Saturday, December 26, 2015

Have We All Gone Crazy? | commentary

Gun controlHave We All Gone Crazy? | commentary

(Excerpt)
"The purest expression of adolescent torment over American gun laws has been that which is ongoing over at the New York Times. Before the bodies in San Bernardino had cooled, the Times editorial board engaged in a familiar grim ritual. As has become its habit, the Times opinion writers lamented the frequency with which they feel compelled to castigate the American people for jealously guarding their freedoms in the Bill of Rights. Before the facts were known, the Times joined the president in declaring the California attack a likely preventable massacre, but only if Republicans would embrace “common sense” gun ownership reforms."

2015 Was an Amazing Year for Science and Technology


2015 Was An Amazing Year For Science And Technology
From robots to medicine to space travel, 2015 was a huge year for science and technology (via NowThis Future)
Posted by NowThis on Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Climate Change Softballs for the President


Watch the CBS correspondents practically weep at Obama's responses on climate change. #TTT16
Posted by NewsBusters.org on Saturday, December 5, 2015

Comments on latest terrorism in California

In Testimony to Pay Commission, City Council Asks for Salary Increase

mmv bdb seatedIn Testimony to Pay Commission, City Council Asks for Salary Increase

"In it, Mark-Viverito writes "on behalf of the Council," and does not suggest a specific salary for City Council members - they currently make $112,500 each per year, plus bonuses for filling leadership positions and chairing committees - but does include a more general pitch for a raise. "


Two men dead after jumping from elevated garage in Brooklyn

Two people reportedly jumped to their deaths at the Kings Plaza Mall in Brooklyn.Two men dead after jumping from elevated garage in Brooklyn - NY Daily News

"Two men died Friday after they jumped from the top of an elevated garage adjoining a Brooklyn shopping mall in separate suicides hours apart, authorities said."

California killers’ link to controversial New York mosque

caliqueensCalifornia killers’ link to controversial New York mosque | New York Post

"The conservative organization, which was first established in 1968 and is headquartered in Jamaica, Queens, has drawn fire from Jewish groups in recent years.

“At the 2010 ICNA-MAS convention in Rosemont, Illinois, several speakers delivered anti-Semitic remarks, including portraying the Jews as having undue influence on the U.S. government and linking Judaism to theft and oppression,” the Anti-Defamation League wrote.

They also cited a convention in 2009 in Chicago where religious scholars and activists allegedly called for “the eradication of the state of Israel and accuse the United States government as waging a war against Muslims at home and abroad.”

I went undercover as a topless performer in Times Square

I went undercover as a topless performer in Times Square | New York Post

"The painted ladies of Times Square have become Public Enemy No. 1 this summer. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says they remind him of the bad old days; Mayor Bill de Blasio immediately created a task force to try to ban them.

“It’s wrong. It’s just wrong,” tutted de Blasio.

I knew I had to join them."

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Vintage Subways and Buses Will Run on Sundays Over the Holiday Season in NYC


NYC subway Nostalgia Trains to run on Sundays in December.
Posted by NYC: The Official Guide on Sunday, November 29, 2015

Global Climate March: Clashes in Paris as Protesters Rally Ahead of COP21

Global Climate March: Clashes in Paris as Protesters Rally Ahead of COP21 | NBC New York

"French riot police fired tear gas at activists protesting as part of global climate demonstrations Sunday, on the eve of the COP21 climate summit in Paris, NBC News reported.
About 200 protesters, some wearing masks, fought with police on a street leading to the Place de la Republique, which has become a gathering place for Parisians since the terror attacks on Nov. 13."

So soon after the terrorist attacks...shameful!

Extreme Marathon


It's one of the most extreme races in the world... a #marathon in the Antarctic where temperatures remain below zero. The winner finished in 3:35.
Posted by FOX 5 / Fox5NY.com on Sunday, November 29, 2015

Saturday, November 28, 2015

And so it has come to pass...

Snow is inevitable. Might as well be paid for it.


There were a lot of times last winter when NYC was covered in snow, and while it hasn’t arrived yet, New York City...
Posted by NYC 311 on Saturday, November 28, 2015

Gentrification in a Brooklyn Neighborhood Forces Residents to Move On

Gentrification in a Brooklyn Neighborhood Forces Residents to Move On - The New York Times

"Between 2000 and 2010, Crown Heights and the two neighborhoods to its south and east, Flatbush and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, all areas with large West Indian immigrant populations, each lost from 10 to 14 percent of their black populations, according to an analysis of the 2010 census released by the Department of City Planning."

Top Billionaires and They're Young!

Friday, November 27, 2015

Tree Carnage on Ocean Parkway


A beautiful stretch of the Ocean Parkway east mall  from Avenue Y and Avenue Z no longer has any trees.  The Parks Department has been manic in its removal of healthy trees although they say say it is because of Hurricane Sandy but one look of the top photo shows that the tree canopy was full.  But was this really necessary? Companies contracted by the Parks Department have removed a ridiculous number of trees along Ocean Parkway.  At a very high cost.

Swatstika is a symbol of peace at this school

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Listening In: Cronkite, Lady Bird On The Death Of A President

CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite announces the death of President John F. Kennedy.Listening In: Cronkite, Lady Bird On The Death Of A President : NPR

The image of Walter Cronkite taking off his glasses as he announced President John F. Kennedy's death on Nov. 22, 1963, is one that seems seared into our collective memory — even for those of us who weren't around to see it live.

Nearly 40 years later, Cronkite revisited that moment and the rest of that unsettling day in a piece that aired on All Things Considered on Nov. 22, 2002.

7 schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan to set admission quotas

The seven schools will reserve up to 60% of its seats for English learners, as well for kids who are in the welfare system or have incarcerated parents.7 schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan to set admission quotas - NY Daily News

Seven Brooklyn and Manhattan public elementary schools will set admissions quotas to enroll a more diverse mix of students starting in September, city schools boss Carmen Fariña said Friday.

Under the ground-breaking plan, which could have far-reaching implications for a school system tarnished by segregated classrooms. The schools involved will reserve up to 60% of seats for English learners, students in the child-welfare system or kids with incarcerated parents.

Holding the Media's Feet to the Fire

How Kurtz on Media Buzz

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Artists Protest Eviction from Gowanus Building


#gowanus #artists
Posted by Brooklyn Views on Sunday, October 18, 2015

Student athletes plan Brooklyn Bridge protest

“We’re talking about one of the most important aspects of a child’s development and we’re not giving it the support it deserves,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.Student athletes plan Brooklyn Bridge protest - NY Daily News

"On your mark, get set — protest!

Hundreds of student athletes — decked out in everything from football jerseys to fencing gear — will march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday to petition the city to grant more access to safe places to play and practice.

The march, led by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, will include coaches, parents and reps from dozens of teams and is expected to draw 500 participants.

It kicks off at 2:30 p.m. with a rally on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

“We’re talking about one of the most important aspects of a child’s development and we’re not giving it the support it deserves,” said Adams.

He’d like to see the Department of Education give sports teams and other programs more time on grounds during off hours."

Saturday, October 10, 2015

#Subway Extension Provides a Link to #HudsonYards, Still a Work in Progress

Subway Extension Provides a Link to Hudson Yards, Still a Work in Progress - The New York Times

If Gertrude Stein were to ride the No. 7 train to the new end of its line on 11th Avenue in Manhattan, she might again declare that there is no there there. Not yet, anyway.

Riders emerging from the station find themselves in the center of what is supposed to be a thriving agglomeration of office towers, stores and high-rise apartment buildings. What they find today, though, is an urban park surrounded by construction sites, some bustling, some yet to roar to life.

What they will not find is a lot of commercial activity, not yet at least. Virtually all of the businesses that operated in the neighborhood — mostly light industrial and manufacturing shops — have been displaced. In their stead, developers plan to install fancy department stores, boutiques and restaurants.

For now, the vision of a full-featured neighborhood called Hudson Yards is still a glimmer in the eyes of New York City officials and real estate executives. But any lingering doubts that it would be built were erased last month when the linchpin of the master plan — the $2.4 billion extension of the No. 7 line from Times Square — opened to the public.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

NYC cultural institutions are scrutinized for racial diversity


Monday, September 28, 2015

Future of coney island boardwalk is certain...not wood.







Posted by Picasa

Mesmerizing City Life


Sunday, September 27, 2015

Brighton Beach Real Estate Soars


Pope Selfies


Pope Francis has a way with the selfies -- watch the whole video here to see why: http://4.nbcny.com/57dPPzc
Posted by NBC New York on Saturday, September 26, 2015

Arches National Park in Utah


Arches National Park in Utah is a red rock wonderland. With a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures,...
Posted by U.S. Department of the Interior on Sunday, September 27, 2015

Tunnel2Towers Run finish line

Volunteer Lawyers Project helps seniors know their rights

Attorney Robin Goeman works with the Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project and assists seniors as part of the NGF Senior LEAP program. Here, she is seen talking with seniors from the Vandalia Senior Center in East New York. Eagle photo by Rob AbruzzeseVolunteer Lawyers Project helps seniors know their rights | Brooklyn Daily Eagle
By Rob Abruzzese
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Preparing oneself for aging isn't an easy or obvious process, and for certain seniors, it's not an affordable one, either. However, the Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) has a program called the National Grid Foundation Senior Legal Education and Assistance Program (NGF Senior LEAP) that is designed to help inform and assist seniors to make the preparation as easy as possible.
The program sends volunteer lawyers to senior centers across the borough where they teach the elderly about medical directives and what they can do to protect themselves and their families.

Big news for #Ghostbusters fan



What renders a showtune as timeless?


What renders a showtune as timeless? We break down the very best showtunes.
Posted by Playbill on Sunday, September 27, 2015

Review: ‘The Walk,’ High-Wire Bravado at World Trade Center

Review: ‘The Walk,’ High-Wire Bravado at World Trade Center - The New York Times

“Now I’ve seen everything,” an anonymous New Yorker remarks, marveling at the spectacle unfolding more than a hundred stories above street level. It’s the morning of Aug. 7, 1974, and Philippe Petit is walking across a steel cable strung between the towers of the World Trade Center.

NYC wants to remove dangerous parking spots in new bill

NYC wants to remove dangerous parking spots in new bill - NY Daily News

The city could have 200 fewer parking spots at dangerous intersections under a City council bill being introduced Thursday.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

For those remaining in Syria the nightmares only get worse

 Men help an injured boy who survived what activists said were airstrikes by forces loyal to Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad, in the Douma neighborhood of Damascus in late August. Although international attention has turned to Islamic State atrocities, the country’s war has been far more destructive and deadly.  Photograph: Bassam Khabieh/ReutersFor those remaining in Syria the nightmares only get worse

"Such bombardments have been going on for years in insurgent-held areas like Douma, one of the first areas to revolt against the government in 2011. And yet, the situation can still get worse. The past month in Douma made that clear. Government forces began a barrage even more intense than usual, using not only the artillery shells that Douma has come to expect, but also airstrikes. Perhaps four out of five residents had already fled what was once a bustling community of about half a million, and emergency workers say the new bombings drove out thousands more."

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Bikeriding over the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn

#Bikeriding over the Manhattan Bridge

Repairs will shut seven N-train stations for nearly two years

Repairs will shut seven N-train stations for nearly two years • Brooklyn Daily

Bensonhursters and Dyker Heights residents better start planning their 2016 commutes now.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will close seven of nine subway stations along the N-train line between the Coney Island terminus and Eighth Avenue on the Manhattan-bound side for 14 months starting in January, and then for another 14 months on the Coney Island-bound side in 2017.
The imminent closures are a necessary evil to repair the crumbling stations and replace aging tracks, a local leader said.

Homeless blame DeBlasio


#homeless
Posted by Brooklyn Views on Monday, September 7, 2015

Helping a Great White


Dozens of beachgoers attempt to rescue a Great White shark that washed up on a Cape Cod beach ----> http://4.nbcny.com/nVo4zJC
Posted by NBC New York on Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

This is how the "Dust Lady" from 9/11 should be remembered.


-Washington Post

When the World Trade Center’s South Tower collapsed, just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, photographer Stan Honda was in lower Manhattan, taking pictures of the incomprehensible scene.

“There was a giant roar, like a train, and between the buildings I could see huge clouds of smoke and dust billowing out,” Honda recounted years later.

He ducked into a building lobby, where “a police officer was pulling people into the entrance to get them out of the danger.”

“A woman came in completely covered in gray dust,” Honda recalled in 2011. “You could tell she was nicely dressed for work and for a second she stood in the lobby. I took one shot of her before the police officer started to direct people up a set of stairs, thinking it would be safer off the ground level.”

The woman turned out to be Marcy Borders, who had only recently begun working for Bank of America in the World Trade Center when the first plane struck.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Biking fun on the Coney Island Boardwalk

7 wounded in 4 Brooklyn #shootings; Boy, 17, clings to life

A 17-year-old boy was critically wounded just after 2:40 a.m. Sunday in Bushwick, where he was shot repeatedly in the torso during an argument with his assailant on Cooper St. The boy is clinging to life at Kings County Hospital.7 wounded in 4 Brooklyn shootings; Boy, 17, clings to life - NY Daily New

'A 17-year-old boy was clinging to life after being shot during an argument in Brooklyn early Sunday, police said.

The boy, identified by relatives as Steven Alexander, was shot repeatedly in the midsection during a dispute on Cooper St. in Bushwick just after 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, authorities said.'

Boyfriend charged in death of girlfriend who fell out of car


Wahlburgers opening soon in Coney Island


#Wahlburgers opening soon in Coney Island.
Posted by Brooklyn Views on Sunday, August 23, 2015

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Man accused in rape of woman, 82, busted in Brooklyn

Man accused in rape of woman, 82, busted in Brooklyn - NY Daily News

On Monday, July 13, 2015 at approximately 0140 hours, the unknown male suspect gained entry inside the 82-year-old female victim's private residence while she was outside sweeping the street. The victim went back inside her residence and went inside her bedroom. The suspect, who was hiding inside the bedroom, then assaulted the victim and demanded money at knifepoint. The victim did not have any money to provide to the suspect, and he remained inside the apartment for several hours. At approximately 0400 hours, the suspect forcibly raped the victim. The suspect then fled the location, stealing an umbrella and a bag containing clothing. The victim was later removed to Kings County Hospital for evaluation.The Brooklyn sicko suspected of raping an 82-year-old grandmother has been arrested in Brooklyn, according to cops.

NYPD caught Asa Roberts, 18, in Bedford Stuyvesant after he eluded them twice earlier this week.

Roberts managed to twice narrowly elude officers who had tracked him to two separate Crown Heights buildings, sources said Thursday.

Friday, July 3, 2015

New SHARK TANK will take a big bite out of the #coneyisland boardwalk


New Shark Tank takes a big bite out of the #coneyisland boardwalkThe massive 57,000-square-foot "Ocean Wonders:...More than 45 sharks, including sand tigers, nurse sharks, blackttip reef sharks and bamboo sharks will swim around inside the three main 500,000-gallon tanks
Posted by Brooklyn Views on Friday, July 3, 2015

FEMA doesn't know if 750,000 homes are flood prone

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fema-does-not-know-if-750-000-homes-are-flood-prone/

"About 20 percent of the program's 5.5 million policies are priced too low to cover the risk of flooding. Many of those structures were built before the program was enacted in the late 1960s. So Congress grandfathered them into the program at reduced prices, believing that insurance premiums would offset rising federal disaster aid."

Thursday, July 2, 2015

BMT Centennial with vintage subway cars in Brighton Beach

BMT Subway Centennial Photos


IMG_5462-1
The new and the pretty old enter the Brighton Beach station
On June 22, 1915, on a seasonally cool but fair Tuesday, The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, or BRT, (which would become the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation, or BMT), opened its first subway with much pomp and circumstance with Manhattan to Coney Island service. Its first train crossed the East River to Downtown Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge and then headed out to Coney Island using the new Fourth Avenue Subway and Sea Beach Lines. The inaugural ride from Chambers Street to Coney Island took 48 minutes, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. It was New York City’s second subway company and, in its time, one of the most innovative transit networks in the world.

The BMT’s centennial was relived today at the New York Transit Museum where MTA New York City Transit President Carmen Bianco took part in the festivities. In addition, nostalgia trains will be put into service as part of the centennial celebration this weekend on June 27 and 28, when customers can ride the vintage subway cars between noon and 4 p.m. with just the swipe of a MetroCard.

The hipsters have taken over the Rockaways

The hipsters have taken over the RockawaysThe hipsters have taken over the Rockaways | New York Post

"You can keep your Wahlburgers, Coney Island: The new Riis Park Beach Bazaar means the Rockaways have officially taken over as the hottest beach destination in the city."

Weenies burn flag to protest cops, get attacked by bikers, need cops to save their asses

Weenies burn flag to protest cops, get attacked by bikers, need cops to save their assesWeenies burn flag to protest cops, get attacked by bikers, need cops to save their asses | New York Post

“They took off like little b—hes,” said one biker. “They lit the f–king flag and took off running once they got slapped once or twice.”

The Secret to Successful Crisis Management in the 21st Century - Melissa...

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Spectacular Manhattan


Sunday, May 3, 2015

Slow Bounce Back for a Bridge in Brooklyn


Slow Rebound for a Bridge in Brooklyn Whose Bounce Became Worse - NYTimes.com

"But the pedestrian bridge, which opened in March 2013, soon bounced a little too much. Then it started to move from side to side. Then, last August, it was closed abruptly — and temporarily — park officials said. By October, the target reopening date was amended to spring."

May Day Protests on the West Coast


New Tower Rising

Enough already!

5315la.jpg

Saturday, May 2, 2015

DOT agrees to move ‘cash cow’ speed camera


DOT agrees to move ‘cash cow’ speed camera | Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The speed camera was perched at the end of a Belt Parkway exit ramp last summer, according to Treyger, who said the location called into question whether the device was there to increase safety or generate revenue for the city through speeding tickets.

Councilmember Mark Treyger says moving the speed camera will help increase safety. Photo courtesy Treyger’s office“The speed camera program is a key part of Vision Zero and plays a vital role in slowing down drivers and keeping pedestrians safe, especially in high-traffic areas near schools. However, the city must choose locations that actually help protect the public and do not simply generate millions of dollars in revenue. Placing this camera adjacent to the Belt Parkway and not in an area with pedestrians called into question the credibility of the entire program,” Treyger said in a statement.

U.S. found liable for Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans flooding

U.S. found liable for Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans flooding - UPI.com

The United States government must pay for some of the devastating Hurricane Katrina flooding damages in New Orleans caused by a faulty canal system hastily installed decades ago, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Judge Susan Braden, of the United States Court of Federal Claims, ruled the Army Corps of Engineers is liable for flooding in the New Orleans area, including the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish, after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Braden focused on an Army Corp navigation project known as the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, or MR-GO, which essentially funneled flood waters into the parish areas. The canal has since been closed.

Duke & Duchess of Cambridge Leave Hospital With Baby

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02:  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary's Hospital on May 2, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess was safely delivered of a daughter at 8:34am this morning, weighing 8lbs 3 oz who will be fourth in line to the throne.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)Duke & Duchess of Cambridge Leave Hospital With Baby « CBS Miami

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary’s Hospital on May 2, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess was safely delivered of a daughter at 8:34am this morning, weighing 8lbs 3 oz who will be fourth in line to the throne. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Olivia Newton-John + John Travolta - You're the One That I Want.MPG


Uploaded on Dec 31, 2009
Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta sing 'You're the One That I Want" at the 2002 Grease DVD Release Party

Game of Thrones New Season 5 Cast Members: See 'Em Before They Get Killed!

Alexander Siddig as Doran MartellGame of Thrones New Season 5 Cast Members: See 'Em Before They Get Killed! - The Hollywood Gossip

"As the Game of Thrones universe expands more and more with each season, new characters are introduced at a breakneck rate.

While many shows would struggle with the task of juggling so many unique identities, GoT's writing staff and casting department take the pains necessary to develop the denizens of Westeros into living, breathing, feeling men and women who make the unique struggles of their outlandish world relatable by revealing their humanity to the audience.

Then, of course, they get their heads crushed by eight-foot human killing machines."

Amazon wins federal approval to begin testing package delivery drones

This undated image provided by Amazon.com shows the so-called Prime Air unmanned aircraft project that Amazon is working on. (AP Photo/Amazon)Amazon wins federal approval to begin testing package delivery drones | abc7news.com

"Amazon's delivery drones will be flying soon.
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved limited research and testing for the company's Prime Air delivery service.
Amazon had to seek new approval because last month the FAA approved an aircraft Amazon is no longer testing.
The CEO's vision is to deliver packages from the warehouse to your door in less than 30 minutes."

Idling car may have caused carbon monoxide deaths

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpiIdling car may have caused carbon monoxide deaths: sources - NY Daily News

"Jerry Hugel, 83, his wife, 80-year-old Marie Hugel, their tenant 70-year-old Gloria Greco and friend Walter Vonthadden, 76, were found dead in their two-story Floral Park home apparently suffocated by the noxious gas.

Investigators believe a car left accidentally idling in a basement garage filled the house with the odorless fumes, sources said."

Brooklyn Real Estate is on fire


Once Trapped Atop Coney Island Cyclone, but Forever Stuck on It

Riders on the Cyclone, an 87-year-old wood-and-steel roller coaster in Coney Island, Brooklyn, on Wednesday.Once Trapped Atop Coney Island Cyclone, but Forever Stuck on It - NYTimes.com
"At age 87, the wood-and-steel Cyclone, if not quite as popular as it was in Coney Island’s heyday, remains remarkably alluring. The older it gets, the more classic it seems, attracting more than its share of characters: tourists riding for history’s sake, teenagers riding for riding’s sake, current and former Brooklynites riding for nostalgia’s sake and roller coaster fanatics, like Mr. Myers, riding for an intimate connection to the ride from which many a more modern coaster has borrowed."