Okay, so I'm doing another rare "blog suggestion." I barely have time to read my own, let alone someone else's, but this Lenore Skenazy deserves kudos for "Free Range Kids." This woman caused a sensation awhile back for letting her 9-year-old son ride the NYC subway alone! You know what THAT calls for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs
Anyway, she makes some good points about the fact that the crime rate today is actually LOWER than in 1970, and thus it's actually SAFER for kids today. But because those fewer crimes are broadcast and twitterized 24/7, well...then that explains why people can nod knowingly and/or shake their head sadly and say stuff like, "Yes, well, you know, things are different these days."
Um, yeah, it's safer.
Anyway, Ms. Skenazy just wrote about this community that will not allow children under 16 to even play outside w/o supervision! Somewhere in Florida, I think. Oh God, I just remembered! It's Code Orange! I just remembered from the airport 3 months ago! OMG, WTF, WDWD when it's Code Orange? Is this the one where we take off our shoes and do what with the toothbrush and take a picture for the hotel maid? (google toothbrush, picture, maid if you miss the reference)
And very closely tied to the whole fear FEAR FEAR thing: Is there anything more tiresome now than the word "liability?" You can't INSERT RANDOM SEMI-BIZARRE THING HERE w/o someone warning you about liability--most always in terms of ensuring you understand "they" won't be held liable. The cable guy can't tack the cable, snaking throughout the house and over the river and through the woods to make it from the stupidly placed entry point in your closet to the TV, because of "liability." Our summer campers, for an outdoor experiential environmental camp for God' sake, can't go in the ocean because of "liablity issues." You can't host a party in your own home unless you're willing to ensure that either no one gets drunk, or that if they do, they don't drive--otherwise you'll be held "liable." Roller coasters strap you in like an Air Force fighter pilot to protect the park's "liability."
OMG, random aside: fortunately, the Cyclone still operates on Coney Island. I swear, if you've never ridden this thing, and you're a coaster fan, it MUST be on your MUST list! My friend Brian and I rode it back in '94, and I swear, when we got off, I was literally shaking and slobbering and afraid to ride it again!
Don't make 'em like THAT anymore. Coz who'd be liable?
Humph.
Check out the Cyclone:
http://www.coneyislandcyclone.com/about_us.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajz-tzyp3FQ
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
9/21/09
Deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots - the second
So whose clever idea was it for me to move back in to the City, start grad school back up again, and start a new job back at Director level, all within the course of a month? I mean, I do like keeping busy, but....
Anyway, as a result, my blogging is going to be scaled back to twice a week--at least for now. Yeah, I know, boo hoo! :)
In other news, for some reason--so far, at least--I have yet to be capable of writing about what's going on with Kyle. I guess it's just so appalling I want to escape thinking about it as much as possible. What's wild is I'm hearing from quite a few people that his/our story is not really so unusual--at least in regards to Kyle's...er...um...."lack of succes." Can't decide if that makes me feel better or not.
Saw "The Hoax" the other night and am struck at another example of the decline and fall of the American Empire. In "the old days" we had much more interesting crazy rich people like Howard Hughes - which makes the descent to Paris Hilton that much more deplorable.
Although I'm a little late to the party, I have to agree that "Mad Men" is an excellent show. The acting, the sense of place (NYC), and especially time (1960)....and my GAWD the smoking! It's amazing to think people used to smoke like that! And the sexism! Unbelievable!
So I've finally come up with a good, simple, and yet comprehensive, driving rule that will address a myriad of issues--from people not utilizing the left lane on the highway properly, to taking corners too slowly, to not turning right on red, to not accelerating on hills to maintain their speed, etc. The new rule is this: Just Get The Fuck Out of My Way! Look for it soon in the CA DMV manual.
Have to give a shout out to District 9 - definitely one of the more original Sci-Fi movies I've seen in some time. And also has some telling lessons on compassion, bigotry, and just what it is that makes us human.
Finally, I don't know if it's the worsening civility in this country, but I find myself considering turning vigilante. As most of you may know, parking in the City is a challenge at best. So it is all the more frustrating and annoying to see the losers who park right in the middle of a space between two driveways, when if they'd just pulled forward or backwards, another car could fit in front or behind. I saw just such a scenario tonightright across the street from my apartment.
I was in such a rage I wanted to either let the air out of a tire or even key the effing car! Instead, I left a snitty note on their windshield "thanking" them for being so considerate and warning them that if I saw them parked like that again, I wouldn't be so "forgiving" next time.
So here's my question: technically, what they did is not illegal--and yet, they have a neghborhood parking sticker, they have to know how difficult it is to find parking and now they've been--granted, not so politely--chastised; so would I be justified in "punishing" them if I saw them do it again? Discuss.
I honestly feel like part of why people are so selfish and clueless nowadays is because no one is called on their shit and we've been "psyched out" of using shame anymore. When I was young, I was definitely made to feel ashamed when I did something wrong. There was none of this "validation of my feelings" and/or concern to not send one into a "shame spiral." And that's probably why people like Venus Williams and Kanye West and that dick of a SC congressman pull the shit they do.
Word.
Anyway, as a result, my blogging is going to be scaled back to twice a week--at least for now. Yeah, I know, boo hoo! :)
In other news, for some reason--so far, at least--I have yet to be capable of writing about what's going on with Kyle. I guess it's just so appalling I want to escape thinking about it as much as possible. What's wild is I'm hearing from quite a few people that his/our story is not really so unusual--at least in regards to Kyle's...er...um...."lack of succes." Can't decide if that makes me feel better or not.
Saw "The Hoax" the other night and am struck at another example of the decline and fall of the American Empire. In "the old days" we had much more interesting crazy rich people like Howard Hughes - which makes the descent to Paris Hilton that much more deplorable.
Although I'm a little late to the party, I have to agree that "Mad Men" is an excellent show. The acting, the sense of place (NYC), and especially time (1960)....and my GAWD the smoking! It's amazing to think people used to smoke like that! And the sexism! Unbelievable!
So I've finally come up with a good, simple, and yet comprehensive, driving rule that will address a myriad of issues--from people not utilizing the left lane on the highway properly, to taking corners too slowly, to not turning right on red, to not accelerating on hills to maintain their speed, etc. The new rule is this: Just Get The Fuck Out of My Way! Look for it soon in the CA DMV manual.
Have to give a shout out to District 9 - definitely one of the more original Sci-Fi movies I've seen in some time. And also has some telling lessons on compassion, bigotry, and just what it is that makes us human.
Finally, I don't know if it's the worsening civility in this country, but I find myself considering turning vigilante. As most of you may know, parking in the City is a challenge at best. So it is all the more frustrating and annoying to see the losers who park right in the middle of a space between two driveways, when if they'd just pulled forward or backwards, another car could fit in front or behind. I saw just such a scenario tonightright across the street from my apartment.
I was in such a rage I wanted to either let the air out of a tire or even key the effing car! Instead, I left a snitty note on their windshield "thanking" them for being so considerate and warning them that if I saw them parked like that again, I wouldn't be so "forgiving" next time.
So here's my question: technically, what they did is not illegal--and yet, they have a neghborhood parking sticker, they have to know how difficult it is to find parking and now they've been--granted, not so politely--chastised; so would I be justified in "punishing" them if I saw them do it again? Discuss.
I honestly feel like part of why people are so selfish and clueless nowadays is because no one is called on their shit and we've been "psyched out" of using shame anymore. When I was young, I was definitely made to feel ashamed when I did something wrong. There was none of this "validation of my feelings" and/or concern to not send one into a "shame spiral." And that's probably why people like Venus Williams and Kanye West and that dick of a SC congressman pull the shit they do.
Word.
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