19 Sep 09)

There was a move last year to tax sugary soda drinks like Coke and Pepsi so that the state could get some extra revenue, but that never happened. There is however a new campaign just underway, orchestrated by the Department of Health in the city, directly targeting soft drinks as a source of excessive sugar, and so fat. The slightly scary poster (below) shows a drink being poured from a soda bottle, but then turns into body fat in the glass. "Are you pouring on the pounds?" is the header. Then "don't drink yourself fat" as the message. And it's a potent message as most people probably don't realise how much sugar there is in a regular soft drink. A large bottle of iced tea can have over 14 tablespoons of sugar in it, and even a seemingly healthy bottle of a sports drink could include 7 teaspoons of sugar. Health Department officials are hoping that kids – in particular - will think twice about grabbing sugary sodas and instead grab low fat milk, a diet soda or just plain water.

Magna Carta in NYC…
(19 Sep 09)

New Yorkers have been celebrating 400 years since the arrival of Henry Hudson in the area, but a rather important ancient document has just arrived in the city from the UK. Written on sheepskin, and dating back to 1215, the Magna Carta is one of the earliest documents in both English and global history, having formed the basis of much constitutional law around the world today. It is also deemed the precursor to the United States Constitution. There are 4 copies of the Magna Carta in existence, and one is now here on display in a museum until December.

Henry Hudson's birthday party…
(12 Sep 09)

This week marked a particularly important one in New York's history. It was 400 years since a certain Henry Hudson sailed here – and up the Hudson River, though it was only named after him later! Festivities this week included visits of Dutch royalty here, NATO vessels, Dutch barges and a replica of the "Half Moon" ship that Hudson sailed here on. Hudson was an Englishman who was working for the Dutch during his September 1609 voyage to try to find a better route to the orient – but stumbled across what would become New Amsterdam and then New York instead. This is what Manhattan probably looked like when Mr Hudson arrived…

Betting bankruptcy…
(12 Sep 09)

One of the big differences between NY and Hong Kong is betting. Here in New York betting is managed by the Off-Track Betting Corporation and unlike the Hong Kong Jockey Club, is a spectacular failure. Yes you can lose money if you run a betting operation, and the NYC Off-Track Betting Corporation does it well. In wagers of over US$1 billion they lost US$17 million - plus accumulated debts of over US$200 million. Now the corporation has filed for bankruptcy. If only this meant that I could win the lottery easier…

Famous streets…
(12 Sep 09)

A couple of streets in the city have been renamed in the last few weeks. The intersection of 205th St. and Hollis Ave. in Queens was renamed after the legendary 1980s hip-hop group Run-DMC and its late deejay, Jam Master Jay. Jay was shot and killed in his Queens recording studio in 2002. So now the street is called (rather clumsily) "Run-DMC JMJ Way". Meanwhile a block of Lydig Avenue in the Bronx was renamed Mother Teresa Way, honoring her and the borough's Albanian community, which counts the Albanian-born nun as a favorite daughter. "Mother Teresa Way" and "Run-DMC JMJ Way" – that just shows how diverse this city is.

9-11 reflections…
(12 Sep 09)

The 8th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center is a time for reflection for most New Yorkers. And the three numbers can cause offense too. So when some received new credit cards in the last month with an expiry date 2 years hence, many baulked. The idea of having an expiry date on your credit card of 9/11 – being September 2011 is just too much for many residents here. So they've returned the cards to the issuers and requested an 8/11 or 10/11 instead.

Meanwhile pieces of the old World Trade Center are still available. There are about 2000 pieces of steel and concrete that are recognizable chunks of the old buildings that are held in storage in a large hangar by the Port Authority of New York – the organization that owns the site. They are happy to give these pieces away to any towns and cities around the country, particularly if the place has a connection with the World Trade Center site, or has residents who are relatives of those who gave their lives that day. The Port Authority has only filled about 25 requests this year but with tons of building wreckage still available, are hoping for more requests from towns and cities across the country. Oh, but although the rubble or steel beams are free, you would have to pay the cost of shipping or take it away yourself. Postage is not included.

320 pints of blood…
(12 Sep 09)

Well done if you are a regular donator of blood, but particular congratulations to a man from Long Island who has just donated his 320th pint of blood. Al Fischer, 75, started giving blood in 1951, and has continued every 8 weeks since. The new donation takes him to the 40 gallon milestone (around 380 liters) and so this week was awarded the prestigious "Heroglobin Award" by the New York Blood Center. There are around 6 liters of blood in the human body, and so he has given his body in blood about 65 times over. Good work!

The skinny house…
(29 Aug 09)

One of the most desirable houses in Manhattan is also one of the smallest, and certainly the skinniest. At just 9½ feet wide, it's the narrowest house in Manhattan. It was built in 1975, is located in the heart of Greenwich Village, and having been home to famous artists and writers, it all adds up to a pretty unique property. However even though it is only 9½ feet wide, it does have three stories plus a basement and balconies, and runs to 1,500-square-foot. Its address is 75½ Bedford St – and yes, there really is a "half" in the address. As for the asking price - a mere US$2.75 million…

Who's bad…?
(29 Aug 09)

If you cast your mind back to the video for "Bad" in 1987, you may recall that a lot of it was filmed in a subway station. That station was Hoyt-Schermerhorn in Brooklyn and a local council woman there has been campaigning for the transit authority to pay its respect to the former King Of Pop by getting the station renamed in his honour – or at least getting some credit at the subway stop for Jackson. But the MTA has stated that no stations on the system are named after celebrities, and that if they did, then it might confuse riders. So in other words "Beat It"...

The eye-full tower…
(29 Aug 09)

Some years ago, it was the Times Square area for sleaze, strippers, and peep-shows. However there is now a surprising new venue for voyeuristic titillation. The Standard Hotel is in the trendy Chelsea area of the city - a nice enough hotel with floor to ceiling windows and great views – for those looking in! Residents staying at the hotel are being encouraged to put on steamy sex shows for anyone looking in, and the best views in the house are from the recently opened High Line Park which the hotel straddles. The legality of the impromptu sex shows by in-house hotel guests has yet to be challenged, but the hotel management has at least reminded guests of "the transparency of the windows". But it's pretty unlikely the hotel will be cracking down any time soon, as business has never been better as exhibitionists check in to show off…

Topless women bare arms - and breasts…
(29 Aug 09)

Last Sunday was definitely a day for the liberated female in New York City. Topless women marched through Central Park South to celebrate 'National Go-Topless' Day – and yes, there is such a thing. Dozens of semi-naked women gave the city a sight to remember in a campaign to get the rest of the country to follow the lead of New York. Ours is the only state in the country where women can be legally topless, after a 1992 ruling in the state's highest court. Similar topless events took place across the country, and organizers gathered signatures for a petition asking Congress to relax nudity laws…

Woodstock anniversary…
(15 Aug 09)

I'm way too young (no really) to have experienced the Woodstock festival, but it was one of the key events in music, and happened 40 years ago this weekend. It was in upstate New York in the natural amphitheatre of an area called Bethel – strictly speaking not in Woodstock. It wasn't just about some of the most influential rock musicians of the day appearing, but typified the whole summer of love. It was the time of the Vietnam war, of changing attitudes, and of a peaceful rebellion. Mud, music, flowers, and a whole lot of drugs. The array of artists who performed was a veritable who's who of the day. The Who, Joan Baez, Sly & The Family Stone, Credence Clearwater revival, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Band, The Grateful Dead, and a certain guitarist called Jimi Hendrix. Three days of peace and love and rock 'n roll where half a million people turned up - to tune in, turn on and drop out.

Sales tax increased…
(15 Aug 09)

As promised, the New York City sales tax went up from the beginning of this month – but was probably overlooked by a lot of residents. The tax on food, goods, services and almost everything else went up by half of one percent to 8.875%. Which may not seem a lot, and half of one percent increase only adds 50 cents to a $100 purchase it will contribute millions to the city's cash-strapped budget. Nobody likes any tax increases of any sort, but perhaps this was one of the most painless. Yes it will make a difference to large purchases and maybe some residents will go to New Jersey where the taxes are less, but by and large, the population just grudgingly accepts it.

Fishing in the Bronx…
(15 Aug 09)

The image of the Bronx is one of dilapidated surroundings, drab buildings, and not much nature to speak of. But there is the world famous Bronx zoo, the really good botanic gardens there, and now fish are returning to the most northern borough to spawn. The Bronx River has been a dumping ground for everything from old fridges to car tyres, but it has been cleaned up in recent years. There are even canoeing courses held on the river during the summer. But one of the most successful programmes has been to get fish swimming in the river and breeding there. Herring were reintroduced in the river 3 years ago and although they spend most of their time in the North Atlantic, they return to freshwater rivers to spawn and this year some have returned to the Bronx River again. A wonderful testament to the success of cleaning up the river.

Are NYC cops too good…?
(1 Aug 09)

Earlier this year the Obama administration promised federal stimulus money for stretched city police forces around the country which would help cities keep officers on the beat and continue to allow hiring of new recruits. So naturally New York City thought it would get a slice of that. But not so, as the news this Tuesday was that New York City's cops were deemed to have done their job too well. Federal administrators considered New York to have a low crime rate, big police force and stable budget, so therefore no stimulus money was needed. Of course city officials fumed. However just a few hours after the announcement came through that we weren't getting extra Police money, came the news that we would get money from the department of Homeland Security instead – which would be used to pay for police officer salaries. So in simplistic Federal terms, the government is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Which is why we need more cops…

Tru Blood…
(1 Aug 09)

Sometimes the lines between fantasy and reality get pretty blurred – especially when you see some of the reality TV programmes aired here. But one of the more critically acclaimed HBO series will soon be spinning off into the soft drinks market. The "True Blood" series (about modern day vampires) will be franchising a special "Tru Blood" beverage which will go on sale here in September. It is inspired by the drink that the TV show's vampires drink for their sustenance (when they're not digging into human flesh that is) and supposedly has a "crisp, slightly tart, and lightly sweet tang". Mmme, just like the real thing…

The Naked Cowboy to run…
(1 Aug 09)

One of the tourist attractions in NYC is "The Naked Cowboy". He's not totally naked (as he wears a hat – and underwear to keep it legal) but strums cowboy songs in the heart of Times Square singing to vissitors and getting pictures taken with them. However this November he will be running against Michael Bloomberg for the position of Mayor of New York! His political platform is to "bring transparency to a whole new level." He is also promising new ideas on tax breaks, tourism, gay marriage, transit and homeland security. But with Bloomberg already spending millions in promoting his campaign, and the Naked Cowboy probably only having a few bucks in his war chest (wherever he keeps it) I wouldn't be expecting much in the way of political upsets this autumn…

Amazon erases 1984…
(25 July 09)

One of the growing fads here in New York is the Kindle electronic reader – the tablet-like device that replaces books and newspapers with an electronic version. Kindle is marketed by Amazon, and readers can download new books from the site – but what many Kindle owners hadn't realised was that Amazon could remotely delete books from their Kindle machines too. The problem was that Amazon belatedly realized that some digital versions that had been sold on the site were not authorized to be sold as digital versions in the US. Kindle owners were naturally furious, as this highlighted the way that digital rights legislation is far behind those for physical products. However what made this tale even more ironic was that one of the remotely deleted titles was the classic George Orwell volume "1984". In that book, government censors erase all traces of news articles embarrassing to Big Brother by sending them down an incineration chute called the "memory hole". On the Internet, of course, there is no such thing as a memory hole. Or is there?

Subway delays…
(25 July 09)

One thing that we are constantly used to here in New York is subway delays. The system is over 100 years old in places, and so it's hard to keep up with keeping it maintained, let alone bring it into the 21st century. But there was a bigger subway delay announcement this week – of at least one year. The 2nd Avenue subway line – which has started and stopped building many times over the last decades – finally got the green light to proceed a year or so ago with completion due in 2015. This week it was announced that it wouldn't happen till a year after that, and maybe not until 2017. It's a project that happens in phases, and this phase is just the first one of a mere 1.7 miles which would temporarily connect it to the terminus of another line. In theory the rest of the 8.5 mile line would be completed in the next decade. The chances of that happening is pretty remote as seen by most New Yorkers, and the 1.7 miles of new track is all that we can hope for at the moment – even if that won't be happening until 2017. That's a long time to wait for a train…

Colonel Sanders foiled..?
(25 July 09)

One of the most secret of all culinary secrets is the recipe of 11 herbs and spices that makes up the coating on Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is one of the main attractions from the fast food and has remained a mystery over the years, with the company keeping the ingredients strictly under wraps. However a former Wall Street financier who is also a fan of KFC believes he has finally figured out the secret to Colonel Sanders' recipe, and has just gotten a book deal to publicise it. Ron Douglas spent years experimenting with different techniques in an attempt to reproduce KFC's Original Recipe, and at one point, even tried to bribe a cook at the chain. He also replicated recipes from other food chains which he has included in his "America's Most Wanted Recipes" book. Those who have tasted the recipe say it is exactly the same as KFC, though of course the chain itself refused to comment. Lip smacking generic!

The quadrillion dollar ticket…
(24 July 09)

A good incentive to check your credit card statement regularly. A university student here bought a train ticket for US$10 which she paid with her VISA card. However when she checked her online statement she had been charged over 23 quadrillion dollars for it. That's not an imaginary number, but a 23 with 15 figures after it. She also got charged a further $20 as an overcharge fee. VISA put it down to a programming error and soon corrected it. The train wasn't even at peak time either!

NYPD typewriters…
(18 July 09)

Think of classic 70's or 80's New York police TV shows, and one of the defining images would be of cops slaving over typewriters filling in mountains of paperwork. And that still persists. In fact the city of New York is investing nearly US$1 million on new typewriters for police paperwork. That's right - typewriters. Despite the adoption of high-tech equipment that can read license plates from the air and detect radiological events before they happen, manual and electric typewriters continue to be used throughout the NYPD. Although most of the NYPD's arrest-report forms have been computerized, cops still use typewriters to fill out property and evidence vouchers, which are printed on carbon-paper forms. (Anyone remember carbon paper?) Some cops suggest that having to use outdated equipment as a deterrent to not making arrests for less serious crimes. The NYPD is working on software to eliminate the old machines, but that won't be happening any time soon. Pass the doughnuts.

Doughnut wars…
(18 July 09)

One thing that you always associate with the US (and American cops in particular perhaps) is doughnuts. The quintessential high-fat snack that nobody can do without – even through they should. Here in New York, the main donut purveyors are the Crispey Crème and Dunkin Donuts chains, and you'll never be far from finding one of those. But now, New Yorkers have gotten another alternative as a Canadian doughnut chain has taken over some of the Dunkin Donut stores. Tim Hortons is a famous chain from up north and will be giving a dose of Canadian doughnuterey in 13 venues in Manhattan. So prepare for donut wars! Well, actually not, the franchise is owned by Dunkin Donuts, so there's no war and it's just a marketing ploy. Shame, nothing beats a good doughnut fight…

Taxing the consulates…
(18 July 09)

There are a lot of consulates and embassies in New York City – partly as it is home to the UN, and partly as it is such a diverse city. But the problem for the city is that the diplomats are really, really bad at paying New York taxes, and that many foreign embassies are millions of dollars in arrears. But now it's gotten even worse, as Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton has ruled that embassies don't have to pay city taxes in New York and has wiped the slate clean for foreign consulates – something that Mayor Mike Bloomberg is fuming about. Recently, the city's tax department had been quietly negotiating with some of the countries that owe back taxes and interest. Hungary had been willing to shell out $32 million that it owed and the check was literally almost in the mail, before the State Department told Hungary not to bother. The logic behind the decision is that US Consulates around the world do not pay local taxes, and so this levels the playing field. And on a global scale maybe it does, but that doesn't benefit New York at all.

Dangerous texting…
(18 July 09)

Many states in the US have laws against driving and talking on mobile phones (not that most motorists take any notice) and an increasing number of states do have laws against texting whilst driving, but sending SMS text messages can actually be dangerous when walking – so a Staten Island teenager found out to her peril this week. Alexa Longueira, 15, was walking and texting when she fell down an uncovered sewer manhole. Although she fell 4 or 5 feet into a pool of sewage, she only sustained minor cuts and bruises. How come there was an open manhole? The Department of Environmental Protection said workers had left the manhole unattended for just a moment to get some cones from the truck, and it just so happened that the teenager walked by at that time. So is the moral not to text and walk? No, do it and then sue the hell out of the agency responsible for leaving an open manhole!

Sex in the city...
(11 July 09)

New Yorkers might like to complain about a lot of things, but not so much about their sex lives. In new statistics just out, 71% of Big Apple residents said they were satisfied with their love lives. Only Atlanta, with a 73% satisfaction rate, finished higher among America's big cities. New Yorkers said they made love 80 times a year – though that is just below the national average of 84, according to the survey by the makers of Trojan condoms.
As for national figures throughout the US -
* Americans give their sex lives a rating of 6.5 out of 10.
* Only 21% were "extremely satisfied" with their love life.
* 30% were "dissatisfied."
* Meanwhile 62% want more sex - but amazingly 4% complained of getting too much.

Hot dog champ…
(11 July 09)

Speed-eating is a big deal these days… One of the biggest events over last weekend's July 4th celebrations here in New York was the annual hot dog speed-eating contest at Coney Island. It's a tradition that the Nathan's restaurant has kept up over the last 94 years, and once again it was the reigning champion – Joey Chestnut – who won out over the competition. He managed a new record too – 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. In contrast, his long time rival, the Japanese Takeru Kobayashi could only manage a meager 64 in the same time. Chestnut is a professional speed-eater and can afford to be too, as he took home a whopping $20,000 as first prize. He went off to celebrate by heading out for some pizza…

The rain / homicide connection…
(11 July 09)

New York is one of the safest big cities in the US, but of course there is still some crime and there are still some homicides. But not so many when it rains. In bizarre new statistics unveiled by the New York Times, the homicide rate drops when it rains – especially in the summer. When there is no rain, then the average homicide rate was 17 in 10 days over the whole city. However when there was an inch or more of rain in that period, the number dropped from 17 to 14 every 10 days. The new stats are particularly valid on Saturdays too – which is traditionally the day when most homicides take place. On rainy Saturdays, the number drops almost 30%. So if anyone points a gun at you, pray for rain.

Bear steals sandwich...
(11 July 09)

We don't have much of a problem with wild bears in the city of New York. However across the Hudson River in the less congested state of New Jersey, residents have had run ins with bears getting a bit too friendly. Just last week a man in New Jersey was packing his car for a business trip was waylaid by a hungry black bear who knocked him unconscious and stole his sandwich. Henry Rouwendal, 51, was in his driveway putting bags in the trunk of his car when the bear knocked him to the ground - and grabbed the sandwich. When the man woke up nearly an hour later, the only thing left of his snack was the wrapper, some lettuce and a couple of tomato slices.

Death by chocolate…
(11 July 09)

You know the dessert that you often find in restaurants – "Death By Chocolate"? Some extra gooey, choccy-laden dessert not for the faint of heart? In New Jersey this week, it really happened and a man really did die after falling into a vat of melted chocolate in a processing plant. He fell into the vat of molten chocolate after a blade hit him on the head when he was loading the chocolate. Co-workers tried to shut off the machine and pull the man out of the 8-foot-deep vat, but to no avail. So next time you order death by chocolate, remember that there is a precedent, and that it happened in New Jersey this week.

Not Google but Koogle…
(27 June 09)

If you are searching for anything online, then Google is your default search engine. Even the recent Microsoft "Bing" search engine doesn't seem to be making much headway on the mighty Google. But something that will be very popular in the strong Jewish communities here in New York is a new search engine called "Koogle". The name is a play on a Jewish noodle pudding dish, known as "kugel". The software has been developed in Israel for Hebrew-speaking Orthodox Jews who have restricted options in search engines lest they come across sexually explicit material. So the new software screens religiously objectionable material, and has gained approval from Orthodox rabbis. Note though that nothing can be posted on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, as Jews are banned from all types of work and business activity. If "Koogle" users attempt to search for an item or post a message on the Sabbath, it crashes and won’t let you. So there.

No more NY Virgins…
(27 June 09)

Bad news if you buy your music on CD still. The Virgin Megastore in Manhattan's Union Square is now closed for good. It was the last large-scale record store in New York City, and although there are still small independent retailers in different neighbourhoods, they too are seeing hard times. HMV left the US about 5 years ago, and at its height, the Virgin empire across North America had 23 locations but that is now down to a single outlet in Hollywood, and that too is set to close. Sure, the music industry here is in a tailspin, and it's a demise that the industry itself has arguably brought about itself, but there's something quite sad about seeing a traditional record store shut up and close for the last time. As recently as 2006, CDs accounted for more than 90 percent of album sales. Last year that proportion dropped to 84 percent, and so far in 2009 it is 77 percent. And most of those CD sales are not made at specialty music stores any more, and are instead at the general discount stores which sell other things more, and CDs are almost an afterthought. So here in New York, the traditional big record store is now dead. Sad.

Who owns the Big Apple..?
(27 June 09)

One of the biggest industries here in New York is of course tourism. But can anyone sell any junk they like with the New York skyline on it, and what about things with the Big Apple name on them? If you are considering a new nick-knacks supply chain then you might like to know that you have free range to use the term “Big Apple” or an image of the city's skyline, but be careful if you want to incorporate the NYPD, the Fire Department or a distinctive yellow taxi cab. The official line is that “Insignia and acronyms associated with city agencies” like the Police and Fire Departments and the Taxi and Limousine Commission (who oversee the cabs in the city) are either trademarks “or are in the process of being registered by the city”. It still gives you quite a lot of scope for your Big Apple snow globe or paperweight and you can put the city landscape without permission, just don't put a fire engine, police car or yellow taxi cab in it too.

Dating etiquette…
27 June 09)

Even if you've only ever seen a single episode of "Sex And The City", you will appreciate that dating in the Big Apple can be a nightmare. Apart from internet dating, speed dating, and real in-person-happenstance meeting people dating, there will always be the stress of knowing what to do – and if your date shares the same feelings. That might be a hard one to judge, but a new survey has the low-down on what doesn't work if out on a dining date with your new beau – especially if you are keen to go on a second date. It basically comes down to good manners, but a top 10 no-nos to avoid if wanting to impress your date is -

10. Not leaving a big enough tip
9. Talking about sex or bodily functions on a first date
8. Slurping soup
7. Licking your knife
6. Picking your teeth with fingers
5. Burping
4. Licking the plate clean (that can wait till you're married)
3. Getting drunk (never a good plan)
2. Adding salt to the meal before tasting it
1. Clicking fingers at the waiter

Manhattan's new park...
(13 June 09)

New green spaces are always welcome in any city, but New York had a rather special new park open this week. It is a 9 block stretch of disused railroad track that has been converted to a public park – but what's even better, is that it is an elevated park, so about 3 stories up. The old railtrack was part of a railfreight line that closed in 1980, and was rusting away since then, and scheduled for demolition. But then preservationists realized that this could be turned into something special, and so after a long rejuvenation process, the first stage of the new High Line Park opened this week. Then next year, another stretch will be added on the northern end. It's in the Chelsea of Lower West Side of Manhattan and is one of the most innovative parks in the world.

Digital TV changeover…
(13 June 09)

One of the biggest – yet most invisible changes – that the whole country undertook has just happened. The change to only digital TV. The people who have cable or satellite TV are not affected, but those who receive their signals through normal TV aerials have been. There has been a big public education programme in the last year with a government financed programme to subsidise the converter boxes that can enable regular TV aerials to receive and decode digital signals – something that I have as I'm too cheap to have cable TV. There are various help-lines and volunteer programs, but still a lot of people are not prepared for the switch - especially the elderly or infirm who would find the switch hard to understand. Sure it's about digital quality, but also about the Government being able to sell off more bandwidth to other mediums too…

Dramatic bathroom performances…
(6 June 09)

One of the strangest – and most exclusive dance performances has just opened in New York City and will run for the next four weekends. There is room for only seven audience members, seating for only one, and it takes place… in a bathroom. "Dark Horse/Black Forest" is staged in the ground-floor toilets of the Gershwin Hotel. The venue is an 11- by 9-foot expanse of red walls, white tiles, and all the usual bathroom inclusions, around which a couple dances, romances and partially disrobes. The show, which runs about 45 minutes, has previously played some of the best bathrooms in Europe. However at US$45 a ticket, it is the most expensive pay toilet in the city.

Happy birthday, Queensboro Bridge!
(6 June 09)

All this week, the city has been celebrating the 100th birthday of the Queensboro Bridge. It's one of many bridges connecting Manhattan to the outside world, and is the one that I personally use the most frequently too – usually biking across it. So there have been all sorts of festivities, including a big firework display last Sunday. But it really is a very important bridge for the history of New York. For a start, when it opened up 100 years ago, there really weren't many people living in Queens – which is where it went to. So it was a bridge towards future expansion rather than immediate growth. It also had space for subway tracks to go on it – even though there was no subway to go to at that time. It also has 2 decks, and is different to most other bridges in New York as it is a cantilever bridge as opposed to a suspension bridge – like its more famous Brooklyn Bridge cousin. It is an understated engineering marvel that measures almost 7,500 feet long (2.2km), is 100 feet wide, and used 50,000 tons of steel in construction. It goes from Long Island City in Queens, via Roosevelt Island in the middle of the East River to mid-town Manhattan at the other end. It also cost a whopping US$20 – million which was a lot of money in 1909 – and still is now! But it has repaid that cost millions of times over in both spreading out the city and allowing the borough of Queens to flourish. Happy birthday!

The Google Car…
(30 May 09)

One of the Google features that I use frequently is Google maps – which gives you the option of seeing a street view rather than an overhead view. This week we had the Google car in town – taking pictures for those street views. The ordinary looking car with 360 degree panoramic camera fixed on a pole on the roof (as below) has taken on an almost mythical status in the city as it ploughed up and down the grid system of New York. And Google officials are keen to enhance its mysterious status. They don't allow any journalists – or anyone else – inside to oversee the operation and they certainly don't give out any schedules of where it's going to be at any time. Google began photographing the streets of New York in 2006, and has been back for several updates since. The car camera apparently uses some special face-blurring technology so that you probably won't see yourself in your entirety in the unlikely event of being caught on cam, and it will also blur out some numbers or licence plates if privacy might be at stake.

Rush-hour proposal…
(30 May 09)

Guys… How would you – or how did you – propose to your loved one? There are many imaginative ways to do it, but for one couple this week, the invitation came over the loudspeakers at Grand Central Terminal. Brian Steed had been dating Amanda Gunning for 8 years, and decided to pop the question to her. So he got her to the marvellous Grand Central Train terminal under some false pretences, and then at the right moment, the announcement came over the public address system: "Amanda Gunning, please report to the information booth to meet Brian Steed. He wants to ask you to marry him". So the man got down on one knee, the crowd of commuters cheered, and the soon to be bride said "yes, yes, yes!" And at that point all the good news popped up on information boards around the station. Sweet!

Out of control texting…
(30 May 09)

Some amazing new statistics on text messaging. On average American teenagers text 2,272 messages per month – around 75 per day, or maybe 4 or 5 for every hour they are awake. Figures that are double the number of a year ago. Sure it's fun, immediate, and better than calling many times, but is it getting out of hand and could there be long term problems because of this? Already psychologists are saying that many American teens are becoming sleep deprived because of constant texting, but a more severe problem ahead could be "texting thumb". Seriously. Your fingers or thumbs may be subject to repetitive strain injury, simply from texting. So think twice before you LOL…

Cleaning up the Hudson…
(30 May 09)

One of the best items of environmental news recently was that after years and years of delay, parts of the Hudson River would be cleaned up. In fact 25 years after officials declared parts of the upper Hudson River to be severely contaminated with chemicals known as PCBs, dredging and cleaning has now begun. Twelve dredgers will be working around the clock, 6 days a week removing the toxic sediment which will then be dried, and taken away to a toxic waste dump landfill in Texas. The chemicals flowed from two General Electric plants into the upper Hudson River for three decades, before they were banned in 1977. Whilst this particular stretch of the Hudson is maybe 150 or 200 miles upstream from NYC, it is deemed one of the most toxic stretches left, and a very welcome step to clearing up the mess of decades past.

Taxi sharing…
(29 May 09)

A new scheme has just been announced to allow taxi-sharing between certain points in Manhattan. Starting sometime this Autumn, up to 1,000 "share cabs" will be introduced. Some will go along specific routes, which you can join at any point, and get off where you like with a fixed fee, and then others will go anywhere. They'll be fitted with multiple meters, and if the first person in designates that sharing is OK, then the cabbie will pick up other people along the route. Or if they want to stay on their own, then they can. But the fare will be cut by 50% if you share with one person, and by more with extra riders. Shock, horror, New Yorkers might actually have to talk with strangers!

No way Broadway...
(23 May 09)

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, cars and other vehicles will soon be banned from parts of Broadway in Manhattan. As of this weekend, vehicles will be barred from the legendary roadway in the primarily shopping and tourist areas of Times Square and Herald Square. It's all part of a master plan to turn sections of Broadway far more pedestrian friendly, a plan that Mayor Bloomberg says should actually ease traffic bottlenecks. Store holders are generally in favour of the plan as walking traffic should benefit them, whilst pedestrians will have a freer area to roam with less chance of getting knocked down…

Terror test...
(23 May 09)

Lower Manhattan was a big disaster area last weekend, but it was only a drill. Authorities tested more than 800 emergency workers by simulating an explosion of two makeshift bombs on trains that run into Manhattan from New Jersey. The trains and subway systems are often seen as a fairly soft target for possible terror attacks, and so the emergency services wanted to try out a drill to see how they would react. 150 passengers were evacuated from underground trains, some made up with realistic looking blood and injuries. Smoke machines were billowing, sirens were blasting and for anyone who didn't know, might fear the worst. But the city had done a pretty good job of informing the public that this was only a drill and that it would be happening Sunday morning, so the level of panic was minimal. Practice for an event that will hopefully never happen.

Wet baggage returned…
(23 May 09)

Lost or delayed airline bags are a hazard of flying. But there have been some fairly happy owners reunited with their bags this week. After the miraculous ditching on the Hudson River of flight 1549 on January 15th, the passengers and crew escaped with their lives but the baggage remained on board. Now those bags have now been reunited with their owners. For most passengers, it's the items of sentimental value that are most appreciated, however the dark stain on these recoveries is that somewhere along the way, money from those purses and wallets seems to have gone astray. Bags with more than one currency in them only had their US dollars removed, so you can't blame the waters of the Hudson River for that. The airline's insurance company (a branch of AIG) has offered a one time cash payment of US$10,000 in exchange for passengers agreeing not to sue the airline, but most passengers seem to be reserving judgement on that until the National Transportation Safety Board holds a hearing on flight 1549 next month.

Beam me up, NASA...
(23 May 09)

It's a pretty entertainment-less existence aboard the International Space Station (all those stars must get pretty boring) but NASA does have a tradition of movie night in orbit. And what was the astronauts' movie beamed up this week? The new Star Trek movie of course! At least one of the resident American astronauts was inspired to take up the career after watching the original series, so it seemed apt that they should have a little bit of Hollywood space beamed up. Also on the space station is a Russian cosmonaut, so not only could they play around at being Captain Kirk in space, but also Ensign Chekov too. Sadly the technology on the International Space Station is not quite up to Enterprise standards, as without a gravitational device, the astronauts had to strap their feet to the floor in order for them to not float away during the show…

Less miraculous cereals…
(23 May 09)

TV advertising is hugely important here, and funds the four main TV networks in the US. One of the biggest breakfast cereal brands – Cheerios – is advertised quite heavily, with one of the tag-lines for the product being that if you eat the cereal regularly, then "you can lower your cholesterol level 4% in six weeks". However the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) is not quite so sure, and in an instruction to maker General Mills, told them that only FDA-approved drugs can make those claims, and thus the advertising on the boxes was "unauthorized." It also noted chided the company for failing to mention that fruits and vegetables can also reduce risks in the same way. If General Mills doesn't comply, then it could face a court injunction or product seizure. Unless Cheerios really are a drug…

Water bottle deposit...
(23 May 09)

One of the plans to help reduce the number of discarded plastic water bottles on the street and in the trash, is to put a 5-cent deposit on bottled water which would be returned after the bottle was recycled at stores and supermarkets. It was scheduled to be implemented next month and should be a win-win situation, but as you can imagine some people are dragging their feet – yes, the bottled water companies. They say that the new rule would give a benefit to other companies like bottled orange juice or vitamin water that would not have to use the deposit scheme. So put the deposit scheme on any plastic bottle OK!

Terror plot foiled in the Bronx…
(22 May 09)

The fairly big news Wednesday this week was a foiled terror plot to bomb 2 synagogues in the Bronx. Big news in as much as it was definitely a terror plot, less big news as it was pretty half-baked and easily foiled by the FBI. The group of four were supposedly disaffected with things in Afghanistan and within the US, but were only fairly recent converts to Islam. Three of the four were home-grown Americans, and the other was from Haiti. They had made improvised bombs which they were going to park outside temples in the Bronx, and also had plans to use a Stinger ground to surface missile on a target at a national guard base upstate. However the terror group was infiltrated quite early by the FBI who had made the bombs inert, so there was actually no potential for loss of life, and this supposed terror cell was pretty shoddy. They were not affiliated to other terror groups or Al Qaeda. Once again it sends out a chilling reminder that (a) things are always going on in the intelligence community that don't always become public, and (b) there are still a lot of loonies out there that want to cause damage and loss of life in New York. A threat that never really goes away.

Pesident who..?
(16 May 09)

One of the electronic fads that is slowly getting more interest here is the electronic book reading device. The main one is called Kindle and is marketed by Amazon. Personally I'm one for turning real – as opposed to virtual – pages, and don't fancy shelling out over US$200 for the reader, and then have to pay more for the books to download onto it. But Kindle might help the newspaper business as more people seem more likely to pay for news subscription rather than general online newspapers which are free. So if Kindle can get people used to paying for their news from the outset, then those newspaper financial woes might be eased just slightly. However if there is more news coverage on Kindle, then it will have to get over some key pronunciation issues that it has for the talking version of the device. Two of the most important words that the speaking version got wrong were "Barack" (which sounded more like "black") and "Obama" (which was pronounced something like "Alabama"). If a talking newspaper is to have any kudos, then it must at least get the name correct of the leader of the free world…

Old Yankee Stadium for sale… (piece by piece)
(16 May 09)

With the opening of the new Yankee Stadium baseball ground this year, fans can now get their hands on the old one – piece by piece. It was demolished after the last game last year, but now baseball addicts can bid for select parts of the old ground. There are 1,500 items for sale including an actual piece of turf for upwards of US$120, or you can have some freeze-dried grass encased in a paperweight for a mere US$80. But if you want a 20-foot-by-20-foot chunk of still living center-field, then that can be yours for around US$10,000. But what will you sit on to watch your famous piece of turf? Naturally a Yankee Stadium seat – and you can have a pair of seats from between US$1500 and US$2000. By comparison, a pair of seats from the opposing Mets team at Shea Stadium when that was demolished went for about half the price. But the Yankees name is deemed far more sellable than the Mets one – even though the team is not doing half as well as the Mets so far this season…

Liberty's crown to reopen…
(16 May 09)

The upper crown of the Statue of Liberty's crown will be open to the public again from July 4 this year, providing access to the top of the famed landmark for the first time since the 9/11 terror attacks. The statue's base and observation deck were re-opened in 2004, but the crown remained closed, partly because of security concerns, and partly because of health and safety issues – it's a pretty steep and tricky climb up there. The crown is located 354 steps from the base, along a helix staircase built to get visitors to the statue's head. And for sure there will be a long, long line of people wanting to go there as initially just 30 people an hour will be allowed up, though officials are hoping that the number will increase as they improve renovation within the statue. But even if you have to wait a long time, the view and the perspective from there is outstanding…

Waiters may approve of sales tax…
(16 May 09)

One of the proposals that mayor Michael Bloomberg as proposed to balance the New York City budget is a raising of the sales tax by half a percentage point to 8.875%. Of course nobody likes this idea – the mayor included – but one group of workers who may benefit from this is the serving staff and waiters at city bars and restaurants. The usual way to calculate a tip in a restaurant is to double the sales tax – which is always shown on a receipt. So that means a usual tip of 16 or 17%, but if the sales tax is raised by half a percent, then that may mean that serving staff may also get one percent more tips. It's not a whole lot, but better than nothing…

Budgets, taxes and bags…
(9 May 09)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his latest budget proposal this week, in an attempt to bridge the financial shortfall and keep the city in the black. He wants to raise an extra $1 billion in taxes to help avoid bigger cuts and layoffs. At the centre of his proposals is the raising of the general sales tax by half of one percent, to 8.875% - which would be one of the highest in the country. Not only that, but some exemptions would go - including the no tax rule on clothing and shoes. However one of the proposals that does meet with my approval is a likely 5-cent tax on plastic bags. There are an obscene amount of plastic bags handed out - most of which just end up in landfill, or caught up in trees. Some stores have already stopped giving out plastic bags, but the 5 cent tax would be a bigger incentive to be green.

A safe market…
(9 May 09)

With recession being the word of the year, are there any businesses doing well? Yes, and one of them is the industry of making safes. With interest rates practically zero, banks themselves looking shaky, what a lot of people are doing in New York is to buy a proper steel safe, and keeping their stash of cash there. A hardened steel safe can run to thousands of US dollars, but business in the safe selling market is up 20 or 40% in recent months. Presumably that will also lead to the return of a previously dormant skill – the safe cracking market…

Tansport woes settled – for now...
(8 May 09)

So we have a solution to the financial woes of the MTA - the authority here that runs the buses, trains, subways and bridges in NYC. As a result of various horse trading there will "only" be a 5 or 10% fare increase, and supposedly no service cuts either. Most of this will be paid by a "payroll tax" – a tax of one third of one percent which will be paid by employers in the counties of New York State that have service provided by the MTA. Apart from that, there will be a 50 cent surcharge on taxi rides (though nobody seems quite sure how that will be collected), a higher tax on car rentals, and also more expensive car registration. The deal will ensure that the MTA will be solvent for the next year or so, but fails to address the bigger problem of capital funding. A lot of the subway is 100 years old, and needs constant upgrading, let alone the need for new programmes and subway expansion in the 21st century. This week's fix is a welcome band-aid, but the patient still needs a lot more help.

More postage needed…
(8 May 09)

Bailout funds have gone to bankers, car companies, mortgage lenders, and goodness knows how many other institutions, but the next one might be the United States Postal Service. It is almost $2 billion in the red, and might completely run out of money by the end of the year. Postal rates will be going up on 11th May – with a letter costing 44 cents to post anywhere in the US. The Postal Service puts the problems down to the recession and, of course, that more people are communicating online. There may be cuts in the number of post offices and staff, and possibly only mail deliveries 5 days a week, and not the current six. Think of it though, a letter sent anywhere in the US for 44 cents – if you took that idea to a venture capitalist now, you'd get laughed out of the room.

Chocolate kisses…
(2 May 09)

Is it possible to trademark a kiss? Not the smoochy sort, but the chocolate kind. One of the most famous products that the giant Hershey candy company has here in the US, is a teardrop glob of chocolate called a kiss. However Brooklyn-based chocolatier Jacques Torres has gotten into trouble as he is marketing so called Champagne Kiss choccies and Hershey's doesn't like that at all and so have issued a cease and desist order to him. The two kisses are completely different though – the champagne ones priced at $1.50 a pop, while the Hershey's version is a mere 5 cents. So in order to boost public opinion for his cause, Torres handed out 10,000 free Champagne Kiss chocolates of his at his three New York stores this week in a bid to stave off punitive action by Hershey's. Surely there can be enough space for two chocolate kisses..?

How many people does it take to change a lightbulb..?
(2 May 09)

It is a common question: how many people does it take to change a lightbulb? Of course these days, light bulbs are being replaced by the long life energy efficient type. And that is what has been happening at the marvellous Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, where all the traditional incandescent bulbs have now been replaced with energy efficient ones. (Probably, though they can't be 100% sure.) There are about 4,000 light bulbs in the public areas of the grand old station and this week, workers completed changing them all – including on the quite beautiful chandeliers that adorn the main lobby which will all be shining a little brighter, for a little longer, and for a little cheaper. The investment for the new bulbs will pay off in under a year, but even though they won't need to be changed so often, there won't be any layoffs for the maintenance guys who have been changing the bulbs as a full time job – there's plenty of other work for them to do. So… how many people DOES it take to change a lightbulb..? For Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, I can give you a definitive answer. And that is….. six.

Green rooftop garden…
(2 May 09)

A new restaurant opening in June will be putting new meaning to fresh ingredients. At the Homegrown Kitchen, all the vegetables and herbs used in the kitchen will be grown upstairs from the restaurant - in an enormous, rooftop farm. Currently the restaurant farm is preparing for customers with oranges, apples, asparagus, along with a whole range of herbs, beans and very seasonal produce. At the moment they are just growing fruit and veggies, but have not ruled out raising chickens and goats too…

Does Woody Allen 'heart' NY?
(25 April 09)

Think of the quintessential paranoid New Yorker and Woody Allen is that man, but it seems that he's not keen on endorsing the city. Yes of course his relationship with New York is complicated (you can't marry your adopted daughter and be completely normal) but Woody doesn't want to be a part of any "I Love NY" campaign. This came to light after the latest lawsuit by the director against the fashion retailer "American Apparel" who used a still from his Annie Hall movie as part of a recent advertising campaign for both the store and for the city. Too good for us now eh?

Parrots: 1 Owl: 0
(25 April 09)

The hazards of delivering electricity to every home in New York are many. For a start, much of the power cables are above ground – which puts them susceptible to the weather, accidents, and another big problem – parrots. In the Beechhurst area of Queens, they have a big problem with parrots messing up their electricity supply and this week had another power outage caused by the parrots nesting in power lines. The birds particularly like the warmth of the power transformers that are on top of poles, but it doesn't take long for the birds to cause damage to the equipment, resulting in big repair bills for the utility company. So how can you prevent the parrots nesting? So far the company has tried different sorts of paint, flags and deterrents, but this week they tried something completely different – a mechanical owl. The fake owl – dubbed Hootie - sits on top of the pole, rotates its head every so often, and makes owl hooting noises. The result? The parrots soon twigged that the owl was not the real deal and continued to nest as usual. Hootie has now been retired…

Man on new wire…
(25 April 09)

If you saw the incredible, Oscar winning "Man On Wire" documentary about the crazy Frenchman Philippe Petit walking between the Twin Towers in 1974, then you'd appreciate that part of the amazing success was that he and his team managed it in total secrecy, without the building or authorities knowing anything about it. I had the pleasure of seeing him last week and hear him talk about his next project – which will be somewhere in New York City, and probably sometime in the fall. At the moment he's telling no one where it will be, but he did hint that it will be linked to a drive for literacy and so may well be connected – literally – to a New York public library – most likely the beautiful old venue on 42nd Street. With any luck, I'll be there though very safely on the ground…

Jail for dummies…
(18 April 09)

A name that still infuriates most New Yorkers is Bernard Madoff – the disgraced Wall Street advisor who swindled thousands of people out of millions of dollars. He is behind bars now, and that must be a pretty alien existence for someone so familiar with the high life. So how should potential jail residents prepare themselves for a time in prison? Hire a consultant of course. This is something supposedly being investigated by Madoff's niece, and also his brother – who anticipate that they might also be convicted, and end up in the slammer. The two relatives have allegedly contacted a company called Wall Street Prison Consultants – which helps former bankers adapt to the possibility of life in a cell. The company offers a course on the transition process (a steal at US$850) plus also coaches future inmates on how to secure early release…

Is Bruce "the other man"...?
(18 April 09)

Another divorce case is going through the New Jersey system at the moment. Nothing unusual in that – there are divorce cases all the time here - however named as "the other man" in the case of Arthur and Ann Kelly is a certain Bruce Springsteen. The couple have been married for 17 years, but the male half claims that his wife hooked up with Springsteen "at various times, and places too numerous to mention". It's been a fairly straight "no comment" from the boss, but he did note on his website that the time with his wife Patti Scialfa have been "the best 18 years of my life". So this could turn into an unfabricated allegation, or it may grow into something bigger. The weird thing (or not) is that the woman who is alleged to have had an affair with Springsteen is the spitting image of Patti Scialfa. Maybe that makes it easier for an away game…

The Amazon Outrage…
(18 April 09)

There was an issue on the Amazon website earlier this week when books that could have had some sort of gay or lesbian connotation, were re-categorized in the 'adult' section of the site, meaning that they weren't so easy to find during web searches, and that the all important ranking might be lost too. This caused a huge furore online, with the concerning issue being that it wasn't just books that might have gay or lesbian subjects, but also gay or lesbian authors who were writing about something else completely – and thus their sexual orientation was irrelevant. When this all came to light, Amazon put it down to a "glitch in our systems" which miscategorized over 57,000 books, but then the next day the mighty website then issued a fuller statement calling it "an embarrassing and ham-fisted" error…

Guilt-free chocolate…
(18 April 09)

If you overdosed on chocolate eggs over Easter, then you solace is that that there is now a guilt-free alternative now available for chocoholics. Le Whif is a new chocolate-consumption gadget that lets people breath in chocolate instead of eating it. Invented by Harvard Professor David Edwards, Le Whif is about the size of an asthma inhaler and the shape of a lipstick tube – with officially zero calories. It comes in mint chocolate, raspberry chocolate, mango chocolate and milk chocolate flavours and can be bought online at lewhif.com…

Relief at the game…
(18 April 09)

Ladies going to either of the home games at the New York Yankees or the Mets baseball games this year will have quicker relief. Not at the score from the first games (both teams lost) but as both teams are playing in spanking new stadiums this year, the lines for the rest rooms will be shorter. In accordance with laws passed by the city of New York in 2005, all new or significantly renovated public buildings must have twice the number of female toilets as male ones. The bathroom equality (or positive discrimination) is deemed "potty parity"…

Church is big prize…
(17 April 09)

President Obama is a very public president, and likes to be seen out and about in Washington DC. He'll go to restaurants and sports games and won't just be bunkered up at the White House as some of his predecessors have done. But there is one place where his attendance is really, really sought and one that he hasn't declared allegiance to yet - a regular church. In the campaign, Obama had had issues with some previously affiliated church leaders (Rev Jeremiah Wright in particular) and so by all accounts, his team is doing some heavy duty vetting of churches and pastors before Family Obama commits to one particular house of worship. And of course, knowing the value of having a sitting president in the congregation, many of the churches have been actively soliciting his presence in the pews as well…

Meet the first dog!
(17 April 09)

So finally we now have the much hyped first dog in residence at the White House – something that created a completely top-heavy wave of interest since the President announced the idea of getting a pooch back in November at his acceptance speech. Bo is a six-month old Portuguese water dog and is a gift from Senator and Mrs. Kennedy to the first children. The Obamas had initially said that they wanted to adopt a pooch from a shelter, and although Bo isn't, they will apparently make a donation to an animal shelter instead. George W Bush also had a dog in residence, Barney, and he supposedly bit a reporter once. (The dog that is, not the President.) So maybe if relations get tougher between the boss and the press core in this administration, then the president can train Bo to do the same thing…

Queen's iPod violation…?
(11 April 09)

A week ago, all the news here was about President Obama's trip to the G-20 summit in Britain, and his meeting with the Queen. The monarch had apparently asked for a video iPod featuring highlights of her trip to the US in 2007. However along with the video highlights were 40 tracks from a selection of Broadway shows. But did giving such a gift violate the copyright law? Possibly yes, experts are saying. Had Obama given the Queen a physical CD, then that's irrefutably fine, but because digital technology is involved, it becomes more of a legal quagmire. Copying tracks to an iPod intended for the Queen might violate rights as – in theory – songs can only be downloaded by the person using the iPod FOR the same person. So giving a pre-loaded iPod to someone might violate intellectual property rights. Though the image of her walking the corgis with earphones on and an iPod is wonderful…

New GM two-wheeler…
(11 April 09)

With the car making business in dire trouble in the US, auto-makers are looking for new products and new markets. One strange spin-off for the cash-strapped General Motors corporation is a strange 2 wheeler electric car that they have produced a prototype with in conjunction with Segway – the scooter maker – which has just been shown off on the streets of NYC. It would be about a quarter of the price of a regular car, but is much more basic. With one electric charge, the car can travel 35 miles, and it should be able to reach speeds of 35-miles-per-hour. I think I feel more comfortable on my bike…

Big Green Empire State Building…
(11 April 09)

I've mentioned before how the lights on top of the Empire State Building change colour on different days, to mark different occasions. Red, white and blue for the 4th of July, green for St Patrick's Day, and so on. But the building itself will soon be a lot greener all the time. In a new energy initiative announced by former President Bill Clinton and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the iconic Empire State Building is getting a green makeover. All of the skyscraper's 6,500 windows will be modified with a type of insulated glass that keeps out the heat in summer, but retains it more in winter, then there'll be extra insulation installed behind radiators to save heat, plus more efficient ventilation and lighting systems. The $20 million project will pay for itself in about 5 years, and will also reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 metric tons during the next 15 years — equal to the annual emissions of 17,500 cars. Work has already begun, with the upgrades to the building systems expected to be completed by the end of 2010 – though that is actually longer than it took to build the skyscraper, which opened in 1931 after just one year and 45 days of work. But that's progress for you…

The big pillow fight…
(4 April 09)

The range of events here in New York is staggering – and very, very diverse. One of the most fun must be the fourth annual New York City Pillow Fight! Yes, taking you back to the days when bed-time fun wasn't judged in the horizontal, a massive pillow fight took place here in the city this weekend – timed to coincide with pillow fights in cities all over the world. Ah, but there are rules. Pillows must be soft and free of feathers, you mustn't swing too heavily, and do not swing at people without pillows or with cameras. Beware of swinging at those wearing glasses too. And once the fun is over, organisers insisted that everyone cleans up their own stuffing…

My tree lined street…
(4 April 09)

One of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's many initiatives to improve the quality of life in New York is the million trees programme - a plan to plant that many trees around the city in the next few years. And that came to my street this week. First, one team of people came to dig up holes in the sidewalk, then another team of people filled them with soil, then a few days later another bunch came with a virtual forest of trees to plant on both sides of the street. And yes, I'll be doing my civic duty by watering them every so often too…

Bridges get cash…
(4 April 09)

Six infrastructure projects across the city - including the famed Brooklyn Bridge - will get US$261 million in stimulus funds, city officials announced this week. However all bridges are not equal and although another bridge will be celebrating its 100th birthday this year, there won't be much of a celebration. There were plans to have a huge firework display to celebrate the centenary of the Queensboro Bridge (also known as the 59th Street Bridge) which spans the East River between Queens and Manhattan, but funds have dried up. By contrast, the more famous Brooklyn Bridge had a party for its 100th anniversary bash in 1983, and another for its 125th celebration just last year. However the 59th Street Bridge was immortalised in the Simon & Garfunkel track back in 1966. Is that enough compensation?

Mozart's mobile phone…
(4 April 09)

Of course one of the most annoying sounds in a theatre or cinema is the sound of a mobile phone going off. Everyone is encouraged to turn them off, though that seldom happens. But that's not the case for a forthcoming production of a Mozart opera being staged here later this month. For the updated version of “Così Fan Tutte”, audience members will be encouraged to text in votes for how the opera should end and then the cast will act upon the audience's wishes. Although details of the presentation are still under wraps, it will be set in modern-day Massachusetts, where same sex marriage is allowed. So it's likely that the audience will be asked to vote on which of the three men and three women in the production will marry – and to whom. It's sort of like a modern day "American Idol" for Mozart…

Freedom to Trade…
(3 April 09)

The World Trade Center must have breathed a big concrete sigh of relief as the first confirmed company has agreed to lease part of the new building – due to be completed in 2013. The Beijing Vantone Industrial Company has agreed to a 23-year lease for floors 64 through 69, and you can bet they got a pretty good deal. However somewhere along the line, the name of the 102 story building has been changed from the more emotive Freedom Tower to simply 1 World Trade Center. Was that a commercial consideration? Would have it become more of a potential terror target by being called the Freedom Tower? Might it even have been a proviso by the forthcoming Chinese residents? Who knows, but the Freedom Tower is no more…

Mistrial via Google…
(3 April 09)

With so many people having access to the web from their iPhones, Blackberries, Palms, and even basic mobile phones, the temptation to use them is always there. And that is leading to problems in the courtroom for juries. Not for phones going off during procedures, but instead for when juries are sent out to deliberate in a case. Turn on the Blackberry, do some research online, and use that to help you decide whether the defendant is guilty or not - but that is strictly against the law, as all jurors should only be swayed by the prosecution or defence attorneys – not any outside influences. So far this year there have been several cases of outside info creeping into the deliberations, and that has lead to the judge declaring a mistrial. Not only a huge waste of time, but retrials can also cost millions. And we really don't need to put more dollars into lawyers' pockets…

N.J. considers Brazilian ban…
(28 March 09)

Here in New York, we often consider the people across the Hudson River in New Jersey to be less cultured than New Yorkers. Now however they may be more hairy. Following a couple of mishaps, New Jersey is considering banning the process of Brazilian bikini waxing. Two women had to be hospitalized recently after botched Brazilians and so the state is considering banning the process completely. Regular bikini waxing would still be allowed, but if you want it all off, then you might have to come to New York for that – where we have no scruples whatsoever…

Subway fare hike…
(28 March 09)

So the deed has been done, the matter voted upon, and subway fares will be going up 25% from the end of May. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is legally bound to balance its budget and after weeks of squabbling by state legislators, no other way has been found to fund the transport system apart from a fare hike. There were lots of other possibilities – including a small percentage of one percent of a "payroll tax" that would help fund the authority from a fee paid by all employers, but nobody could agree on the principle – let alone the sum. So unless the state manages some sort of bailout before the end of May then fares will go up by a whopping 25%. Oh, and that comes with significant service cuts too – so we'll actually be getting less for more.

Hot chocolate…
(28 March 09)

While the effects of the financial downturn have been felt by most companies, some areas of commerce are actually seeing better times from the economic slump. Not fine dining, but fast food is definitely on the up. The figures from McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's are all good (even if subsequent waist-lines are not), but other snack food is doing well too – most notably the huge array of chocolate available. Even some subway cars are devoting huge advertising space to promoting the humble chocolate bar as a way to beat the recession and yet still feel good about eating something that is often deemed a treat. A Big Mac and a Mars Bar then for the perfect diet…

Paper is no news…
(27 March 09)

Although not from New York, one of the most long standing newspapers on the west coast has now stopped printing and gone over to an internet only edition. The Seattle Post Intelligencer (locally known as the P.I.) printed its last physical edition on Tuesday and went to a much more concise web version. The consequence being a change from 165 jobs, to just 20 people working on it. But the shift away from traditional news print is being felt by every newspaper across the country. Even the really big papers like the L.A Times, Washington Post, and New York Times are not assured of a secure future. All have online editions, but there's not the same advertising generated as from a physical edition, nor are readers prepared to pay for reading content online. A change in attitude and habits, but in the bigger picture, this doesn't bode well for creative journalism and investigative news. Without the revenue, there can't be the research – and that's bad for decoding the facts…

Fresh greens for the Pres…
(27 March 09)

For those of us who live in small apartments the idea of having a garden to grow vegetables in is an almost unattainable dream. But not if you live in the White House! Yes, the great announcement from the Obama administration is that they were planning to dig up some of the White House grounds and plant veggies for the first family! It will be an organic garden, with compost being supplied from the White House too. The idea is a great encouragement to the organic industry who see this as a big show of support from the President. Not only veggies, but fruit and berries, and maybe even a beehive too. It will be the first time that a kitchen garden is encouraged on Pennsylvania Avenue since Eleanor Roosevelt's garden 50 years ago, although when Bill Clinton was in residence, he apparently grew vegetables in pots on the roof. Or was that grew pot on the roof for vegetables..?

The Big Green Apple…
(21 Mar 09)

The big occasion in the Big Apple this week was St Patrick's Day. There was the parade down 5th Avenue, and the predictable drinking binge in most of the Irish pubs in the city. However for anyone dancing on the bar in the bar, then they would have done it at their own risk. In a lawsuit that goes back over 4 years, an Irish tourist to New York has lost her case for injuries after she danced on the bar of an Irish pub here. The judge ruled that Valerie Morris, 34, of Dublin, "voluntarily assumed the risk of injury by dancing on top of the bar," and so the bar couldn't be held responsible for her slipping on the bar and breaking at least her pride. But the US is a country where almost everyone wants to have some Irish blood in them. Even the President is called O'bama…

After the rescue, the bill…
(21 Mar 09)

Cast your mind back to the incredible landing of US Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River earlier this year. One of the reasons that there were no fatalities was that ferry boats were on the scene almost immediately. But now the airline may actually have to pay for the rescue service that the ferry company provided. The New York Waterways ferry company is not doing so well in the financial downturn, and so its lawyers have suggested that it would have a good chance of making the airline pay for the costs it incurred whilst plucking the 142 people from the Hudson. Naturally the lawyers on the aviation side of the business disagree, saying that it is a duty to rescue people in danger. Even if not, then surely it's a human courtesy…

Pay for the name…
(21 Mar 09)

Although the season doesn't start until April, New York's two baseball teams are already in training, and both will have shiny new stadiums to move into this season. Both teams also have subway stations adjacent to their grounds but there is a fracas over the name for the station used for the Mets team. Their new ground is called Citi Field - after sponsorship from Citibank. (Although having had billions of cash from the government, it should perhaps be called bailout field.) The old Mets ground was Shea Stadium, and the local subway stop was also called Shea Stadium. But now the new ground is called Citi Field, the transport authority wants extra cash if they are to call the station Citi Field. The team and the bank has said no, and so the station will now be just called Mets / Willets Point – which is the local area…

The new subway station…
(21 Mar 09)

This Monday saw the occasion of a new subway station opening – the first in over 20 years. The South Ferry station opened at the southern tip of Manhattan a mere two years late and US$130 million over budget. The opening had been delayed most recently as the trains were too far away from the platform – something rather important if you are in the business of running subway trains. The new station replaces the original one opened in 1905. Sadly though this new one was only open for 20 minutes before a water main leak closed that part of that subway line. Well at least they tried…

New menu at T.G.I. Fridays…
(20 Mar 09)

Happy Hour is always to be cherished in bars, but there was a particularly special (and ongoing) Happy Hour at a branch of TGI Friday's in the Wall Street area of Manhattan recently. Bar staff and servers were allegedly offering an extra side of marijuana and cocaine with those ribs. Authorities immediately shut it down when they found out, and the highly embarrassed food chain replaced all the staff when it re-opened last week. The branch had supposedly been supplying Wall Street money men with fries and a coke – literally – but that is now over. So maybe it will be up to McDonalds next time to serve up a more potent version of the Happy Meal… the really, really happy meal…

Madoff graffiti…
(14 Mar 09)

The financial swindlings of Bernard Madoff have been very much in the news here, with the disgraced Wall Street money man sent to the slammer. Understandably there's a lot of anger for the man who swindled thousands of people out of millions of dollars. But how to vent that anger? One way that is anticipated in the coming days and weeks is on park benches. Central Park has a great option for benefactors to sponsor a park bench as a way to raising money, and a couple of benches were donated by Madoff and his family years ago "in memory" of his parents and his wife's parents. There's a plaque on these benches to that effect, and so if it's not happened already, expect those plaques to be vandalized some time soon. But please, if you must deface the plaques, at least leave the benches alone...

Red hot chili peppers…
(14 Mar 09)

Shoppers looking for good quality fruit and veg got more than they bargained for in Queens this week, when three people who purchased peppers at a grocery store in the Ozone Park area also got a bonus – a stash of cocaine inside the pepper. The shoppers (and supposedly the store as well) seemingly had any idea of what they were buying. The store cooperated with police and drug enforcement agencies and said that the rogue peppers had been imported from South America. And you can bet that once word got out, a lot of interested people were out shopping for bell peppers with a South American label on…

Senor Bloomy…
(14 Mar 09)

Just when you thought you were free of elections in the US comes another one in November for the Mayor of New York City. Last year incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg tweaked the city ordinance (along with some help from city councillors) so that he could stand for a third term in office, when his current two terms expire. The campaigning hasn't started yet (though some would say it never stops) but one thing that will probably help the Mayor's re-election plans in the huge Hispanic community in the city is his much improving dexterity with the Spanish language. Bloomberg has been studying the language for about 7 years, and apparently he's getting pretty good at it too. Yes there have been some slip-ups, but now he's much more comfortable using Spanish to answer questions at press conferences, and when out in the community…

Naked in the saddle…
(14 Mar 09)

I have enjoyed biking around the city of New York and it's just about time for the bike to come out again, now the weather is turning slightly milder. However when the weather gets much warmer, there is something else to look forward to. Perhaps. On Saturday 20th June, hordes of cyclists plan to ride through Central Park – naked! The event is part of the World Naked Bike Ride, which began this week in Australia. Participants are encouraged to go "as bare as you dare" in protest of the world's dependence on oil and in celebration of the human form. The nudie-ride originated back in 2004, and although has led to several arrests over the years, by and large is ignored by authorities. But wat would be worse – a naked cyclist, or those who wear those ultra tight spandex shorts..?

Mobile phone crackdown…
(14 Mar 09)

It still drives me nuts when I'm crossing the street and I see drivers go by talking on their mobile phones. Yes this is illegal, but still tricky to enforce. However the NYPD is now clamping down more on these violations, and more cops will be on the look out for violators – who face a fine of US$120 if spotted. In 2001, New York became the first state in the country to ban cellphones while driving. Last year, the NYPD issued almost 200,000 summonses to drivers using hand-held cellphones. Not enough!

Barbie's birthday…
(14 Mar 09)

Happy 50th birthday to Barbie! To honour the milestone, the Mattel corporation has built a 3,500 square-foot, pink mansion in California for a celebrity-studded celebration, but arguably Barbie might actually be a New Yorker. Yes her air-head lifestyle befits that of a California Valley Girl, but Barbie did actually debut at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Her full name was Barbie Millicent Roberts, she then had a ponytail, hit the market at US$3 and sold 300,000 units her first year. Fifty years later, Barbie is still the most popular doll in the world. And while she hasn't aged a bit (I'm guessing plastic Botox really worksh) she has had a total of 108 different careers in the last half century - including animal vet, flight attendant, astronaut, surgeon and rapper. But has she really grown up? Physically no. She has always been 11½ inches tall (equivalent to 5'9") and her svelte proportions are still way out of balance. In human proportions, her figure would equate to a 42D chest, an 18-inch waist and 32-inch hips. But with a figure like that, you wonder why she wasn't more of a hit with the boys…

Porn tax & iTax nixed…
(14 Mar 09)

I mentioned a few weeks ago the budget plan by New York State Governor David Paterson for a tax on various new lines to increase state revenue. Included in those proposals were new taxes on downloading music from sites like iTunes, plus more physical type goods like movie tickets, taxi rides, sugary soft drinks, beer, wine, cigars, and massages. However with his approval rating at an all-time, Gov. Paterson has now dropped these taxes and instead is hoping to use money from President Obama's stimulus package to keep state services going. Another one of his proposals was for a tax on downloading internet porn, but that too has now been dropped. However a city councilor from Brooklyn has proposed another fee that would be an alternative flesh tax. Felix Ortiz has introduced a bill that would require patrons to pay the state $10 every time they visit a strip club or topless joint. He says that this flesh fee could raise as much as $500 million for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual abuse and child prostitution. But would this stripper's pole tax be too hard much to bare..?

Man Sues Pennsylvania for rejecting Hell…
(12 Mar 09)

Down the road in Pennsylvania, a filmmaker there has just launched a lawsuit against the state for turning down the name of his business that he wanted to register. The man particularly wanted to call his business "I Choose Hell Productions", but the state won't allow it as state law prohibits names that "constitute blasphemy, profane cursing or swearing or that profane the Lord’s name." George Kalman contends that his free speech rights have been violated, as has his right to the freedom of religion – or lack of it. So "I Choose Hell Productions" is currently not allowed, so for now he'll be trading under the name of "ICH Productions" – which is demonically OK…

No texting for Lent…
(7 March 09)

If you are of the appropriate faith, are you giving anything up for the period of Lent? News from Italy this week was that the Catholic Church there is encouraging young people to give up SMS text messaging for Lent! Monsignor Benito Cocchi – who is the bishop of Modena and who launched the campaign - said that the self-sacrifice would enable young people to "detox from the virtual world and get back in touch with themselves." Get back in touch with themselves – even if they are not getting text messages? I sense some strange paradox there…

No Apples for Bill…
(7 March 09)

I loved the story out this week that Microsoft supremo Bill Gates has banned Apple products from his home – even though his wife Melinda is in favour of them. "There are very few things that are on the banned list in our household," Mrs Gates told Vogue. "But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids." So the three Gates children instead have to use phones running the Windows Mobile operating system, and listen to their favourite songs on Microsoft's much-criticised Zune music players. If only they did have an iPod, then they could probably hear the sweet sound of sour grapes… or the sound of one hand clapping…

Carbon neutral TV…
(6 March 09)

The latest season of 24 is airing, with Jack Baur saving the world yet again. But this time, it's different… as it is 'carbon neutral'! So for all the death, mayhem, explosions, and whatever other nonsense happens on the series, the Fox network has been doing it's part for a greener planet by using bio-diesel for trucks, using hybrid cars for car chases and always using energy efficient light bulbs on set. Then whatever carbon excesses they have burned up, then they buy carbon credits to make it all better. It's all laudable, but somehow it seems less believable in an action series like that…

Get drunk for US$2 million..!
(6 Mar 09)

So how would you like to get totally drunk, fall under a subway train and get paid off with $2 million? That's what has happened here when a court awarded a man over US$2 million for injuries he sustained when drunk. He had been out drinking, somehow found his way back to the subway station, but fell in front of the incoming train. And the train ran over his foot, causing it to be amputated at the ankle. He sued the transit authority – and won. He claimed that the train driver should have been able to stop in time, and amazingly the jury agreed. It's a decision that opinionated New Yorkers are amazed about, and even Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the decision "incomprehensible". The transit authority will probably appeal, so it's probably best that any drunken gold diggers don't go down this track yet …

Dinosaur for sale...
(28 Feb 09)

Great news if you want to buy yourself a dinosaur! They aren't generally available these days (something to do with them being extinct) so it's a fairly rare occurrence that any come up for sale at all - especially as most specimens are in museums. But a private collector will be getting rid of some old months at auction here next month, and included in that will be a 6-foot-tall "dryosaurus", or "oak lizard." It was a fast-running herbivore (when alive) with long, slender legs, a horny beak, heavy tail, and five-fingered hands that roamed the earth about 150 million years ago. The skeleton was discovered in Wyoming back in 1993, and went straight to the anonymous private collector. But you will have to be well healed to afford this pile of bones - as experts say that it is likely to sell for around half a million US$. The March 21 auction also includes hundreds of other natural-history lots, including the skeleton of a woolly mammoth. Though at 7 feet tall and 15 feet long, you'll have to have a pretty big apartment to fit that in. But it would look fantastic in your garden…

Pricier marathon…
(28 Feb 09)

Some things have reduced in price with the economic downturn, but some things are heading upwards. One of the other pricier things for 2009 will be the highly prestigious New York Marathon. Members of the New York Road Runners will pay US$138 to enter (about 10% more than last year) whilst those out of town will have to fork up US$171. Those costs will not even pay for the race either, as there is less corporate sponsorship this year, and the costs of putting on the huge sell-out race is huge. The race itself will be held on Sunday 1st November…

He's just not that into smoking…
(27 Feb 09)

"He's Just Not That into You" is a big, popular chick flick with a glob of stars. The sort of schmaltz that any doting boyfriend would need to see with his significant chick, but would otherwise stay well clear of. But does the movie endorse smoking – or even worse - did the movie makers received any sort of payment for ciggie packet product placement? One of the cigarette companies has said they didn't enter any agreement, but what has irked many activists is that the studio (Warner Brothers) has not given a flat denial that there was a financial inducement for smoking product placement, and only supplied a "no comment". The controversy about whether smoking should be allowed in movies has been raging in the US for years, and I'm not going to get embroiled in it, but I do wonder whether James Bond movies were ever as good since he stopped smoking…

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