NYC To Get Subway Clocks!

It’s always been a source of frustration having no idea when the next subway train is going to arrive. Thankfully, the MTA is starting a $200 million project that should have countdown clocks in over 150 stations, which would be really nice.

I guess it wouldn’t be that necessary in the mornings, when most trains come every few minutes. It would be very helpful at night, or on Sundays, when it seems like the trains come once every Chinese calendar. Not that I think it’d stop people from leaning over the tracks, as though their hanging precariously in space will make the train arrive sooner. (see above photo)

I also wonder how accurate it would end up being. My guess is that you’d end up with some pretty wildly inaccurate numbers. We shall see.

CBS Article

Costo hits Manhattan, starting today

Costco Manhattan

We passed this on the highway yesterday and wondered when it was going to open. The answer is today, apparently.

Part of the article from the New York Post:

Manhattan bulks up, Costco style

Need 64 ounces of soy sauce ($4.89), 128 ounces of Hellmann’s mayonnaise ($10.59) or 80 ounces of Hidden Valley Ranch ($8.89)?

Probably not.

But starting today, if you’re ever in a pinch and want three pounds of almonds ($9.69), five liters of olive oil ($19.99) or 192 ounces of organic milk ($8.99), there’s a one-stop shop a short subway ride uptown, just waiting to fulfill your bulk-buy needs.

The first Manhattan Costco, located on 116th Street off the FDR, throws open its doors to shoppers at 8 a.m. today.

Featuring more than 105,000 square feet of selling floor, a selection of more than 3,500 different products, a massive fresh-food department, a pharmacy, a doctor-staffed optical department, a hearing aid area, a photo center and a food court, it’s the embodiment of all our big-box suburban shopping fantasies.

For the rest of the article, click here.

New York State has a new-look license plate and… it’s atrocious

New York State Licence Plate

Who votes on this stuff? This is just abysmal, and of course it’s going to cost us money to get them, even if we hate them. The article is here. There’s a poll on that site, and you can see what percentage of people currently hate it. Why did they do this? Is the current one bad? Did someone complain? Of course they just want money. Uch.

Aaron Ross is practicing! Praise the Lord! (and other Giants news)

Aaron Ross

It’s been six long weeks since the New York Giants Cornerback Aaron Ross has practiced. He has missed the entire first half of the season with three hamstring injuries, but it seems like he’s FINALLY on his way back, and it can’t be soon enough. The Giants defense has been brutalized the past bunch of weeks, and it’d be nice to know that Ross, who was a very solid player since his rookie season, will HOPEFULLY be back in the lineup. I imagine this means that Corey Webster stays a starter, and Terrell Thomas becomes the Nickel back for now. Ross is hoping to be back in time for the game against the Atlanta Falcons on November 22, following this week’s bye week for the Giants. I wonder what would happen if Thomas moved over into a Safety position, which has been a weak spot for the Giants this year since Kenny Phillips injured himself for the season.

D.J. Johnson

In other Giants news, LB Gerris Wilkinson (dislocated wrist) has been placed on Injured Reserve and DB D.J. Johnson has been signed off Denver’s practice squad. He was on the field this morning, so we shall see how much of a role he plays.

In news that’s totally nuts, there are now FIVE players on the Giants with the last name Johnson. D.J., Michael, Darcy, Gartrell & Bruce. Lunacy.

Ralph Vacchiano and Mike Garafolo articles, if you’re interested in further reading.

Um, New York State will be broke? By when?

Article

Governor David Paterson called an unusual joint session of the Legislature Monday to implore recalcitrant lawmakers to close the state’s huge budget gap before New York runs out of money.

He said if the Legislature doesn’t cut the budget now the state could run out of money by next month.

Yes, I think that would be a GREAT idea.

“We’re going to run out of cash in four and a half weeks. We are going to run out of money. Unless we do something about it, (it will) threaten generations,” Paterson said.

Not troubling at all.

The governor says $3.2 billion in cuts must be enacted how — or else. The cuts range from $500 million in agency spending to over $1 billion in already committed in aid to school districts and hospitals.

Oh, so not really a big deal. Just cut money from schools and hospitals.

Glad he’s got it figured out. Yikes.

If you’re a Giants fan, this is a great video about the Offensive Line

The five guys on our line are a hilarious bunch and are all really close. This video is from the NFL, and is called O-Line Confidential. Required watching for a big fan.

Enjoy.

The video is here.

05:36 – The Giants’ O-Line dishes on missing Michael Strahan’s words of wisdom, cold games at Lambeau and more.

500 Tickets Being Given Away For Friday’s Celebration Following Ticker-Tape Parade. Want to win?!

New York Yankees City Hall Plaza Ceremony Ticket Giveaway – Click here

The enrollment period for the ticket giveaway to the New York Yankees City Hall Plaza Ceremony will be held today, Thursday, November 5th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Each winner will receive two (2) tickets. Please visit again between those hours.

There have been reports in the past of fraudulent offers for tickets to the parade – including access to floats – and to the ceremony. There are no tickets or passes to any portion of the parade, and any such offers are fake. Ceremony tickets are not for resale. If you are aware of any tickets or passes being sold, please call 311.

You can also enter by calling 311. Here’s an article about it by WCBS.

Those unable to get access to City Hall Plaza can still get in on the action. The sidewalks lining the parade route along Broadway from Battery Place to Chambers Street are open to all members of the public, and the City will set up a large screen near City Hall Park for members of the public to watch the subsequent ceremony.

At least she might know how she got the swine flu…

Coughing on the train got two gals afightin!

When I got the swine, I just got it. No idea how or from where or whom. This person, apparently, decided to get in a few shots at the person who might be spreading it around. If I met the person that was kind enough to share the H1N1 with me, I might scowl at them, or at least wag my finger disapprovingly in their general direction. Tsk tsk.

Happy 123rd Birthday to the Statue of Liberty!

On this day in 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

The statue’s full name was Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. It had been a gift from French citizens to their American friends in recognition of the two countries’ commitment to liberty and democracy and their alliance during the American Revolutionary War, which had begun 110 years earlier. The 151-foot copper statue was built in France and shipped to New York in 350 separate parts. It arrived in the city on June 17, 1886, and over the next several months was reassembled while electricians worked to wire the torch to light up at night.

As President Cleveland accepted the statue on behalf of American citizens, he declared “we will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected.” The statue quickly became a symbol of America’s humanitarianism and willingness to take in the world’s “tired, poor and huddled masses”–in the words of the poem by Emma Lazarus inscribed on the monument’s pedestal–who yearned for freedom and a better life.

“Lady Liberty” was originally intended to work as a functional lighthouse and, from 1886 to 1901, the statue was operated by the United States Lighthouse Board. In 1901, the War Department took over its operation and maintenance. The statue and the island on which it stands, now known as Liberty Island, were together proclaimed a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge on October 15, 1924, and, in 1933, the National Park Service assumed oversight of the monument. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan established a commission tasked with restoring the deteriorating Lady Liberty in time for a centennial celebration in 1986. A joint French-American preservation and rehabilitation group cleaned the statue and replaced the glass and metal torch with gold leaf. The original torch is on display in the statue’s lobby.

Today, the Statue of Liberty is a major tourist attraction, hosting as many as 5 million people every year. Although access to the statue’s crown was restricted following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, tourists can still visit Liberty Island, and the statue’s pedestal observation deck and museum.

Some cool stats about Lady Liberty here.

(Many thanks to France and those who paid for her.)

Meet The Breeds: A day with hundreds of dogs, the two of us, and Mario Lopez

Yesterday we went to the AKC’s Meet The Breeds event at the Javits Center. You can read about the event here. As an animal novice (at best), it was pretty cool seeing all sorts of dogs that I’d never heard of, and got to see them up close. I was never much of a “pet guy”, but of late, rumors have it my tastes may have somewhat changed and would consider perhaps maybe getting a dog of some variety. The show was really enlightening for me, and was really fun. Each breed had its own booth with dogs and owners/experts in the breed to answer questions. I generally gravitate towards the larger dogs, because the glorified hairy rats, the “ankle biters”, always just seemed like more of a nuisance than a real dog. I loved seeing the huge dogs, like Bull Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, and Saint Bernards, that look more like small horses than dogs. I always thought that if I got a dog it should be the kind that if we bump into each other, I’m the one who gets the worst of it. I did, however, realize the impracticality of the huge dogs, and that unfortunately they’re historically guard dogs, and I would prefer a more friendly breed, not one liable to use a guest’s leg as a chew toy. I figure we’ll probably end up with a mid-sized dog, and right now the favorite appears to be the lab. I prefer the yellow, Dina prefers chocolate/black. This wouldn’t be for a while, anyway, it was just a really fun time.

Why is Mario Lopez listed? Patience – I’ll tell you. He was there doing some sort of promotional something, i.e., I haven’t a clue. It was amusing watching him chase after tiny dogs and look like a horse’s patoot trying to look cool doing it. He also seemed really short and appeared to be wearing a remarkable amount of makeup. Yikes.