« Jonathan Adler Stealth-Opens on Atlantic Commercial Klutch: July Edition »
July 21, 2009
Open Thread
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/10654
Comments
DIBS, following on from the end of yesterday's OT, I've been told that Russell Wong plays for your team
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 9:17 AM
Will there ever be a time we will get beyond Seinfeld references. Having traveled a bit recently around the country, nobody else gets them anymore - only New Yorkers.
Why can't we just say "gay" - and not add "not that there is anything wrong with it", but just assume that?
Posted by: bupe at July 21, 2009 9:20 AM
good morning! i love waking up to the rain outside my window and tyra on my tv in the morning. this morning was an exceptionally funny episode. dave, you have a doppleganger out there who is a psychic medium. at first i was like wtf why is dave on the tyra show!?! lol.
the show's topic was Psychic Children. there was this one little girl who would take peoples physical pain away by rubbing the part of them that hurt, then she would "go poop the pain out" seriously, her and her mom's exact words hahahahha.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 9:23 AM
Good morning everyone :) Bupe, the world has been Seinfeld-ized! There seems to be an appropriate Seinfeld reference for *every* situation...it's hard to let go of apparently.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:24 AM
hey chicken - i worked with russell wong back in '95(?) and didn't get that vibe from him. but that was a long time ago. i do remember that he was so full of himself especially when there were bigger divas in the room...
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 9:25 AM
Why are each of the first three posts about me???
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 9:26 AM
bupe, "plays for the other team" is not a Seinfeld reference insofar that it was in use way before Seinfeld.
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 9:27 AM
???? Was that a Seinfeld reference? I thought it was just another way of saying "bats for the other side", which predates Seinfeld by a couple of decades.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 9:27 AM
You're a popular PLUSA today Dave. Everyone "wants" your attention.
BTW, I saw the garden of the day post from 2008 and gotta say, garden looks much better now when it's slightly overgrown, in my opinion.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 9:30 AM
winthropst, that was about the time of his peak popularity I think. what were you doing back then?
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 9:30 AM
An American born Chinese friend of mine always asks me if my current asian/latin boyfriend can pass the "Seinfeld test." It means does he have any clue what they are talking about or is he just "fresh off the boat?"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 9:30 AM
I actually think Russell Wong's brother is better looking and definitely seems like the nicer & more approachable guy
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 9:33 AM
Good morning all. What a surprise - another rainy day. As a member of "that" team, I still find the Seinfeld references entertaining.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 9:35 AM
i dont have a camera or i would have taken a pic, but the scaffolding (sheds) came down from the condo between 5th and 4th ave on carroll (i think it's carroll street). it actually looks pretty decent.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 9:36 AM
Unfortunately his sister wasn't much of a looker in high school.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 9:36 AM
Thats a hot tip Rob
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 9:37 AM
M4L looks like the dirty apartment in the Tuesday Links thread is on your street. Hopefully that's not your neighbor :o).
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 9:38 AM
Hey...at the risk of introducing a semi-intelligent convo into the OT (ha! you can torch me later) I have a question.
The other night I was watching that new HGTV show "Real Estate Intervention" and the host, Mike Aubrey, was trying to help a couple who couldnt manage to sell their condo. (yeah, they were asking a ridiculous price - 539k when the exact same unit in the same building just sold for 495k and had a better upgraded kitchen). The couple had done 100% financing and then put 20-25k into the apt. Mike said that 100% financing is a terrible thing because it basically allows home owners to live above their means. He then went on to say that this current downward-spiral market we are in is a result of a backlash against 100% financing. I totally get that those who did 100% financing are getting killed in this current market, but did they really cause this bubble pop or even play a large hand in it? Thoughts?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:38 AM
Morning folks
question - do any of you belong to NYSC on 9th street in Park Slope?
If so, is it busy in the mornings let's say from 6ish-7am?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 9:39 AM
So if anyone is still shopping for a house, the one below is a block away from me and is on absolutely quite great street and a block away from the F train (yeah I know I know, F train sucks) as well as a couple of blocks from a 24 hour ShopRite and other stores. Great house but needs renos on the interior IMO but still livable.
http://www.madisonestates.com/featured/view.php?id=63
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 9:41 AM
snappy i saw that episode!, i think it was the first one. good show!!! a couple of people on this site need a little real estate intervention actually. i hope the what gets to special guest host.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 9:42 AM
SNAPPY!
OMG I JUST watched that on tivo last night! am sorry but I wanted to slap the wife - she just couldn't accept their plight. And I just knew at the end when Mike is getting in his car and shaking his head while on the phone that the Patels lost that $515K deal! - right? sorry but their condo was sooooo boring except the fireplace which was nice - their kitchen was blah. am not sure I have an answer to your question, I do beleive those people added to the mess b/c I think they soon found themselves underwater and when they couldn't keep getting home equity lines of credit to supplement their lifestyles, they gave up and tried to sell
Do you watch Buy Me? I saw 1 episode and liked it alot - sorta like Real Esate intervention
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 9:42 AM
does anyone have any good pneumonic devices to remember the order of the named streets in park slope starting at 1st street and going upward toward flatbush? ive been trying to memorize the order for a little over a year now with no luck :(
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 9:43 AM
Rob - you and Me both
I have lived in Park Slope for like 6 years now and for the life of me can't remember the named streets near Flatbush either! - bad bad bad!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 9:46 AM
I LOVE Buy Me! It's basically the same principle as Real Estate Intervention. That woman on REI had her head up her @ss. But, I tried to rationalize it and say that when you are attached to a property and your bottom line is riding on it, it's hard to be objective. Still though. She was a total do-do. In the end they sold for 500k...basically what Mike told them they would sell for. Tools. Did you see the episode where the couple got so mad they didn't want to tell Sabrina what they ended up in contract for? I was like "GO SABRINA GIRL!" when she went off on them and said, "We came here to try to help you and now you want to act like this?" I howled!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:47 AM
Snappy, those idiots adding to the collapse now. when they have to sell (for whatever reason), they're in desperate situation so most likely to get hammered on the price and if being foreclosed on (really really hammered on the price). They're fueling the price drops. I would love to buy a place from idiots like this and hammer them on the price.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 9:49 AM
M4L, Michael Wong was certainly the more popular of the two back then - and definitely could be taken more seriously as an actor.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 9:49 AM
Rob, I'm tellin' ya...that show should be hosted by the What all the time, not just once! Or, they should give him a NYC based offshoot of the show like they have different designers and hosts for various areas on Designed to Sell. What would have NYC sellers in check so damned fast they wouldn't have time to cry about it.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:51 AM
I have a mneumonic device for the cranial nerves from when I was a biology mapor:
Old ornery oscar tried to abduct fat Agnes' glossy vagina single handedly.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 9:52 AM
chicken - movie wardrobe
m4L - which brother? he has 6 or 7 siblings.
dh - i read yesterday's OT last night - did you go to the concert?
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 9:53 AM
M4L, so you say they are feuling the current drops...do you think they caused this though? Like at the start?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:53 AM
Kens, that dirty tenant is most definitely NOT in the bldg or in the adjoining bldgs and the way I know this is there's only 1 entrance into the units (vs article saying there's 2 separate entrances). if she was in my bldg, I suspect we would've "smelled" her dirty aptmt this Sun
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 9:53 AM
Dave, good heavens! You couldn't have used 'veins' instead of v-jay-jay!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 9:54 AM
Rob - Mnemonic. I don't have one but have Sterling to Garfield just memorized from having to walk it so often on either really hot or cold days & trying to work out how far I have to go. I'm also still trying to come up w/ a way to remember what names change below 5th.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 9:55 AM
winthropst, only 1 sibling is well known actor - that's the one Chicken just mentioned
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 9:56 AM
Snappy, those idiots are like huge elephants standing on thin ice. The econ broke the thin ice but those elephants are sinking real fast so I don't they caused it but they certainly making the crash faster & harder
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 9:58 AM
I kid M4L :o).
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 9:58 AM
Snappy - YES I saw that episode - I think the coule was in Baltimore or something
It's such a great show! and as a seller agreed it's so much better to be ahead of the market and then to do 1 slash rather than $10K here and there, you know?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 9:58 AM
Kens, I know but DH's sarcasm and kidding radar has not been functioning correctly so have to make sure he aint thinking "WTF, that dirty girl could be in M4L's bldg?"
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:00 AM
Snappy,
I don't think 100% financing per se caused the bubble - more an issue of the absolute numbers involved. That is it was 100% of already inflated prices and was extended to people whose incomes could not reasonably come close to covering their expenses for long, or whose other assets were very limited.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 10:00 AM
It wasn't the taking out of 100% mortgages that "caused" anything. It was the fact that they were carrying too much debt and couldn't afford the payments when either 1.) they lost their jobs or some of their income or 2.) they had an ARM and it adjusted up and they couldn't afford the new payment.
Even the fact that they had negative equity in and of itself is not an issue unless thay have to sell the house or can't make the payments for reasons like 1 & 2 above.
There is nothing inherently wrong with a 100% mortgage as long as the buyer is fully aware of all the risks, and can make the payments. That said, most people did not. Anyone with an ounce of sense knew they were a dangerous leveraging of your personal balance sheet, especially the ARMS.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:00 AM
Gem, yes...I loved how he put it...'Set the market instead of trying to chase the market' by slashing the price over and over again. I think that show should be required viewing for all current and soon-to-be home sellers.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:01 AM
Name all the streets and I'll put together a mneumonic for you.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:01 AM
Dibs is right
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 10:03 AM
It totally amazed me that the couple selling the condo took out a 100% finance and then on top of that borrowed to put in another 20-25k. I'm not the most financially responsible person in the world, but that sounds nutty even to me. If you do 100% finance, how in the hell do you manage to get another loan for upgrades? at 100%, you have no equity to tap. WTF?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:05 AM
Winthrop - I'm going to the one tonight. Damn Rain!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 10:05 AM
I still don't understand how people got those loans. Being self-employed, even w/ terrific ratings, I had an incredibly difficult time just getting a minimal mortgage so I'd have some tax benefit. I'd sold my co-op for more than the house cost & had a long-standing relationship w/ the bank. It seems to me that lenders were nuts to fund 100% & borrowers were idiotic to take them.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:05 AM
gemini...have you ever had the pizza at the takeout side of fresco by Scotto on 52nd bet Park & Madison??? It's very, very good. Also try Mama's Lasagne there as well....each serving is enough for 2!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:06 AM
ARMS sound dangerous regardless of market...you never know what will happen to your income and it's a huge risk to take hoping that the ARM won't adjust upward in a big way and essentially kicking you in the @ss. Do (or have) ARMS adjust downward and reduce folks' payments? Are some borrowers stuck with taking an ARM due to credit or something?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:07 AM
Dibs - Mnemonic - Garfield, Carroll, President, Union, Berkeley, Lincoln, St. John's, Sterling, Park, Prospect, Bergen, Dean
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:08 AM
Arkady...it sounds like some of those people's eyes were bigger than their wallets/bank accounts. Now it seems that those who can't pay the bank back are screwed, and so is the bank. Why bother to foreclose on something when the seller couldn't even manage to dump it on someone else? Are lots of banks allowing short sales now because of this?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:10 AM
Snappy, I saw that episode, too, and thought Mike Aubrey was on point and made sense. The couple, especially the wife, just looked at him like he had two heads. They were especially clueless and annoying when touring the other comps apartments. The Sainted Tenant and I were screaming when she said the condo building and apartment built in 1974 looked "old", and no one young would ever live there, yet it was the best apartment he showed them. She was so arrogant and know it all.
BTW, did you get my kitty pix email?
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 10:11 AM
I came from London to get away from the rainy summers. What the dickens is going on? I want my money back.
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 10:12 AM
"If you do 100% finance, how in the hell do you manage to get another loan for upgrades? at 100%, you have no equity to tap. WTF?"
Ah, Snappy, you don't get it.
It works because home prices never go down. Ask Greenspan. So it all doesn't matter, because in a couple of years your house is worth, ya know, 30% more than it was when you bought it. So you just refi everything and begin again.
It actually worked for quite a while. Until it didn't.
Posted by: denton at July 21, 2009 10:12 AM
Arkady, I'm glad there are no 'V' streets on the list...Dave will surely have us marching down 5th Avenue mumbling something about vaginas! LOL
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:12 AM
Snappy - I thought it was safe anyway since his was on ice in the fridge.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:15 AM
how come all those stupid people got free money and i cant? :(
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 10:15 AM
MM, no, I didn't get an email from you :( Can you resend them?
I too was ready to choke the wife when she said the other building looked old. Then she said the people that lived there were old, and then Mike pointed out that they hadn't seen anyone in the building so how did she know how old they were! LOL. That apartment was so much larger than theirs and had outdoor space. For my money, I'd take 'old looking' and large over new and small any day. You can upgrade an old condo but you can't enlarge a tiny one.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:15 AM
DIBS!!!
Fresco on the Go is reallly good
We order from them a lot - good pizzas, great sanwiches too (althogh we love Angelos on 57th)
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 10:16 AM
guess Biff is finally earning his paycheck. few postings recently and nope so far
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:17 AM
LOL Denton! Is Greenspan hiding in a bunker now? LOL
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:18 AM
Snaps - But there is a "c" involved - uh-oh...
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:18 AM
Arkady, ROFL!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:18 AM
DH, would you have taken the 100% financing to buy a super pricey condo 2 yrs ago?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:19 AM
Snappy/MM:
I would have taken that huge apt too and it had a balcony and a huge kitchen plus a full DR.
ugh - the wife in particular annoyed me.
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 10:20 AM
Dibs is quiet too. Furiously paging through his dictionary of "Slang & Vulgar Terms."
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:20 AM
Oh, crap! I didn't even think about the 'C'...We might want to try our hand at making our own! Dave will have us in trouble for sure!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:20 AM
raining over here at the mo ditto - sorry, no refunds.
I used to work with Chow Yun Fat's younger sister. In fact, I have often been compared to Chow Yun Fat. Unfortunately, those comparisons usually begin with "Unlike Chow Yun Fat, you ...."
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 10:20 AM
LOL that dirtiest apartment article was hysterical. absolutely gross. it's also a total slap in the face to your adjacent neighbors to intentionally live in a pig stuy with rotten food and dead rats and then brag about it? lady please, youre vile.
the funny thing is that when i lived up in harlem in a 5 bedroom crackden (i didnt smoke crack btw, i just had no where to go at the time) it was 10x dirtier looking than that woman's apt. except for my room which i kept clean and the door closed at all times and a sealant thingie under the door to keep critters out.
if i didnt get out of there eventually i would have developed a severe, and im talking SEVERE case of OCD. sometimes i think i have ocd right now but i think really i just like to keep a clean apartment, which is a good thing.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 10:24 AM
Snappy, I have a suspicion that the attached photos made it too big, I'll send in 2 emails.
Did anyone see "Design Star?" I felt sorry for the girl who was eliminated, it was an impossible task for the time allotted, although lesson #1 after seasons of this show should be time management, time management, time management. That said, their design wasn't bad at all.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 10:24 AM
MM, I was watching the news on NBC last night talking about the Sham Walker shooting by the police and was surprised & annoyed that the reporter kept saying this is in Crown Heights. Is this some conspiracy or just plain ignorance?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:26 AM
M4L - it's the priciple - a bunch of people messed it up for us 'kids'
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 10:27 AM
Did you know there's an eatery in Canarsie known as Long Won Restaurant? Perhaps DIBS should give it a visit.
And, as a callback to the Magnum discussion yesterday, there's apparently a Hung Phat restaurant in Chicago.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 10:27 AM
Greatly Creative Plusas Understand Brownstoners Like Strapless Shoes Preferred By Dibs.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:27 AM
Been there, had that.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:29 AM
Did anybody see the Curse of the Golden Flower? Chow Yun Fat was perfect as the emperor, but the whole movie was amazing - I was beginning to get tired of the genre after the "House of Flying Daggers", but this was a gem.
And Zhang Ziyi is way too ubiquitous.
Posted by: bupe at July 21, 2009 10:29 AM
DH, who do you think you'll be buying from later on when you spot something juicy? Yes, these idiots (or thru the banks' foreclosure REO sale) are the ones who'll make that all possible to pick something up at a great deal. Their pain will be your gain
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:31 AM
I don't wear strapless shoes and, you forgot an additional "P"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:32 AM
True - damn m4l, such a clear and balanced thinker. sometimes i just get irritated for no good reason!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 10:34 AM
Probably Preferred By Denton.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 10:35 AM
Golden flower was a decent movie. The special effects were surprisingly pretty good - on top of a decent storyline. big fan of Yun Fat but have to say he has been a commercial failure in his migration to Hollywood. Only Jet Li, among all the Asian imports, has found consistent commercial success here.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:35 AM
Dunno about that M4L, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee done alright in the move.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 10:40 AM
I do the streets by pairings, it's easier than trying to remember each alone. not exactly the same as the other side of the canal, but on the CG side, I do carroll start to pres/union, sacket/degraw, etc
Posted by: CG_ups at July 21, 2009 10:40 AM
Or one can always could carry a map.
So a nephew of mine just told me I look "big house pimpin'". Since The Death Star blocks the Urban Dictionary website, can somebody kindly tell me if I should be flattered or insulted?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 10:42 AM
Yes, M4L - decent story line!!! And how could you not just be taken back with beauty of Gong Li in that film (and yeah, in life in general - but the make up artists did a superb job).
It's interesting how Michelle Yeoh has also had success in Western films, whereas both Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi had not-so-hot crossover attempts.
Posted by: bupe at July 21, 2009 10:43 AM
MM, I love Design Star! I wonder how they chose between those two women who to send home. I did feel bad for her. I think they shouldn't eliminate anyone after the first challenge...it's too soon and you don't get to see what they can really do design wise.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:43 AM
Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi = my trifecta of beautiful Asian stars. I actually favour the more mature sensuality and defined look of Michelle Yeoh than Zhang Ziyi. Gong Li is a timeless beauty. Thanks for the images in my head!
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 10:45 AM
isn't the big house prison? so you look like a prison pimp? gotta see that look! post a photo so that we can judge for ourselves :)
Posted by: CG_ups at July 21, 2009 10:46 AM
Yellow fever is an incurable disease.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 10:48 AM
Biffy, carrying maps is sooooo 1999! LOL
I've never heard of Big House Pimpin and Urban Dictionary doesn't have a definition for it. Was he looking at a photo of you doing the 'standard prison pose?'
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:49 AM
CG ups, that's what I thought, i.e., does that imply that I look like someone who is supplying escorts to prisoners?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 10:50 AM
biff - have you been to mei dick barber in chinatown?
dh - here's my paul mccartney story: i was at the beach one summer and had to come back into the city for a late morning work meeting. i decided to take the bus (i don't drive) and walked to the stop early just in case. while i'm waiting a car drives to the parking lot behind the bus stop and i see a man get out to check on an empty car that was parked there already. the bus comes and drives past me! ugh. as i'm walking home pissed off the car that had been in the parking lot drives up slowly to my side and the window rolls down: "do you want a lift? i just saw that the bus didn't stop for you." it was paul mccartney. what a nice guy. tmi - he was wearing running shorts that split up the side showing way too much leg.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 10:50 AM
Nice, DIBS.
Posted by: bupe at July 21, 2009 10:52 AM
Chicken, Bruce was NOT an import. He is an ABC who started career in US then got big in Asia. Besides, when I referenced the imports, am referring to the more recent influx (ie along with the directors who are fairing much better - maybe us Chinaman are meant for behind the scenes). On Jackie Chan, he has been flopping 1 after the other. The only commercial success he had is due to Chris Tucker carrying him.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:53 AM
Is there another Brownstoner event in the works?
My cousin's husband was going to be a co-host on an HGTV show. They filmed a bunch of episodes and then it didn't air. Something about couples therapy through architecture.
Posted by: lechacal at July 21, 2009 10:56 AM
Winthropst, and that's how that story ended? finished it and embellish if there were any juicy details
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 10:57 AM
WOW Winthrop!! - what a great story. Did you accept?
That's really awesome, and it's good to hear Sir Paul is still down to earth dispite all his fame.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 10:58 AM
Okay, pretty stupid and nonsensical, but it has worked for me when visiting friends and looking at houses:
Prospect Park stirs the saint lying beneath your (ur) President's car.
(Prospect, Park, Sterling, St. Johns, Lincoln, Berkeley, Union, President, Carroll)
Posted by: Nokilissa at July 21, 2009 10:59 AM
Lechecal...HGTV had a similar show with the host Chase Dacoda...a couple who had wildly differing design styles would take a test and she would evaluate it and then design the room in such a way that both their requirements were fulfilled. It was a good premise, but every design she did was always more accomodating to the man's taste. I can't recall the name of the show.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 10:59 AM
"Biffy, carrying maps is sooooo 1999! LOL"
M4L, true. That was more for the old schoolers out there. I have Google Maps on my Crackberry, which is very handy. You can tell distances and plan routes (walking or car) from one place to another, see your location, etc.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 11:00 AM
This one was more along the lines of couples who had problems and the hosts would come in and figure out ways to change the house to make them happier couples. I got all of this over turkey at Thanksgiving in Vermont last year (he was traveling back and forth to LA to shoot episodes at the time) and wouldn't swear I have all the details right.
Posted by: lechacal at July 21, 2009 11:02 AM
m4l - no juicy details. he offered to drive me as far as possible to catch the bus. at this point i was so pissed that i asked for a ride home which was only 10 minutes away. we made small talk the whole time but i kept cool and never mentioned anything about him or his career. the only juicy thing is that he does have nice legs.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 11:02 AM
Oh, and I just thought of another couple of mneumonic sentences:
Prospect Park stirs Saint Lincoln (as in it stirs his soul)
Berkeley uses Political correctness.
Posted by: Nokilissa at July 21, 2009 11:06 AM
Interesting...home design to cure an ailing marriage? Wow! Maybe the show didn't work because at the end the couples still fought...just in more swank surroundings! Ha!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:08 AM
I seem to recall his co-host being somewhat reasonably well known.
Back to my original question: Is there another Brownstoner event in the works?
Posted by: lechacal at July 21, 2009 11:11 AM
Jumping in and then jumping out: Gargoyles carol, Presidents unify, Berzerkeley links, St. John's stirs, Park prospects, Bergen denies
Alternatively: Garbanzo compost precedes ubiquity but lingering St. John's stew partially produces backyard dung
Posted by: vinca at July 21, 2009 11:14 AM
Lechacal, did you know you missed 2-3 small gatherings recently?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 11:14 AM
party at my place?
Posted by: Return of Randolph at July 21, 2009 11:15 AM
snappy- didn't you think the two who did that g-dawful room with the astroturf should have been canned? Horrible design, awful choices (sorry- whoever spends 800$ for an astroturf area rug is a complete moron-) and showed absolutely no design cohesion of class.I was shocked they got a pass.
Agree on the Aubrey show- I wanted to just slap the wife too- it's not that she didn't understand what he was telling her. She only wanted to be right. In the end they sold for a little over what he told them they should- after one deal fell through. She was practically crowing that they got their price and then it fell through.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 11:16 AM
You guys are forgetting Montgomery Pl!!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 11:16 AM
I did not know that. I went to the gathering on Atlantic Ave early this year. I missed the recent gathering on Myrtle because I got a new project at around 6 pm that day and had to pull an all-nighter at work.
What about.... Brooklyn Inn? Or Clover Club?
Posted by: lechacal at July 21, 2009 11:17 AM
M4L, when I lived in Bed Stuy in the 80's and 90's, any drug or street crime in any part of Brooklyn was reported to have been in Bed Stuy, including crimes in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Brownsville, East New York and Bushwick. This was before anyone in the media had even heard of Crown Heights, so crimes here were in Bed Stuy, too.
Now that BS is "hot" and a new real estate mecca, all crime has now centered in Crown Heights, which, since the riots of 1990's is now the official crime capital of Brownstone Brooklyn. We got the "credit" for the police killings that took place in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, as well as anything that takes place in Prospect Hts, PLG, and Flatbush. Someday,as our property values rise, it will move on, probably to East New York.
It's really frustrating, as it would only take reporters a little bit of research to find out what neighborhood something takes place in. Perhaps if they were here more often, covering the good stuff that takes place here, they'd know where they were.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 11:20 AM
bxgrl - exactly! the wife was just sooo pleased with herself when they received an offer at 515K and she was sorta doing the "take that" speech to Sabrina.
Is Design Star the one with the blonde lady as the host/designer?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 11:20 AM
Wasn't there another show with an older guy who did the same thing with couples? It was really interesting to see how he got them to agree- and some of the couples looked ready to divorce if they didn't get their way.
Anyone watch Showdown before the designstar premier?
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 11:20 AM
the mmenonic devices are actually harder to remember than the streets themselves. :-/ come on people!! simple words, preferably dirty. no historical characters and people i've never heard of before lol
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 11:21 AM
"It's really frustrating, as it would only take reporters a little bit of research to find out what neighborhood something takes place in."
Well that rules out 99% of the reporters.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 11:23 AM
Bxgirl, absolutely! That astroturf room was a floor to ceiling disaster. Ok...I did like the random letters on the wall, but that was it. It was hard to tell where they spent their money besides that hideous astroturf. The other women should have gotten a pass because at least their design was nice and cohesive...they just didn't get to finish it. I personally think unfinished and glam is better than done and ugly!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:24 AM
Dirty. Okay. I'm on it.
Posted by: Nokilissa at July 21, 2009 11:32 AM
Hey everyone.
Design star. Love it. Both the astro turf rug and the harlequin floor people really bit it. I didn't feel bad for those girls. They didn't send the money wisely, They didn't arm themselves with the proper tools, the floor with the too tiny white blob rug was a disaster. Horrible.
I loved the astro turf guy though when he was being criticized. He was aghast that they didn't "get" his craptastic vision.
I'm also not loving the older lay on the living room team. She was very rude to pink geese guy. She's going to have to work hard to get me back.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 11:33 AM
Waiting for comment avalanche re the Bay Ridge house on the biggest sales thread....
Or maybe it just speaks for itself.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 11:34 AM
mm - how many police killings have happened in PLG? i've only been here since early last year and i only know of officer timoshenko.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 11:35 AM
The design show with the Blonde is on Bravo- Top Design with the fabulous India Hicks, Kelly Wearstler (who, little know fact posed for Playboy back in the day) and Jonathan Adler.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 11:36 AM
winthropst, that story was police shooting & killing someone.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 11:37 AM
Townhouse, I have to say, while Ms. Wearstler usually appears to be a block of ice with a frightening judging style, she is hot.
One could imagine her as one fierce dominatrix.
Posted by: Nokilissa at July 21, 2009 11:41 AM
THL, the guy with the craptastic vision reminds me so much of Perez Hilton that I just can't take it! I can tell already he'll be out. They never show you the 'negative' side to the folks who wind up in the final two and there are previews of him threatening to 'find' another contestant if he winds up getting eliminated because of him.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:42 AM
Well, if you look for Kelly's Playboy pics you have to do it under her maiden name Kelly Gallagher:
Kelly Gallagher
Miss September 1994
Playboy Playmate Pic and Data Sheet
BIRTHPLACE: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA
BUST: 34" C
WAIST: 24"
HIPS: 35"
HEIGHT: 5' 6"
WEIGHT: 105 lbs
AMBITIONS:
To own my own marvelous design and furnishings business.
TURN-ONS:
Fabulous, intense minds, honesty, huge smiles and a man with a colossal heart.
TURNOFFS:
Lack of communication, cruelty to animals, slackers, and bad design.
ROMANCING MY MAN:
Breakfast in the boudoir, a bit of physical activity, trip to the museum for some mental and visual stimulation, a nibble for two to satisfy the palate and a trip to the beach to see the sun set and the moon rise.
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF:
Swap meets, blended coffees, Nicholson Baker novels & good loving.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 11:42 AM
m4l - when did that happen? and where in PLG did it occur?
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 11:46 AM
THL- is top design on now? I haven't seen ads for it.
No- the astroturf room was totally unforgiveable. There was no planning, no realistic layout or functionality. It couldn't even decide what style it was supposed to be (the National Geographic idea was hysterical- completely unrealized unless he believed National Geographic was a magazine about football stadiums, hunting and scrapbooking.
the other two bit off more than they could chew but the ideas were there. I agree with you on the living room group- that guy was right about a punch of color. I still hated the geese (I think he did too but he made lemonade out of lemons). I thought his marlin idea would have been really great- the geese were too small and had to be spread out. Painting them hot pink made them work.
gemini- I know! What is it with people who ask for expert advice and then think they know so much better (I can't wait til she hits 35 and a teenager calls her "ma'am. She'll freak.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 11:50 AM
winthropst, think that story was in yesterday's links at the beginning of the day's page
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 11:50 AM
thl - i don't have tv so i haven't had a chance to watch that design show. but knowing their work in print and in person - i think kelly wearstler, india hicks and jonathan adler have to be 3 of the most overrated people out there. the work is highly lacking in person. they're telegenic though so that helps them rise to the top.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 11:50 AM
snappy- unfortunately they usually keep the most obnoxious guys till the end because viewers seem to love hating them. So people with real talent get knocked of so they can keep the drama queens.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 11:52 AM
Would it surprise anyone if I said I liked Vern Yip? He has put on a little weight lately though.
Frankly they never give enough camera time to all the hot latin guys doing the manual labor in the yard scenes.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 11:53 AM
So if they're overrated who then is at the top of your list?
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 11:53 AM
"unless he believed National Geographic was a magazine about football stadiums, hunting and scrapbooking."
ROFL!!!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:54 AM
winthopst- i like India Hicks but agree for the most part. Jonathan Adler is derivative- although i like his stuff, as someone else pointed out on the Adler thread, Peter Voulkos he ain't.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 11:54 AM
I like Vern's designs...though I liked his work more on Trading Spaces than what he does now on Deserving Design. I'm super glad they replaced those other two judges. I absolutely adore Candice Olsen. Genevieve I kinda like, but not really love. While she's not on Vern and Candice's level, I still think she's more qualified to judge this than those last two ladies they had.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:58 AM
Oh, wait...Dave, you were talking about 'liking' Vern as in you're warm for his form, not necessarily that you like his designs! Silly me!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 11:59 AM
Right, Snappy. Frankly I've never seen much on HGTV as far as interior design that looks very professional or exciting. I suspect a lot of that has to do with time & budget constraints.
I've seen some nice yard work though.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:03 PM
The Timoshenko killing is the PLG crime I was referring to. For days, the reporters were calling the location Crown Heights, although it was south of Empire Blvd. It was a heinous crime regardless of location, I guess it sounds much worse, or more expected, for such things to happen in Crown Heights, rather than in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, a neighborhood most people outside of Brooklyn are not familiar with.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 12:04 PM
DIBS, looks like your Saraghina ROTD suggestion to Jon got deleted, ignored, etc. cause it's been a long time and we've are seeing others make the ROTD
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 12:05 PM
"snappy- unfortunately they usually keep the most obnoxious guys till the end because viewers seem to love hating them. So people with real talent get knocked of so they can keep the drama queens."
Agreed. They kept Eddie Ross on forever even though he was pitching hissy fits.
As far as the new judges go. I like the switch up. I certainly won't miss Martha McCully or Cynthia Rowley.
I respect India, Jonathan and Kelly. Will I defend or like EVERYTHING they do? No. I do think each has a specific aesthetic and they are true to it.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 12:08 PM
m4l, i thought it'd make Streetview before ROTD. It's probably too soon for ROTD reviews.
besides, Jon asked for a pic of it and they haven't done anything with it.
I think this is a perfect example of how brownstoner incites race/class warfare. If this were in brooklyn Heights or Clinton Hill there'd be a lot more publicity.
I want all you Asshats to agree with me that this is race/class warfare.
The rest of you are on mute.
Someday saraghina's gonna get a pic on here......
DIBS :)
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:09 PM
"DIBS, looks like your Saraghina ROTD suggestion to Jon got deleted, ignored, etc. cause it's been a long time and we've are seeing others make the ROTD"
I think Kara did a lot of research back when she asked for suggestions, and is finishing them up now. Lots of good, newer places haven't made the ROTD cut in the past few weeks.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 12:09 PM
Maybe Jon's picture of Saraghina had DIBS in it and Jon is trying to spare DIBS the pain of having everyone comment on it. Then again, DIBS posted that '70s pic, so clearly he's not worried about taking abuse.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 12:09 PM
ok- went to Pearle yesterday to get new glasses. In a moment of supreme humiliation I found out my left eye is 20/50- my right is 20/400. This explains everything. But I have to say I have never had such a detailed and thorough eye exam (he loved me- said my prescription was a "challenge.") He even adjusted the reading glasses so that the focal length was good for computer work- which I do most of. Wasn't cheap but I really need them. Jeesh- 20/400. :-(
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 12:11 PM
bxgrl...there is a big difference between getting a profesional exam and one at a place like lenscrafters. Additionally, and even more importantly, the lenses get ground correctly by a professional optician and not some tech at a place like Lenscrafters.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:16 PM
Does Pearle still do glasses in an hour? Or is that just LensCrafters now? I need to update my prescription but I'm can't go without my peepers for more than a few minutes.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 12:16 PM
mm - thanks for clarifying that. i had thought when you said killings there were more incidents i hadn't heard of.
m4l - i couldn't find the article you mentioned in yesterday's links
thl - i don't work in the architecture/interior design/industrial design industries so i don't have a list to give you off the top of my head. i do know that tony duquette is a favorite and it would be a dream to visit the dawnridge house. i know as a consumer that jonathan adler's work is disappointing in person and kelly wearstler's hotels (i've visited 2 and stayed in one) are best in photos to be polite about it. i take india hicks off that condemnation list as i don't think i've seen her work in person so i can't fairly judge.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 12:17 PM
I took the picture, Biff. I was trying to get some hot guys in it from the neighborhood but alas, it will be "booty free"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:18 PM
India Hick's father, David, was one of the kings of British design. She'd old money, related to royalty, and is one of the poster children for the Ralph Lauren patrician, horsey, home in the Caribbean, WASPY blonde ideal that he loves. She used to work for Ralph, actually. In spite of all that, I like her, she still seems very down to earth, and had an empathy for the contestants. I liked her as host of Top Design. I was not all that fond of Jonathan Adler, and personally don't like his products, although I am green with envy at his success. I kinda liked Kelly's chutzpah in wearing things no one should ever go outside in, but was not a big fan of her Hollywood glam aesthetic. And the editor of Elle Decor could be a little unsympathetic to the demands of the challeges. I would not have picked the guy who won last time, I thought the runner up was better, for lots of reasons, including being a nicer person.
Design Star seems to cater to a younger audience, and goes for the bitchy queen fights (although so does Top Design) over talent. Still, both are fun to watch. I've fantasized how I would act if I was on either one, and I'd probably get eliminated somewhere towards the end, as I get along pretty well with people, have some talent, but do not have the killer instinct necessary to push people into oncoming traffic in order to win.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 12:22 PM
We definitely agree on Duquette! I adore him.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 12:27 PM
I was always surprised at how people ripped each other apart on camera- what were they thinking. I agree with MM over last year's winner- he showed some real brilliance but he wasn't as consistent as the really sweet (and gorgeous) guy who he beat out, and who always created a beautiful, liveable room. The problem I see with a lot of these shows is that they go for the visuals- not the liveability.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 12:29 PM
bxgirl my last eye exam they claimed that each eye is a different prescription. i was like uh no they aren't seriously. he insisted. now i have to order two boxes of contacts everytime instead of just one (i swear it's a scam). anyway, of course happens!? my left eye prescription is totally off!!! when i put my right eye's in either eye i see perfectly. grrrrr. i went to a rinky dink shop on broadway in soho called Eyes on Broadway. i should have just gone someplace better.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 12:33 PM
thl - friends of mine have shot in tony duquette's house and say pictures don't even begin to describe the experience. i realize now i have been to an india hicks interior - the hotel in harbour island. it was nice but not sublime.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 12:35 PM
gemini...I'm eating just about the worst Chinese food I've ever had from that place on the NW corner of Madison & 54th...and it was outrageously expensive.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:43 PM
i have a question about wood staining. this weekend i sanded and stained a tree and a wooden table. the branch is fine but the table, which i did on sunday is still wet. do you have to rub excess stain off? i didnt want to rub it because i wanted it to remain dark like it is now. is it too late to rub it? it's still wet and now i think there is a layer of dust in the stain. if i rub it with a towel will it ruin it? ugh. it was such a nice table too. :(
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 12:47 PM
rob, Same thing happened to me when I first needed glasses, except one eye needed no prescription at all. My eye doctor suggested I get a monocle, but I didn't want to look like Colonel Klink.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 12:48 PM
You can rub it off and then resand and restain. Make it darker by adding successive layers but rub it off each time.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:50 PM
quote:
My eye doctor suggested I get a monocle,
HahAHHAHAhahHAh
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 12:51 PM
ah thanks dave. i didnt know you HAD to rub the excess off. ugh but i think it turned into like a (dare i say) lubey type of consistency on the table. hopefully i can fix this mess.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 12:53 PM
rob- try Pearle- like I said, they do a careful thorough exam. He told me my previous pair o glasses weren't powerful enough so the left eye did all the work and my eyesight was not corrected by the glasses to be balanced. So I was getting headaches and eyestrain. I got one pair of reading glasses and one pair of progressives since the right eye needs correction for both near and far. (yes- I'm an eye freak!!! Waaahhhh!!!)
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 12:54 PM
Regarding today's mnemonics discussion: st marks has been left out. Here's mine:
Garfield cuddled (carroll) the president's uvula (union) briefly (berkeley), licked (lincoln) st john swiftly (sterling) and prodded (park) and pushed (prospect) st marks bulging (bergen) derrier (dean)
Posted by: Troy McClure at July 21, 2009 12:54 PM
rob, I've refinished some furniture and always wiped off the excess stain with a rag after applying each coat (one of the only things I learned in Wood Shop). Try wiping off the excess now, and it may look fine. If not, re-stain it.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 12:54 PM
rob- what kind of stain did you use? And humid weather can make stain take a long time to dry. The branch may have been more porous and absorbed more of the stain to dry faster.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 12:55 PM
Garfield cuddled (carroll) the president's uvula (union) briefly (berkeley), licked (lincoln) st john swiftly (sterling) and prodded (park) and pushed (prospect) st marks bulging (bergen) derrier (dean)
Posted by: Troy McClure at July 21, 2009 12:54 PM
Now THAT'S a mneumonic device!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 12:57 PM
rob - advice given so far on wood staining is right. you can also go to downtown floor supplies on lafayette just north of bleecker for more advice. they're super nice there and most of the guys there are cute in a guido way.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 12:59 PM
Not an eye freak, bxgrl! That was exactly my problem when I first needed glasses - I was getting bad headaches, and it turns out right eye had been compensating for left eye and couldn't do it anymore. Now they're both bad, and I think progressives are next in line for me.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 12:59 PM
Totally off topic but..........
Is anyone seeing the TV on the Radio show in Prospect Park in a few weeks?
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:01 PM
"cute in a guido way" - Now I may have to find a reason to go to downtown floor supplies.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 1:01 PM
Dibs - was it something named Chens or something like that
I don't eat Chinese food so I wouldn't know what is good up here. However, I suspect I would like "real Chinese" food though and not the stuff they serve us "Go Kei" or whatever the Chinese call Ghosts! hahahaha
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 1:03 PM
So many things to address, so little time:
*Rob, the key to living in a crack house is make sure there are some crack-addicted people around who will clean all day in the hopes of getting some free crack.
*Damn, already forgot No. 2.
*I love Kelly Wearstler. Great line "Nicholson Baker novels & good loving." Ha ha ha.
Posted by: mopar at July 21, 2009 1:04 PM
hahah thanks for the suggestions. yeah the branch was def. pourous and i did rub the excess off the branch because i wanted it lighter (i got a super dark stain to begin with). but with the table, it had a sheen on it originally that i sanded off but after applying the dark stain i never wipe it off. now it looks kinda goopy in places on top, but not terrible. ill try and wipe it off when i get home. any suggestions what to wipe it off with? i used a regular bath towel to wipe the excess off the branch. but i dont want to get fuzzies from the towels stuck in the goop on the table. but i guess i could always resand and start over. i only did the top of the table and not the legs so it looks stupid just based on that. hahaha. people like me should not be allowed to watch hgtv lol
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 21, 2009 1:06 PM
rob, I used either rags made from old sheets or chamois cloth, neither of which left "fuzzies"
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 1:09 PM
DH: that's a paid show right?
have to admit - I do not dig them!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 1:09 PM
No demini, it was the Smilers place, the corner bodega with the hot & cold buffet lines....ABSOLUTELY awful. From now on I order from the real places...Grand Szechuan on 2nd Ave and Our Place Shanghai on 55th...both of those are really excellent.
This Smilers place is off my list for anything now. Also, they were charging $2.50 for a quart of milk which I believe is above the legal price.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:11 PM
If its an oil base stain you could use a dish towel (which will be ruined by its sacrifice)and you could dip it in whatever thinner they recommend for the stain (look on the back). Just use small amounts until you get the worst of the gloppy stuff off. Let it dry and then decide if you want to put on another coat or what. But don't slather on the stain- thin coats are better than one thick coat. And I know this how, you ask? Because I never take my own good advice :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 1:12 PM
dave - is phoenix garden still in midtown east? i remember when it was in that alleyway in chinatown. yum. making a puttanesca sauce and polenta for lunch right now. yum.
carrollgardened - the "guido" boys at downtown flooring supplies seem to be all straight.
mopar - agreed on crackheads. they are always hoovering the floor looking for lost bits.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:12 PM
Gem -
Ya it's 30 bucks.
I agree - I can't believe how big they've blown up (Album of the year in Rolling stone!?!) - and they are definitely not good live either.
Figured I would support the boys from the nabe - and enjoy the PP Bandshell (which is an amazing venue)
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:14 PM
I love puttanesca sauce. And the apocryphal story behind its origin.
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 1:18 PM
dh - have you been to the friday night music events at the whitney? pay-as-you-wish on friday nights for museum entry and the concert is free once you're in. i haven't gone yet but it looks promising...
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:19 PM
No Winthrop - I haven't, but that sounds like a fun time. Is it every Friday, or just a couple times a month like those parties at the Met?
I've been trying to find cheap things to do around the city this summer, as the McCarren Pool parties were rudely taken away.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:22 PM
Dibs:
OH SMILERS!- well I wouldn't classify them as being Chinese ( maybe owned by Chinese) but yes really $$ - some of the items in that salad bar are ok - like the fresh fruit,veggies and grilled chicken. but it's soooo $$$ in there! Great Japanese is on 56th street right near 5th avenue heading towards 6th on the south side of the block called "Sushiya" - we all order from them A LOT!
however if you want authentic Japanese that is frequented by Japanese people mainly there's a tiny hole in the wall all the way down on 56th street really close to 6th avenue on the south side of the block next to the Flower shop
DH:
yeah I mean really? really? album of the year - come on!
I just find the lead singer to be sorta ughmo looking -omg am soooo mean!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 1:23 PM
rob, I have an old sheet if you want it, but it's covered with dog hair at the moment so you'd have to wash it before you could use it
DIBS, I tried Smiler's a couple of times in years past, and that was more than enough
Winthrop, isn't that always the case?
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 1:24 PM
Dibs - no "u" in mnemonic.
Rob - You can use a sheet or pillow case dipped in a bit of the stain to loosen the stuff that's kind of jelled up if you don't have solvent.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 1:24 PM
Looks like Kelly Gallagher had some retro bush going back in the day.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 1:25 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Oops, did I just say that out loud?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 1:25 PM
"Dibs - no "u" in mnemonic."
Maybe he was thinking of "pneumonic".
Who pneu?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 1:28 PM
I may have been thinking of pneumatic.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:32 PM
dh - the whitney museum concerts are part of the dan graham show which is quite good. "Throughout July, the Whitney Museum is accompanying "Dan Graham: Beyond" with Friday concerts (free with the price of admission) by contemporary bands descended from the punk and grunge bands Graham inspired in the 1970s and '80s.
Many of them have New Jersey roots, either literal or cultural. And since the Whitney has free admission Fridays from 6-9 p.m., if you wait until an hour before the 7 p.m. curtain, the concerts can be free. But be quick -- seating in the lower galleries will be first come."
there's a free concert at coney island on august 13 with blondie, pat benatar and the donnas. thursday night so you can call in sick on friday.
and teena marie is playing at wingate field for free on august 10.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:33 PM
Or neurotic.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 1:35 PM
"I may have been thinking of pneumatic."
Definition #3?
Main Entry: pneu·mat·ic
Pronunciation: \nu̇-ˈma-tik, nyu̇-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin pneumaticus, from Greek pneumatikos, from pneumat-, pneuma air, breath, spirit, from pnein to breathe — more at sneeze
Date: 1659
1: of, relating to, or using gas (as air or wind): a: moved or worked by air pressure b (1): adapted for holding or inflated with compressed air (2): having air-filled cavities
2: of or relating to the pneuma : spiritual
3: having a well-proportioned feminine figure ; especially : having a full bust
— pneu·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— pneu·ma·tic·i·ty \ˌnü-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, ˌnyü-\ noun
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 1:36 PM
woah - thanks for the heads up winthrop - the whitney shows sound great.
and blondie and pat benetar!? awesome!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:37 PM
Gem
Any bands/groups you feelin now that are under the radar?
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:38 PM
I'll use "pneumatic" in a sentence: Biff used his pneumatic pump to fill his blowup doll while Mrs. Champion was on holiday for the Summer.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:43 PM
While Dibs used *his* pneumatic pump to blow up his Magnums.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 1:44 PM
DH - am feeling The Avett Brothers. I love Fleet Foxes - but they are sorta out. I love Minus the Bear and I dig Mew. unfortunately there really isn't anyone in Hiphop that I like right now. It's sooo boring. It's like JayZ is the only one putting forth solid good music
Who do you like?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 1:45 PM
Arkady, those Magnums get put to good use by a few of the bfs. No need to use them for purposes for which they were not intended.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:47 PM
Gem
I've been listening to the same ol sh*t for the past few weeks - MGMT, The Cool Kids and Sigur Ros. I'm tired of them and need something new!!
The Cool Kids are pretty decent as far as hip hop you may not have heard before.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:49 PM
dittoburg - puttanesca sauce turned out great. also made fried zucchini. i was winging it since the ex who i don't speak to anymore has the recipe i used to make it from. crucial ingredient: salted jumbo caper berries. and yes i love the story behind it's name
carrollgardened - yeah i'm always attracted to the straight ones too. or at least a fag who can do wiring and plumbing.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:50 PM
ooh - listening to fleet foxes now , very cool!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 1:52 PM
carrollgardened - yeah i'm always attracted to the straight ones too. or at least a fag who can do wiring and plumbing.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:50 PM
Come on over and I'll show you the ins and outs of a 4 way switch or the basics of a sweated Y connection.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:52 PM
What's the story behind puttanesca?
Posted by: bxgrl at July 21, 2009 1:53 PM
DH - I LOVE the FLEEEEEEETS - I mean how cool are they? Their sound is really different
Check out Avett Brothers too - Their newest single "I and Love And You" has Brooklyn all over it! - haha
MGMT is cool- but am over them. nice boys those two are though - I can vouch for that
Ok I will check Cool Kids - brb!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 1:55 PM
"putta" means whore...it's what the whores in Italy ate after a long night plying their trade. It's a cheap dish...but very good.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 1:56 PM
I'm with you DH. I'm kinda tired of what I have in the Pod right now but can't find anything new that I'm liking.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 1:56 PM
dave - i didn't know you had it in you...
bxgrl - puttanesca sauce is easy to make and doesn't take much time. it's called that way because the "puta" in old italian lore could make it in the same time while she was with her client.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 1:59 PM
"I'll use "pneumatic" in a sentence: Biff used his pneumatic pump to fill his blowup doll while Mrs. Champion was on holiday for the Summer."
DIBS, do you know where I can find a blowup doll that's made in China?
Seems G10 and DH aren't the only ones talking about vinyl today.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 1:59 PM
Cool Kids are fun
I see what they are trying to do!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 2:00 PM
Joining gem and DH's music convo.
Great stuff coming from mineapolis. Toki wright is new and pretty good. Brother ali is one of my favorite rappers, not new, but not too folks know him. There's also atmosphere, which is better known in underground hihop. A somewhat new female mc I just found is Tiye Phoenix (she's great).
Posted by: Troy McClure at July 21, 2009 2:00 PM
"I've been listening to the same ol sh*t for the past few weeks"
Oy, the kids today with their ADD and limited attention spans. I've been listening to the same music for 30 years.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:01 PM
LOL, DIBS. Winthrop, my friends tease me about my attraction to wedding bands.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 2:01 PM
winthropst...you've never seen my work room and my tools in the basement!!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:01 PM
I have to admit that 9 times out of 10 when I go on Itunes and buy songs, the songs are at least 20 years old. I think I'm too old to be keeping up with 'what's hot'. :-( I'll go back to my corner and continue aging (my b-day is next month as well...argh)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:05 PM
Troy
am listening now to Toki Wright - so far production is tight!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 2:05 PM
Winthrop, I love jumbo caper berries. Salted. I'm thinking of replacing the capers in my picatta with them.
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 2:05 PM
Whoa...my math is off...my music purchases are actually at least 30 years old!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:06 PM
yo la tengo JUST emailed me that their new CD is coming out on Sept 8th. It will be good addition for your iPod THL!
speaking of music, is it rude of my co-worker to subject me to her terrible taste in music? I've asked her several times to keep it down or, better yet, to wear headphones but she fancies herself "DJ to the row".
Posted by: herkimermaid at July 21, 2009 2:06 PM
carrollgardened - when i used to wear a wedding ring in a previous ltr i noticed that more dudes/chicks would hit on me on the subway. my theory was that people find you more attractive because you are nsa. no dates afterward. just a quick f*ck.
dave - work tools, fruit trees - what else is on your resume? jk...
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 2:06 PM
Awesome Troy - thanks, I'll put them on my list! It seems all the interesting new stuff is coming out of other cities nowadays - come on NYC, represent!
I took a MGMT break after last year's free show, but saw them a few weeks back and those damn catchy tunes are back in my head - damnit! Good to hear they aren't DBs.
Listening to "I and Love And You" right now - very cool!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:07 PM
"winthropst...you've never seen my work room and my tools in the basement!!!! "
1) Are wood restrains and leather straps considered tools?
"winthropst...you've never seen my work room and my tools in the basement!!!! "
2) You've never seen my workplace and the tools in my office!!!!
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:07 PM
"Winthrop, I love jumbo caper berries."
What kind of music do they play?
"speaking of music, is it rude of my co-worker to subject me to her terrible taste in music?"
One persons terrible taste in music is my album collection
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:09 PM
I've also been listening to the same old Vampire Weekend CD lately - it's like summer 2008 all over again.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:10 PM
Herki...if she doesn't turn it down after a few requests, she could perhaps show up to work one day and find the cord cut on her 'dj equipment'!!! J/K! Seriously, tell her in a nice but very firm way that you don't want to hear it and to either shut it off or get earphones.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:10 PM
sounds like some of you guys are into woody working.
Posted by: herkimermaid at July 21, 2009 2:11 PM
It's very rude! If playing nice won't work I'd up the anti herimermaid. Get a LaToya Jackson, a Debbie Gibson, and a Gerado CD and loop them.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 2:11 PM
Herk - Snappy's right. If it doesn't work, turn up your own audio.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 2:12 PM
dittoburg - where in bklyn can i get jumbo salted caper berries? i used to get them at dean & deluca back in the day. but they're a fortune there. this time i had to use some from a jar.
biff - i'm speechless...
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 2:12 PM
""speaking of music, is it rude of my co-worker to subject me to her terrible taste in music?"
all of my coworkers play their headphones too loud. so at least 3x a day i get to hear the beyonce "single ladies" garbage all muffled.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:12 PM
A workplace is not a workplace if someone is playing music in an office setting.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:14 PM
Michael Wong a good actor?! LOL. He is the king of the C movie in Hong Kong, and always laughingly bad. Plus his Cantonese is hysterical.
But people appreciate him because he works so hard (at any given time it seems like one of his movies is always playing on Hong Kong cable TV.) He's also a very nice, humble guy. I have seen him a number of times around Hong Kong, just hanging out.
I think the reason why Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li never made it as crossover stars (while Joan Chen and Michelle Yeoh did) is all because of English. Yun-fat's English just doesn't cut it, and Gong Li is also not good. But Michelle is from Malaysia and she grew up speaking English.
Tony Leung Chiu Wai (from the Wong kar-wai films) speaks okay English, but i don't think he's interested in crossing over. I ran into Tony a few months ago while hiking on the Peak! He is all bulked up now with muscle for a new martial arts flick and I hardly recognized him.
Posted by: WonTon at July 21, 2009 2:15 PM
Winth - Sahadi's used to have them - haven't been there lately. Also International on 7th in the Slope.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 2:15 PM
I know how uptight it must sound but it's just such terrible crap (a la Debbie Gibson) and no one else seems to mind! I feel like i'm in some sort of weird parallel universe where everything I thought I knew about manners and good taste is the exact opposite.
Posted by: herkimermaid at July 21, 2009 2:17 PM
Biff and Snappy, I've also been listening to the same music for 30 years, but, to my surprise I've discovered some new music on iTunes that I really love - Coldplay, Matchbox Twenty, Plain White T's.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 2:17 PM
Dibs -not in my biz!
hahaha - come down my hall and there are all sorts of music blasting from offices and cubicles
it's actually kinda tough to hold a phone conversation some days
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 2:18 PM
You really shouldn't play music unless you have a private office.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 2:20 PM
arkady - thanks! i'll look for it next time i'm at sahadi's
wonton - i unsuccessfully googled tony leung to see if there would be pics of his new physique. when is this new martial arts movie coming out? drool.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 2:20 PM
Tony Leung has always been hot!!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:21 PM
DH my heart goes out to you though I have to suffer through that "I kissed a girl" song which makes me utterly cringe. It's not even muffled. You can hear every word. eeew. You know she wrote that (rather someone wrote it for her) just to get a top 40 hit.
Snappy can I borrow your wire snips?
oops work beckons. trying not to get fired...
Posted by: herkimermaid at July 21, 2009 2:22 PM
thanks all, I feel slightly closer to reality.
Posted by: herkimermaid at July 21, 2009 2:23 PM
Herki...I've got several wire snips and even a pair of heavy duty bolt cutters you can borrow if you please :)
THL, Gerardo???? LOL...now there's a name I haven't heard in forever!!!
CarGar...I love Coldplay and Matchbox 20 as well, but my heart lies with the old stuff. I do have that one Plain White T's song, Hey There Delilah. I loved the story behind it.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:30 PM
I've got a private office but I still make sure the music is barely audible even when you are in my office. I'd hate for anyone to be put out by my music. Although who wouldn't love classic rock in the morning and R&B mixed in with Wendy Williams' foolishness in the pm? LOL
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:32 PM
haha herkimer - that song is craptastic.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:34 PM
"A workplace is not a workplace if someone is playing music in an office setting."
DIBS, but it IS a workplace if someone is surfing asiantwinks.com?
"You really shouldn't play music unless you have a private office."
I have a private office and don't usually listen to music.
However, I do other things that would disturb people if they were around.
CGar, I love those bands too, but even they are probably considered very old school for DH and G10.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:34 PM
So to recap:
Beyonce = bad?
Jay Z = good?
Who do you think is uglier, Lil Wayne or JayZ?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:37 PM
haha very funny Biff - I like Coldplay (the 1st and 2nd album), but their new stuff doesn't do it for me. They're trying too hard to be U2.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:38 PM
"DIBS, but it IS a workplace if someone is surfing asiantwinks.com?"
ROFLMAO!!!! Davey boy, you gotta admit that was gold baby!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:39 PM
Lil Wayne is vomit-inducing ugly. Jay-Z at least has nice lips...now if I could find a woman with lips like that....
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:40 PM
Biff, I'm not interested in asian twinks. I'm usually on www.asianhunks.blogspot.com. Because it's a blogspot it'll probably get through your filters at the death Star. have a look....
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:40 PM
Lil Wayne ewwwwww
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 2:40 PM
dirty hipster
U2 does a great version of Dancing Barefoot, the Patti Smith song. check it on Youtube. They've done some excellent covers over the years.
WonTon
what do you think of the actor Russell Wong?
Posted by: Legion at July 21, 2009 2:41 PM
The What is right. Dave IS racist.
He won't give white guys any play at all!!
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 2:42 PM
"I like Coldplay (the 1st and 2nd album), but their new stuff doesn't do it for me. They're trying too hard to be U2."
And U2's trying to hard to remain relevant. They've really jumped the shark so far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 2:44 PM
Here's the latest on Tony Leung--video and pix. He messed up his left arm training for the movie, and has to rest for a couple of weeks. The Chinese language papparazzi are all over the story, of course...
http://tinyurl.com/naod6d
Posted by: WonTon at July 21, 2009 2:44 PM
Does Lil Wayne have any redeeming qualities? He is so terrible.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 2:47 PM
According to Parent Dish, if you are named Alec, Ernest, Garland, Ivan, Kareem, Luke, Malcom, Preston, Tyrell, and Walter you are more likely to wind up in jail.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:47 PM
He's gotten a lot older since my days in Hong Kong.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:47 PM
You have too, dibs!
But I think he's gotten to be a much better actor as he's matured.
Posted by: WonTon at July 21, 2009 2:50 PM
Lil Wayne will never have any redeeming qualities so long as he refuses to let go of the bottle of 'syrup'.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:51 PM
Legion, in answer to your question, I think that Michael Wong is a better actor than his brother.
Posted by: WonTon at July 21, 2009 2:52 PM
"According to Parent Dish, if you are named Alec, Ernest, Garland, Ivan, Kareem, Luke, Malcom, Preston, Tyrell, and Walter you are more likely to wind up in jail."
I think any parent who names his or her son Garland should wind up in jail.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 2:53 PM
I've taken to using artificial Garland around my front door.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:56 PM
Biff, I'm willing to bet any Garlands out there are Garland Jr.s! Perhaps father and son will commit crimes together and go to the pokey as a pair :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 2:57 PM
"I've taken to using artificial Garland around my front door."
DIBS, do you place it somewhere over the rainbow (flag)?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 3:02 PM
It's called "Garlandrification"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:08 PM
ok Lil Wayne needs a chin implant and someone to tell him all those facial tatoos won't look so good when he's older!
I actually admire him in a weird way. I fear he sorta ruined hip hop this year with the abuse of Autotune - but I digress
if you know hip hop - the guy has been around for like 10 years now and has always been a successful addition to many hip hop songs
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 3:08 PM
wonton - thanks for the tony leung link. i realize he looks like one of my uncles.
dave - maybe garland can be your roomie in prison. so when you drop the bar of soap in the showers he'll have your back.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 3:08 PM
I can also use it as a kind of Christmas boa as well.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:09 PM
A workplace is not a workplace if someone is playing music in an office setting.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 2:14 PM
Try telling that to the production elves at my place who play Sesame tunes over and over and over again. Thank god we're done with Barney so that I don't have nightmares of "I love you" song at nights anymore.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 3:11 PM
DIBS, a belated thought on a midtown grocery store for meat, fish, etc. to take home > you can take a leisurely stroll over to Whole Foods on Columbus Circle on your way home, and then grab the A/C at Columbus Circle.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 3:12 PM
WonTon, Tony (in those pics) looks marginally bigger than his usual slight built self. did he look bigger in person? He's legit actor whom I view is Asia version of Johnny Depp
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:14 PM
Thanks, CGar. I may also occasionally go to the Food Emporium under the 59th St bridge at lunchtime.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:16 PM
carrollgardened and dave - if you go to whole foods then you can also pick up pastries and caviar at petrossian on the way over.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 3:18 PM
"if you know hip hop..."
Pretty much eliminated me from that discussion.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 3:20 PM
Biff, I'm super disappointed Mr Joist wasn't serious on his $10k bet cause I was super serious and was hoping to up the wager to $50k. The odds on that was much better than investing in stks, bonds, etc.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:20 PM
Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of the same thing as Kobe bryant in a Lake Tahoe hotel room.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:20 PM
Mopar- This email just landed in my inbox. 34 cucumber recipes from Martha Stewart.
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/cucumber-recipes?xsc=eml_edf_2009_07_21
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 3:22 PM
DIBS, for real? the reigning Super Bowl MVP that my g-men passed up for Eli?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:22 PM
Gem, what's Autotune?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:22 PM
Winthrop, I'm unapologetically a Whole Foods fan - I became a convert when I lived in Boston for a year, and I began buying the store brand of organic dog food during the 2007 pet food recall. After the crisis passed, my very spoiled dog refused to go back to eating Alpo, which is actually more expensive than Whole Foods organic.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 3:24 PM
Yes, m4l, just saw the story come across.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:27 PM
here's some more on cucumbers, THL.....
http://www.runningpage.com/drears/humor/beer.html
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:28 PM
"carrollgardened and dave - if you go to whole foods then you can also pick up pastries and caviar at petrossian on the way over."
And if you throw out the leftover pastries, make sure you keep them in the box and place them delicately on top of the garbage in case you get hungry later.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 3:29 PM
Actually, Garland has been made popular by gay male couples who name their kids after Judy.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 3:29 PM
It's a device used in the recording industry that automatically corrects the singers pitch. It's become popular but it makes everyone sound robotic.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 3:32 PM
Snappy - Auttone seems to have run rampant as the most used musical addition since an 808 drum
meaning - peeps like Lil Wayne,T-Pain,Jaime Fox all use autotune now and it's annoying
it was cool when one of them used it now they all do
Roger Troutman was the first one to use it on "Computer Love" back in the 80's
Jay-Z's latest single is called DOA
"Death of Autotune" - check the Vid out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z13AjI8n4I
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 3:33 PM
"Gem, what's Autotune?"
I assume Autotune is that thing that distorts lil wayne's vocals when he's doing that sing songy crap he calls hip hop.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 3:34 PM
I'm sure Liza must have had a gay husband somewhere along the way named Garland.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:34 PM
The early version was the vocoder- Think Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion and even Dre and Tupac's California Love.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 3:36 PM
OMG, THL, 34 cucumber recipes. And each on a different page. Talk about trying to juice your page views.
I'm sure you will all be on the edge of your seats to know I managed to use all the 12 zucchinis last night in one dish!
I should invite you all to a cocktail party with cucumber drinks, according to Martha.
Posted by: mopar at July 21, 2009 3:36 PM
Oh...the voice distorter...never knew it had a technical name! Duh! Ok...going back to my corner and age some more!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:37 PM
M4L, what was Mr. Joist betting on?
Posted by: mopar at July 21, 2009 3:37 PM
What did you make???
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 3:38 PM
mopar - did you have 24 guests?
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 3:38 PM
The Original Autotune song from Roger Troutman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do3EE84JdUU
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 3:38 PM
I've had some kind of cucumber alcohol drink (it was featured in the NYT a few years ago) can't recall the name, might have been The Cuke, it was damned good.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:39 PM
Might have been a cucumber mojito. Not sure.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:39 PM
"going back to my corner and age some more!"
Don't worry, autotune makes me think of Peter Frampton, and I think you and I must be roughly the same age.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 3:40 PM
Wasn't it Peter Frampton who said his voice sounded like "geese farting in the wind?"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:42 PM
I wonder how he discovered what that sounded like in order to make the comparison.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 3:44 PM
Mopar, in the biggest sales thread, Mr Joist offer to accept up to $10k worth of bets that no house (excl shells) will be sold for less than $1M within the next ten yrs
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:44 PM
"Do you, you....feel like I do" LOVE FRAMPTON!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:45 PM
Some of the Pimm's recipes use cukes - #1 & #3 I think.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 3:45 PM
Mopar, in park slope (north of 9th st, btwn 5th & 7th ave)
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:46 PM
Etson, you look so young though! How old are you?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:46 PM
"Might have been a cucumber mojito. Not sure."
sounds like a southside cocktail - cucumber and mint - but with a gin base rathen than rum.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 3:46 PM
i made chilled cucumber yogurt dill soup for the first time this week. nom.
mopar - did you make zucchini bread loaves? nom.nom.nom.
cargar - i used to live near that whole paycheck at columbus circle but never liked it because of the crowds buying takeout for picnics in the park. the trick is if you're not buying anything that needs to be weighed then go to the coffee cashier and buy one item from them so you can pay for everything there to avoid the lines. i loved the gristedes on cpw.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 3:47 PM
So I think every day I will post my trials and tribulations in regards to finding a rental apt in Park Slope:
So far I emailed 4 different brokers yesterday afternoon(all from different agencies- Corcoran,Prudential,Warren Lewis and Ideal) inquiring about some of the apartments listed on their respective websites.
Do you know the only person who got back to me was the broker from Ideal. However, am still waiting for her to reply back with some more listings....
So 4 for 4!!! - Craiglist is a friggin mess - I can't even deal. How will I find an apt at this rate?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 3:48 PM
O.k. I was just checking out DListed and he had the funniest post. He wrote this:
SPOILER ALERT! This is the ending from a 1987 movie called Student Confidential which has been titled "THE WORST ENDING EVER." It co-stars Marlon Jackson, so you know it's good sh8t. In the clip, the battered dude in the turtleneck gives some short speech about "inordinate amounts of money" before taking Marlon's hands. Then they stare at each other for a really long time. Marlon just smiles while I think the other dude passes a really big kidney stone through his bunghole. This is what most of my first dates look like.
Check out what's titled the Worst Movie Ending Ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5YXZ9RtOms
(I copied the whole thing so those people who's companies have the decency to block this nonsense could see it.)
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 3:49 PM
"And if you throw out the leftover pastries, make sure you keep them in the box and place them delicately on top of the garbage in case you get hungry later."
Or at least make sure no one catches you! I think George also tried to rationalize it with an above the rim / below the rim rule.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 3:49 PM
I'm back...
Tony Leung doesn't look that "pumped" in those pictures? M4L is right though - one of the few heavyweight chinese actors out there.
I think etson is around the same age as me and I have no idea who Peter Frampton is!
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 3:51 PM
Thanks Snappy! Actually think you are a couple of years younger than I am.
I am just about holding on to my early 30's by my fingernails.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 3:52 PM
Chicken, you only 28?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:52 PM
34, until October, to be clear.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 3:53 PM
G10, I have a great rental broker at Corcoran in Brooklyn Heights, but I'm not sure if he also covers Park Slope - he can probably recommend someone in the PS office though. Had terrible luck with Craigslist - agree it's a mess.
Winthrop, LOL at "Whole Paycheck". Thanks for the coffee counter tip - I never knew there was a separate cashier.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 3:55 PM
Etson, that's about what I guess your age to be but looks-wise, you're around 28-31. You still among the younger bunch here
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:56 PM
Etson, next month I'll be firmly ensonced in my mid-30s. I feel old, but it makes my mommy feel older :) All my friends are a few months older than me and I enjoy telling them that when they are 80, I'll still be swingin' on 79! Ha!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:56 PM
Argh! I'm older Etson...by a few months.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 3:57 PM
CG'd, think it was our PittBull Rob who coined the "whole paycheck" so I suspect winthropst is using it without proper acknowledgemt of Rob's trademark rights on it - something your legal background can understand / appreciate
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:58 PM
Glad I'm not the only one who feels old ;)
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 3:59 PM
I'll be 54 in November but I'm hearing from some retard that none of us will make it that far. I don't know, the target date for the implosion seems to change all the time.
Also, i guess we won't know it until we see it since he won't (or can't) tell us what it really is.
HEY WHAT...tell us what's going to happen!!!!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 3:59 PM
Im 34 - I think my profile age has me 1 year younger though!
hahah
Cgardner - thanks, yes let me know if he works PS
I am trying to of course avoid the broker fee and use Craiglist - but am soo afraid of scams as well! - who knows
so nuts
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 3:59 PM
Snappy, you too still in the younger bunch here
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:00 PM
I googled "geese farting in the wind" and it turns out it was coined by Leo Kottke, who I hadn't heard of. He played a song called "Vaseline Machine Gun":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 21, 2009 4:01 PM
DH, you are the youngest here!!! If you feel old the rest of us are down right decrepit!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 4:02 PM
g10, I dealt with Robert Krieger on 2 failed purchases but I found him to be pretty straight forward, dilligent, professional. BTW, he also owns a 3 family unit in prime PS so maybe he might even have a unit avail
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:02 PM
Hah Snappy! I remember when I turned 32, my mom said "I can't believe I have a son that old. I feel so ancient".
Most of my friends are a older as well, some more than a few months. I have one good friend who has a big birthday before mine, which is only allowed to be referred to as 'the big L'.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 4:03 PM
Ahhhhhh, Leo Kottke, yes. I remember him from the 70s. Sad.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 4:03 PM
"Chicken, you only 28?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 3:52 PM"
"34, until October, to be clear.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 3:53 PM"
I'm older than etson - although I look about 10 years older than him!
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:04 PM
m4l - i got whole paycheck from my assistant months ago. doubt she reads this site. at 25 she is more likely to be on facebook. which i've just started recently and i'm sucked in...
cargar - i don't know if coffee cashiers exist at other whole paychecks. i'm only familiar with that location. and one location in texas back in the 80's when it was still crunchy.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:04 PM
Stephen Baldwin filed for bankruptcy. So much for royalties from "The Usual Suspects." Should we offer him an honorary PLUSA membership???
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 4:05 PM
Chicken, you and I are probably same age
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:06 PM
m4l - due credit (and royalties) to rob, of course.
G10 - e-mail me at ras1964@verizon.net, and I'll reply with broker contact info.
I'm 45 in October and, though I don't feel old, it sounds old to me. Snappy, all my friends are a few months older, and I enjoy rubbing in that they're 45 while I'm hanging on to 44 for dear life.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 4:06 PM
"i made chilled cucumber yogurt dill soup for the first time this week."
Is that different from raita?
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 4:06 PM
My mom had fit when I turned 30...its been downhill ever since! Funny thing is though, she looks super young and gets carded when she tries to buy a bottle of wine. I tell her to stop complaining about her age because not a soul believes her when she says how old she is.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 4:06 PM
"Ahhhhhh, Leo Kottke, yes. I remember him from the 70s. Sad."
For you oldsters out there, he'll be playing in Westhampton Beach, NY, on August 21st.
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 21, 2009 4:07 PM
Did any of you Asshats ever see this? It's very cool and you can open it at work.
http://tinyurl.com/c8946l
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 4:08 PM
Okay PLUSAs, this is what I am aiming for by the end of the year (except less flab around the hips).
http://tinyurl.com/yotky8
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:08 PM
"Chicken, you and I are probably same age
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:06 PM"
Chinese skin my friend - we'll look the same age for decades and then it's all going to drop in one morning at an unspecified date in the future.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:09 PM
Was a matter of time Dave. I saw this about his house going into foreclosure a little while back:
http://realestalker.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-celebrity-real-estate-foreclosure.html
Posted by: TownhouseLady at July 21, 2009 4:10 PM
Cucumber mojito sounds good.
Nothing terribly exciting: Chicken stir fry with zucchini and onion.
Posted by: mopar at July 21, 2009 4:10 PM
Gemini10, are you only looking in Park Slope or are you willing to consider other 'hoods as well?
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 21, 2009 4:10 PM
Slick Rick is playing a free show on Thursday at the East River State Park.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 4:11 PM
Biff, that is too cool!
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:12 PM
ditto - i made the soup from memories of raita but definitely with much less ingredients. cucumber, dill, garlic, yogurt and s&p. served it with an eggplant curry. nom.
i'm turning 39 this year. fire sign. my 20th highschool reunion is this year also. and i still feel like that kid sitting in the back of the bus.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:14 PM
Six - yeah trying to stick in Park Slope/Pros hts(ish) so not to send myself into hood shock
hahahah!
Cgardener - ok I emailed U thanks
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 4:14 PM
DH, you think that slick rick show would be super packed?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:14 PM
I'd love to see Slick Rick! Where is East River State Park???
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 4:15 PM
g10, forgot to mention Krieger works at corco
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:16 PM
Dave, love the Food Emporium under the 59th St Bridge. The most beautiful supermarket in NY. A veritable Temple of Food.
Of course, when I worked near there, we used to call it "Food Extortion", it was so expensive. They have a good take out lunch selection, but it ain't cheap.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 21, 2009 4:18 PM
M4L - thanks!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 21, 2009 4:19 PM
Man, I've been checking back to the biggest sale thread hoping to see Mr Joist confirm he's serious with the 10k wager but so far nothing. when something sounds too good to be true, it aint.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:19 PM
I'll be 66 in a couple of weeks but still don't feel I've hit middle age.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 4:19 PM
chicken - supposedly the skin starts to sag at 50 and it's all downhill from there. so i'm hoping to be married (for the last time) by then.
mopar - 12 zucchini for that dish? did you have leftovers for lunch today? i'm hungry again.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:20 PM
G10, not sure what type of apt you're looking for, but let me know if you're willing to risk Kensington or Ditmas Park. I may have something for you (no, I'm not a broker!)...
Hood shock rating from PS/PH probably anywhere from 3 to 5 out of 10, but DitmasSnark may know better.
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 21, 2009 4:21 PM
East River Park is along the river on the Lower East Side (north of the WillyB Bridge)
Not sure if it will be crowded, probably - New yorkers love free stuff!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 4:21 PM
chicken...that guy is white. Are you using the same doctor as MJ?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 4:22 PM
snappy - east river state park is off kent and north 7th in the burg. back when it was an overgrown lot we used to jump the fence and take our "dates" there at night. talk about full moons!
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:22 PM
arkady - I thought you were much younger for some reason. Your internet age can be 35 ok?
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 4:25 PM
http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/eastriverpark/events/171492
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 4:26 PM
LOL @ full moons!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 4:26 PM
six - i love ditmas park. i'm trying to convince dave to sell his home in philly (keep bucks) and buy a victorian in dp. he can be mrs. madrigal (or mr. roper) and have cute tenants. and lots of tibetan, mexican and south asian eye candy too...
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:32 PM
Terrific, Ditto. Thanks.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 4:35 PM
actually the full moons happened at daytime also. i went there once with work colleagues to look for shoot locations and we ended up disturbing the bunnies in action. and you would get the polish closet cases from greenpoint and the hasid closetcases from the southside converging there.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:35 PM
Haha winthropst, of course with the restaurants on Cortelyou and CI Ave there are plenty of candidates for said eye candy...
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 21, 2009 4:35 PM
dh - Whisky Tasting: The Regions of Scotland
The Cellar @ Sycamore Flower Shop + Bar
Wednesday, July 22 @ 8PM
$25/person. Call to sign up, limited availability.
347-240-5850
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:45 PM
woah winthroP! whiskey tasting - i'm intrigued.
later all - sir paul time.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 21, 2009 4:51 PM
have fun dh! i'm outta here too. gotta get a snack or take a nap.
Posted by: winthropst at July 21, 2009 4:53 PM
winthrop, you're Chinese too?
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:54 PM
If Arkady can be 35, can I be 30?! : )
DH, have a great time tonight!
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 4:56 PM
"chicken...that guy is white. Are you using the same doctor as MJ?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 4:22 PM"
Body type and definition - I'm quite happy to stay "brown"!
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:57 PM
Dave would love Ditmas Park for eye candy potential, especially along Coney Island Ave. I can do a mini tour around the Victorians on Albermarle Rd between Cortelyou and Church. Some real estate porn there as well.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 4:57 PM
Cobble, stop tempting me. I've been itching to make an unkind comment about Arkady's age but too scared to do so cause she might whoop my behind on the next gathering
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 4:58 PM
Cobby, you ARE 30 darling...
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 4:59 PM
Chicken, stop kissing up to Cobble. She's really 35
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:01 PM
Bring it on m4l - live by the word, die by the word...
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:02 PM
"she might whoop my behind on the next gathering"
ROFL! If she does give you a whoopin' I'll be taking photos! Your kicked @ss will wind up next to the photo of the PLUSA Draft Barn beer bill! LOL
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:04 PM
Cobby, until I see some formal identification, I refuse to believe that you are over 35.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 5:05 PM
"I'll be 66 in a couple of weeks but still don't feel I've hit middle age."
Arkady, do you have any interest having a celebratory birthday drink with a few of your favourite PLUSAs?
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:06 PM
Arkady, one thing you should realize about me is I have pretty good vision as far as seeing the line NOT to cross. Ever since Cobble said you're packing, I watch what I say to you. if you want to hear what I might say then it'll be the at the next gathering when the alcohol makes me speak truthfully
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:06 PM
Biff - Always up for a libation w/ congenial group.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:09 PM
Arkady, are you a fellow Virgo?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:10 PM
No, wait, you strike me more as a Leo. Am I right?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:11 PM
Small zucchinis, Win, plus leftovers.
Gem, may I make a suggestion? If you want to use a broker, go to some well-established storefront brokers in the area you are looking. Otherwise, use Craigslist for the For Rent by Owner only listings.
Most of them are brokers posing as owners, so once you throw them out of the picture, should whittle down the offerings to about one or two a week.
Posted by: mopar at July 21, 2009 5:11 PM
I thought Arkady was 50-55. chicken can flatter me AALLLL he likes!
[Check's in the mail chicken!]
Oh, I so want to see Arkady kick your hiney from here to next Thursday! [Where's my popcorn, this should be good!]
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:11 PM
**going blind here...read Arkady's statement as 'congenital group' instead of congenial!!!**
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:12 PM
Arkady, my birthday is next month, I think we need a PLUSA gathering for sure! Are you a Virgo too Snappy?
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:13 PM
Yes, very Leo, Snappy.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:15 PM
Yes, Cobble, I'm a Virgo! My obssesive undie hoarding and organizing should have given me away :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:16 PM
"Biff - Always up for a libation w/ congenial group."
I know that. But what about imbibing with we Asshats??
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:16 PM
You have a sense of Leo about you...take no sh!t and keep on rollin'! LOL. I don't really know anything about astrological signs, but I know my Leos and Virgos!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:17 PM
There's nothing in the (non-existent) rule book that says Asshats can't be congenial.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:18 PM
I was supposed to be a Leo, but refused to come on out...held on for an extra 2.5 weeks....I wasn't done cooking :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:18 PM
Ah yes, the hoarding! LOL! I hoard food and things like toothpaste and shampoo, and letters. I have every letter, postcard or psot it that anyone ever wrote me!
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:18 PM
"but I know my Leos and Virgos!" & your underwear!
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:19 PM
Biff, you've been summoned for coordination duties again. Arkady only requires establishment serves more than just beer. For me, make sure there's multiple egress so I can run for it when the alcohol makes me say something stupid
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:21 PM
OMG...Cobble...I have every greeting card ever sent to me too! And, in my bathroom you'll never find less than 48 rolls of toilet paper and 4 tubes of toothpaste and at least one extra toothbrush.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:22 PM
"There's nothing in the (non-existent) rule book that says Asshats can't be congenial."
Cobble, can you please verify this be quickly leafing through the non-existent rule book?
(this is very Joseph Heller-ish)
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:22 PM
LOL Arkady!!! Yep...add undies to the list!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:23 PM
"There's nothing in the (non-existent) rule book that says Asshats can't be congenial."
If there were a rule book, and I'm not saying there is...it would be on page 876. As in: Whereby Asshats may convene, said Asshats may or may not be convivial, congenial, contrarian or even contemptuous.
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:23 PM
And Snappy needs a good hair day (which I'll share w/ her.)
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:23 PM
Ok, the Social Planner is rising from the ashes. I thought I would take a break but apparently there is a demand for another big blast. Must...get...motivated...
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:25 PM
I have two extra tubes of toothpaste and [just checked] 6 extra toothbrushes. You know...you never know when you might need a new one or one for a guest! ; )
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:26 PM
Yes, good hair day is a must....today I looked like cousin it about 5 minutes after leaving the house...I usually make it to at least noon before that happens. Harumph.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:26 PM
Henceforth, Biff shall be known as Phoenix...
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:27 PM
DIBS must have more toothbrushes in his bathroom than my dentist for unexpected visitors.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:27 PM
Exactly Cobble...or when you may drop the damned thing and the cat, who is sitting at your feet while you brush, will run off with the damned thing and by the time you get it back it's covered with cat hair and kitty spit. YUCK!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:28 PM
DIBS' place is nice. real nice.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:29 PM
Arghhh! That's d-word, Biff.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:29 PM
Good point Biff...maybe it's time to buy stock in Oral-B? Dave oughtta keep em in business for quite some time :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:30 PM
Arkady, I think you're very cool. Seriously. A wonderful addition to the PLUSA family.
Posted by: Biff Champion at July 21, 2009 5:32 PM
I was saddened to hear that Pat Benetar is doing that coney island gig when I'm out of town. One of my favourites.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 5:32 PM
Sanppy - When we meet, remind me to tell you about a short story I wrote for Barney Rossett in the late 60s. Early stab at soft porn w/ a female point of view - has to do w/ cat hairs & dust kitties. He hated it - finding out that women laughed at moments of erotic arousal...
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:32 PM
Biff, looks like you might've crossed the line and you're ahead of me on the ass whoopping line. next time, say teeth doc
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:33 PM
"covered with cat hair and kitty spit"
Ok that's GROSS! Funny, but gross!
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:33 PM
Gee, thank Biffle!
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:34 PM
Ok, Arkady, you've been holding out on us. I need to hear more about this!
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:34 PM
Excuse typos - cats playing ping-pong on the keyboard.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:35 PM
Thanks, m4l, but you better explain to them that we were chaperoned by Kens & dh lest they get the wrong impression. :)
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 5:36 PM
Arkady, we definitely need to have a drink soon cause I wanna hear about that!
Cobble, very gross! That's why there's always at least one spare! My cat just loooooves toothpaste and toothbrushes...until I try to brush her teeth with the kitty toothpaste and toothbrush. Damn cat!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:36 PM
Those kitty toothbrushes are too big. I use human interdental thingamajigs.
Posted by: Arkady at July 21, 2009 5:38 PM
DIBS, if their minds stray and think that then they wouldn't believe the chaperone part either but rather it was an orgy (ie you converted 3 guys)
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:40 PM
Time for me to head back to Brooklyn...nite all!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at July 21, 2009 5:41 PM
My little kitty visitor has terrible fish breath! Is that bad?
chicken - Who is that is playing with Pat Benetar—BH was telling me about that, and I forget!
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:42 PM
m4l, it doesn't take much for their minds to wander. I liken them to dingies on a loose tether.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 5:43 PM
Nite Snappy! Hope your hair makes it home ok! ; )
Posted by: cobblehiller at July 21, 2009 5:43 PM
OK...I'm leaving the office. I'll be otherwise occupied tonight with the Mexican bf. See you all tomorrow.
Have a good night all.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 21, 2009 5:44 PM
Dave, I was going to mention the house tour but I decided the PLUSAs to comment on that a bit before I said anything.
If anyone's around, Dave's house is gorgeous and the almost finished steps and facade looks great. I am not a big architectural buff but the original detail in the house was astounding and amazingly well kept. My personal favorite was the deck with the view of the garden and was unbelievably quite. I would spend a lot of time out there on the days like we had on Sunday.
And by the way, None of us sat on the couch ;o)
Posted by: Kensingtonian at July 21, 2009 5:50 PM
Thanks, Biff. Now that I'm out of the Brownstoner closet, as it were, I'm looking forward to the next PLUSA outing. Nytol.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at July 21, 2009 5:51 PM
cobble, think winthropst mentioned above who's playing with Pat.
outta here. driving home in this lovely weather.
Posted by: more4less at July 21, 2009 5:52 PM
dunno Cobby, it was mentioned above somewhere.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 5:56 PM
Chicken, thank you for your answer about the euro currency on another thread. I have only about 5 minutes to write and browse today, but want to make a further comment about that when there is time. Anyway, I am flabbergasted (!) that you could write me such a clear and concise answer. I have printed it. My traveling friend (non usa-cit, living usa) is concerned that her usa dollars will literally turn to sinking-sand while she is over there (abroad), or into a "pile of dust" any minute with devalutation and she will have nothing left in her usa bank account! Thank you again, chicken.
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 21, 2009 6:13 PM
Hello, What!
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 21, 2009 6:14 PM
First rule of the Brownstoner rule book is don't talk about the rule book, hypothetical or not. As is the second rule.
I'm going to have to dish out some black eyes now.
Posted by: dittoburg at July 21, 2009 6:42 PM
no probs BklynSoFar.
Her concern appears more about an imminent devaluation of the dollar against other currencies (primarily the euro in her case).
Now I'm not going to say that her concern is entirely unfounded - and it has been something many in the market have talked about as a possibility ever since around the time of the credit crunch.
Exchange rates between free markets are essentially self-balancing mechanisms. If the currency of one country gets too strong, then the other country will not buy as much product from them resulting in less demand for that currency and causing it to weaken. This can cause the exchange rate to make sizeable swings but generally reverts around a mean. One way of looking at this is purchase power parity (how much similar things cost in similarly developed countries). eg London and NY are fairly similar cities. If a pair of jeans costs £30 here and $50 in NY then you would say the right rate for PPP should be 1.6. Obviously this is a very simple example but you get the point.
There is also the theory of interest rate parity (commonly known as the carry trade), which compares the interest rates of two countries. This is mainly an academic theory that doesn't really explain empirical exchange rate moves.
Devaluation (where the exchange rate makes a massive jump in a very short period of time) only comes at times of extreme distress - when people lose faith in the currency.
As far as I am aware, all current currencies around the world are fiat (ie they are only backed by the word of the prevailing government, rather than supported by any tangible asset such as gold). If you work for me and I pay you in "Chicken dollars", you won't accept them if I can just print off a whole bunch more without any effort - you would want me to limit their production to make them be valuable. The most recent example of the printing presses working overtime is with the Zimbabwe dollar which has tanked since 2006/07.
Although there's been a lot of talk about other countries "losing faith in the dollar", those countries are also big holders of dollars because they have done a lot of business with america. They stand to lose a lot if the dollar devalues so they tread very carefully. Note that a devalued dollar also stops america from importing as much as it otherwise would do.
Sorry for rambling on.
Posted by: the chicken at July 21, 2009 6:42 PM
Re: 'chicken dollars'
See the blogwrap article post about Vox Pop shares.
Posted by: etson at July 21, 2009 6:52 PM
Chicken, thanks about euro currency. Yes, she says maybe she would end up paying $250.00 for a hamburger! Well, she has lived in enough different countries to be thinking along these lines.
Your letter was not *rambling*. I am amazed at how well you know this and can explain it so fast. Again I am printing your answer. I consider it a blessing that I can write this and boom!, out of cyber-space comes this explanation from a virtual stranger (the chicken)!
As far as Iceland, where I think you go often, I read that it is one big hedge-fund fund now, in danger of going to euros and kaput with krona currency. About fiat and the USA, I hear plenty of people are worried about what is going on at the G-20 meetings as far as tanking money. Someone made a joke that the G-20 is not something going on at Fashion Ave. :-)
etson - thanks for comment.
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 21, 2009 10:20 PM
Hello, What!
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 21, 2009 6:14 PM
Hello BklynSoFar I hope you are well. You see I have slacked off posting on Brownstoner because the Assheads complained about the amount of sand in their pussies. So I thought to myself "I need a break and they will have no one to blame". You will notice here in "Brownstoner Land" all reality is suspended! The real world does not apply here and everything will be all right.
BklynSoFar I have a new crash call for this fall and I believe no one will "walk away" form this one. We are in a world of mess because greed and ignorance...
The What
Someday this war is gonna end..
Posted by: Return of The What at July 22, 2009 1:19 AM
Thank you for your kind comments BklynSoFar. It's kind of related to my work so I probably should know it and the hardest part is to set it out in basic terms for a layperson to understand.
Iceland was a case where the banks brought the country down. Like Zimbabwe, they are not that important in terms of world trade so they are more susceptible to a devaluation. It's quite interesting to note though that, since Iceland became bust, the Krona has "only" halved against the dollar (ie you get twice as many Krona for your dollar now). Sure, this is very painful for those holding Krona but is not really hyperinflation as it is usually understood (wheelbarrows of cash being used to buy a loaf of bread, etc). Even now, Iceland is not a particularly cheap place to visit as it was ludicrously expensive pre-crisis.
Zimbabwe is much more interesting as a case study though. When I was born, one Zim dollar (Rhodesia back then) was worth about the same as one US dollar. Today, one US dollar is worth nearly 8 BILLION Zim dollars. This was a long time coming and really accelerated towards the end as the hyperinflation feeds itself. If this happens in the US (and I don't think it will anytime soon), you will have plenty of warning signs along the way.
Btw, I bought a zwd100bn note on ebay when they first printed it (to frame to remind myself of how precarious financial systems can be). There has been a banknote that was "bigger" - the hungarian pengo that was issued as a 1 trillion note but did not actually print out the zeros. Unfortunately, this was rendered obsolete when Zimbabwe printed the zwd100 trillion note - 1 followed by 14 zeros.
I will not rule out The What's doomsday crash scenario but I do think it unlikely. I do think it will be painful for most people though.
Posted by: the chicken at July 22, 2009 8:29 AM
Thank you again, Chicken. I have printed it because it is late. I will read it and get back to you.
Thank you also, What. I will try to get back to both of you tomorrow.
I didn't get to check Wed. July 22, OT, thread either, over 600 comments!
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 22, 2009 10:56 PM
Chicken, thank you for giving me the picture of the whole world as fiat currency (didn't know every country is fiat). Thanks too, for writing in layman's language. I am afraid to ask exactly what you do, because then I may be too intimidated to write to you! :-). Must be in financial systems. What a wonderful subject to be educated in.
So you are from Zimbabwe, yes?
It sounds as if the world is one big "floating crap game" (pardon the language) right now. Big gamble, as in "hedge your bets" (hedge-funds); divert your dirivatives (move things around). Lots of non-existent money (?). Bubbles going up then coming down.
Or, from what you wrote me, I have an image of one big loose rubber band around planet earth (a few feet from the ground) that represents its financial situation (or atmosphere). In some places the rubber band is stretched thinner and more precariously than at others. Over the USA it may be close to breaking, no? Then the locations of the stretching band may shift and change for better and worse.
Thanks for the lessons. I am also reading a book and coincidentally, I randomly open the pages and find things similar that you are telling me. I must learn more about inflation movements. So now we put this together with trade (I think you wrote that). Hope this doesn't all sound too dumb.
The What, I see you are busy posting today (23rd). Will await predictions.
Not much time to write now as we are dealing with a family situation -- an elderly person. Bye for now.
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 23, 2009 9:45 PM
What, thank you for your letter above. What, would you please consider taking it easier on Mr. B.? Oh, What, I hope you don't get too mad at me for bringing this up. Believe me, I have read your posts and am understanding your views on gentrification and (believe I) understand that that is non-negotiable with you. But Mr. B gives us a platform here, a place to discuss all kinds of things. It is as if he invites us into his cyber living room when he has no obligation to do so. He isn't a bad guy and we can still say our views. Oh, What, you might be getting angry at me now, but I do not mean anything negative by this :-).
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 23, 2009 10:50 PM
What, also I believe it possible that Dibs has been escalating name-calling and insults to you to provoke a meeting. I'd not trust it under those circumstances - just my thinking. Insults do not usually result in friendship.
Posted by: BklynSoFar at July 23, 2009 11:00 PM
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Le Barricou
added November 20, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Der Schwarze Kölner
added November 19, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene -
Oak Wine Bar & Café
added November 18, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Mr. Wonton
added November 17, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Casa Rosa
added November 16, 2009 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Cousin John's Café & Bakery
added November 13, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Elote
added November 12, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Miracle Grill
added November 11, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Phoebe's Cafe
added November 10, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Ruthie's
added November 9, 2009 12:00 PM in Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.