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October 29, 2009
Open Thread
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9:16!!!!!!????????? A little slow today. Kinda like the Yankees
CC's SUPERIOR PITCHING????? BWAHAHAHAHAHA
A ROD's SUPERIOR BATTING!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:20 AM
yeah i know it is all about the yanks these days, but....the knicks....were so godawful last night. its going to be a long season.
Posted by: randolph at October 29, 2009 9:20 AM
Is it just me, or has Mr. Brownie been getting up earlier these days?
Posted by: tybur6 at October 29, 2009 9:20 AM
Yeah, Cliff Lee pitched an incredible game, but he lost points in my book with the nonchalant catch on Damon's pop up to the mound. It struck me as unsportsmanlike and disrespectful to the games and the opponent.
A funny take I read on it was the following:
Cliff Lee’s catch was straight out of one of those old TCM black-and-white movies where someone like Gene Kelly is cast in the role of a baseball player, he just finished doing a big musical number, dances around the field, playfully flicks an umpire’s hat, then sticks his glove out and the ball falls in.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:20 AM
Morning,
I urge everyone to vote for Bill Thompson next week Tuesday.
This bstoner website is a microcosm of the class struggle that is on going in the rest of the country. For the past 3 decades, the republicans have pulled wool over our eyes with their promise of greater prosperity for all by coercing us to deregulate everything and cut taxes, while what they have really done is "re-distribute" wealth away from the poor and middle class to the already wealthy. Real wages have stagnated for the past 30 years while the gap between the rich and poor is the widest it has ever been post second World War.
The republicans are the original wealth distributors.
This is why i support Bill Thompson over slimy bloomberg.
Bill will soak the rich and maybe get some of our money back.
The middle class shall rise again!!
***Bill Thompson for Mayor (Tuesday!!!)***
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 9:21 AM
First game into the season and M4L can no longer boast that the Knicks are undefeated.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:22 AM
Get off your high horse, Biff.
Both of those catches by Lee were fantastic. Why make more of a show of the catch than would be required????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:23 AM
DIBS, don't forget what Yogi Berra said. Something to do with a fat lady and singing...
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:23 AM
bill thompson can suck my ass.
Posted by: randolph at October 29, 2009 9:23 AM
haha - but Pedro is pitching tonight and he is godawful.
Dave - even you know some nights the "big wood" doesn't perform as well as it usually does.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 9:25 AM
Stevie, instead of wringing your hands over your perceived "wealth redistribution" why don't you just work harder????
To me it seems the more I make, the more taxes I pay so quit looking for a handout and vote for the guy who's going to run this city better and make it more prosperous over the long term.
You seem to be part of the problem, not the solution. Can you tell me with a straight face that Thompson will be a better mayor than Bloomberg???? I THINK NOT unless you're on some sort of hallucinogen
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:26 AM
I'm not voting for anyone. I know. I know. Generations before me fought for the right to vote. However, back in those days, their votes actually counted & their voices were heard. Now, voting for a political person is like voting for the lessor evil. We no longer live in a democratic state where citizens voices are heard. These political people only do what's good for their pockets.
I don't think I will ever vote again. I voted for Al Gore. We know what happened to him. I voted for Elliot Spitzer. We know what happened to him. I voted for Obama. And, I'm not happy with him right now. May be my opinion of him will change.
Posted by: Miss Breukelen at October 29, 2009 9:28 AM
Yankee fans should consider their own shortcomings before criticizing a catch that in their mind looked unsportsmanlike.
WHAT A JOKE.
WHINY LOSERS
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:28 AM
sports talk.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..............
Wake me up when someone takes Randolph's bait.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 9:28 AM
Did anyone go to the Yank's "Pep Rally"? Hahahah. A pep rally. Not very Bronx of them. Bunch o' wussies. I hope none of them go their tootsy wootsies wet.
Posted by: tybur6 at October 29, 2009 9:29 AM
I'm not voting for anyone. I know. I know. Generations before me fought for the right to vote. However, back in those days, their votes actually counted & their voices were heard. Now, voting for a political person is like voting for the lessor evil. We no longer live in a democratic state where citizens voices are heard. These political people only do what's good for their pockets.
I don't think I will ever vote again. I voted for Al Gore. We know what happened to him. I voted for Elliot Spitzer. We know what happened to him. I voted for Obama. And, I'm not happy with him right now. May be my opinion of him will change.
Love it. Great commentary; I'm glad I woke up(it sure looks like you did!)
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 9:31 AM
We need Spitzer back - he was great.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 9:33 AM
CC's SUPERIOR PITCHING????? BWAHAHAHAHAHA
A ROD's SUPERIOR BATTING!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:20 AM
Yankee fans should consider their own shortcomings before criticizing a catch that in their mind looked unsportsmanlike.
WHAT A JOKE.
WHINY LOSERS
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:28 AM
As opposed to being such a classy winner?
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:33 AM
Miss Breuklyn, I don't think Bloomberg is in it for the money. If you don't think your vote counts then you're not understanding the process very well. Just because you've made some bad choices, don't blame the system.
Spitzer??????? JOKE. You got what you voted for with that pompous egomaniac.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:35 AM
Look on the bright side- it could have been much worse had McCain and Palin been voted in. Now there's a nightmare scenario.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 9:36 AM
>>Stevie, instead of wringing your hands over your perceived "wealth redistribution" why don't you just work harder????
I work very hard as a writer, Dave.
I have been a long time observer of this website and felt I needed to speak out. In bstoner, you have the bitter renters (the lower and middle class) and the homeowners (the privileged class). The privileged class has benefited from the policies of deregulation and tax cuts that the republicans promoted for the past 30 years. The carrot that was dangled was always "support tax cuts, because you could be rich one day".
The middle class is finally waking up after 30 years of wage stagnation that enough is enough. we are going to re take the country back.
***Bill Thompson for Mayor!!***
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 9:36 AM
I support the Brooklyn Cyclones (I think). You guys should too.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 9:37 AM
I have to agree with Dave...I really don't think Thompson is the right guy for NYC. Please don't get me wrong I don't approve of Bloomberg changing the term limits BUT he is the better candidate.
Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at October 29, 2009 9:38 AM
I thought after Spitzer the media might change the question from have you ever smoked pot to have you ever paid for sex.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 9:39 AM
"I don't approve of Bloomberg changing the term limits BUT he is the better candidate."
My thoughts exactly.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:41 AM
To me it seems the more I make, the more taxes I pay so quit looking for a handout and vote for the guy who's going to run this city better and make it more prosperous over the long term.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:26 AM
Agreed...
[Sniffs the air] hmmmmm, smells like sense of entitlement around here.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 9:42 AM
Charlie Sheen answered that question best, Pete...."I don't pay women for sex, I pay for them to leave in the morning."
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:43 AM
Bloomberg is not in it for the money! That's the last thing he's in it for and that's what I like about him...he can't be bought. Unlike our friend Mr. Thompson, who I find messy on several levels.
Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at October 29, 2009 9:44 AM
Debate all you want, but does anyone - including Thompson supporters - really think he's going to beat Bloomberg? Most New Yorkers see Bloomberg overturning term limits as the naked power grab that it is, but think he's doing a good job overall, and think he's the right person to run the City right now, and are going to vote for him anyways.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 9:45 AM
(And, bxgrl, you know I'm in Wasilla the instant Sarah Palin officially announces her candidacy for 2012)
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 9:45 AM
I am voting for the college chick from the Bronx who is gong to change EVERYTHING around!!! :o)
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 9:46 AM
imagine, someone asked in forum about whether he should install recessed lighting. Was he trying to make Mr. B spit up his coffee?
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 9:47 AM
Some of you are in big trouble today. As you know ive been sneaking thru the airshafts, skylights, and sometimes just walking straight thru the front door passed the security guards on duty of the OT CoOp! I've been checking up on all of you making sure you are putting in your three hours. Last night I decided to check up to see if Snappy was really putting in her monthly three hour shift as night security guard. (A little birdie told me they saw her at the 7/11 on 5th avenue when she was SUPPOSED TO BE on duty!) As expected, she was no where to be found! Then I walked into the en suite bathrooms and they were a pig stuy! there's an inch thick layer of poo mist ALL OVER THE ORGANIC PRODUCE SECTION! Clearly Dave is not doing his 3 hour monthly duty either!
I did however find a wallet near one of the registers with 640 dollars in it. It's MINE now. 640 dollars is about what three hours of my time is worth anyway.
Snappy and Dave, because of these infractions of OT Co-OP rules there will be NO MORE DISCOUNT ON ORGANIC FLAXSEED OIL FOR EITHER OF YOU! NO EXCEPTIONS! the coop is a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT! You will both report this saturday to all day detention with Principal What at Asshate Hill High School in Lodi, NJ! (and dont ask me for directions) And YES, you will still be required to make up all of the shifts you missed! NO EXCEPTIONS!
-Management.
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 9:47 AM
CarrollGardened's .... exactly!
Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at October 29, 2009 9:48 AM
"we are going to re take the country back."
Hmm, I might have an idea as to why StevieB's writing career hasn't taken off yet.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 9:48 AM
StevieB -- By NYC standards, I'm well below this 'middle class' that you speak of... but there's no way in hell I'd vote for Bill Thompson. Are you joking?
His record is not strong. Simple as that.
Also, do you honestly think that Bloomberg is in this job to protect the rich and bilk the middle class? His social and sustainability programs are impressive. For example, the comprehensive PlaNYC and the related GreeNYC initiatives look at the city in a way no on has ever done before... through the lens of true accountability and long-term planning!
The reason many of his programs are not stronger than they are (and having more impact on low- and middle-income folks) is because of the dumbasses in Albany that interfere with the running of this City and the City Council Members from Queens that has decided no change is acceptable. Out of the two candidates, which one has proven he can get the best result for the least amount of cash?
This city (and State) is in a fiscal crisis, if you haven't noticed. The tax revenues have plummeted. We need a strong, successful, CREATIVE businessman at the helm. Not an accountant.
Do you really want a bureaucratic bean counter with a minimal level of vision running this city?
That's my 2 cents.
Posted by: tybur6 at October 29, 2009 9:48 AM
stevieb, there are quite a few owners on this site which are not part of the privileged class. Since when is owning a home a right? BTW, democratic and republican policies dating back to Clinton that promoted home ownership is what got us into the current financial mess.
If you want a home make sacrifices like many of us did.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 9:49 AM
i just f'ed something up today at work that impacts people's lives and i feel sh!tty about it. man, i hate when that happens. and now i have an irate client to deal with and that is no fun. luckily it's temporary and can be fixed, but it's not an ideal situation to say the least. sigh. i guess i'm going to be a sorry sack today.
happy thursday everyone! hope your day has started off better than mine. :)
Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at October 29, 2009 9:50 AM
Bruklin, i dont vote either. I don't really believe in it, and never a single candidate in the history of any politics anywhere has ever represented anything i believe in. plus, i trust america to vote how they choose, and i accept what they pick, cuz i dont care much one way or the other. im just gonna be a scrub one way or the other!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 9:51 AM
Stevieb, thanks, you made me realize that Bloomberg is the one I should vote for. Your argument sounds like the same one made in support of Obama, and what a cluster.uck this one is becoming.
Posted by: BSD at October 29, 2009 9:52 AM
CarGar! i think i need a ride on your helicopter to take me away!
Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at October 29, 2009 9:52 AM
Daveinbedstuy: The bottomline is poltics is all about keeping $ in the pockets of the 1%. Regardless if Bloomberg is in it for the $ or not, he has a boss. If his boss tells him to increase taxes, guess what-he has to increase them. And, who I vote for is my business.
Let me guess, you voted for Bush-I guess you got what you deserved by voting for those pompous egomaniacs because your taxes did go up to feed the top 1%.
Posted by: Miss Breukelen at October 29, 2009 9:53 AM
What we all REALLY need to be worried about is the GOVERNOR's race!
Bloomberg in and Paterson OUT!
Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at October 29, 2009 9:53 AM
bodhi! Sorry to hear you're having a bad day, but glad the problem can be fixed. Now, will you please check your gmail (seriously).
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 9:53 AM
HA! That was highly amusing Rob!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 9:54 AM
In bstoner, you have the bitter renters (the lower and middle class) and the homeowners (the privileged class). The privileged class has benefited from the policies of deregulation and tax cuts that the republicans promoted for the past 30 years. The carrot that was dangled was always "support tax cuts, because you could be rich one day".
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 9:36 AM
Absolutely not true Stevie. I refuse to argue because I have a job that pays for my homeownership (more like co-op ownership) and I still want to keep it. I think we have already established that the really hard working people in NYC don't have time to post on Brownstoner all day so please spare us the crying. There are three types here.
1. Those that worked hard to get where they are and established themselves career wise and financially and now can afford to take the Bstoner cruise control.
2. Those that are comfortable with their career choices and have a nice stable job and income and saved to buy a property for themselves or rent and live comfortably.
3. Those that don't work hard enough and cry how poor or unfortunate they are and claim that they work hard enough and just life didn't align their stars.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 9:56 AM
bohdi, Sorry to hear it, hoping your day improves! Once, years ago, I made a mistake at work to the tune of several thousand dollars. Hmm, It was a little more than a quarter of my salary at the time. It was fixed, but it sucked going through it.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 9:58 AM
Hey DIBS - are you having trouble posting over there?? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 9:58 AM
*rob*...i agree but it's so sad at the same time.
Posted by: Miss Breukelen at October 29, 2009 9:58 AM
I think I'm a 2.25 on Kensingtonian's scale...
Posted by: tybur6 at October 29, 2009 9:58 AM
did any of you read about "Operation Pumpkin Patch"? to keep bus drivers safe from eggs on halloween? lol. i got hit with egg twice in my on mischief night, both times walking by the projects. once in nj, and once in on the lower east side. both times the egg HURT! also there is a policy if a bus driver gets hit with an egg, OR just their bus, they are allowed to take two hours off their shift! but they only assign rookie bus drivers on halloween and the night before who are unaware of that fact.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 10:00 AM
"we are going to re take the country back."
Hmm, I might have an idea as to why StevieB's writing career hasn't taken off yet.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 9:48 AM
ROTFLMMFAO
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:01 AM
thanks for the sympathy/story, CHiller. it does suck to go through. ugh. i was hoping to cruise into the weekend without too much drama but not today.. :)
Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:01 AM
"we are going to re take the country back."
Hmm, I might have an idea as to why StevieB's writing career hasn't taken off yet.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 9:48 AM
Brilliant!
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:02 AM
Cliff Lee was definitely disrespectful on that catch. He pitched a hell of a game but I hope that bit of rub your nose-ism is remembered by the Yankees. Meanwhile is there a more hateful, hideous person in baseball than Pedro Martinez?
Stevie--I own a house and I would hardly qualify financially as the overlord type. Whereas there are several renters on this site with radically more money than me.
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 10:02 AM
quote:
3. Those that don't work hard enough and cry how poor or unfortunate they are and claim that they work hard enough and just life didn't align their stars.
LOL. r u talkin about me?
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 10:03 AM
Yes, dh. Seems to be down, just like brownstoner's problem yesterday!!! Eeerie isn't it??? You think Jon IS actually the SDFL, otherwise known as the What??? They both live in Asshathill you know!!!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:04 AM
Rob, you are a whole other category of your own :o).
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:07 AM
haha Dibs - ya never know!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 10:07 AM
i would never want to own because im a Butterfly. i like to be free like the wind. that's also why i dont think id ever actually want my own rental lease. so much stuff can go down in 12 months, you never know!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 10:08 AM
Absolutely not true Stevie. I refuse to argue because I have a job that pays for my homeownership (more like co-op ownership) and I still want to keep it. I think we have already established that the really hard working people in NYC don't have time to post on Brownstoner all day so please spare us the crying. There are three types here.
1. Those that worked hard to get where they are and established themselves career wise and financially and now can afford to take the Bstoner cruise control.
2. Those that are comfortable with their career choices and have a nice stable job and income and saved to buy a property for themselves or rent and live comfortably.
3. Those that don't work hard enough and cry how poor or unfortunate they are and claim that they work hard enough and just life didn't align their stars.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 9:56 AM
I call bullshit.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:09 AM
I call bullshit.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:09 AM
of course not - that post was not typed with union labor
;)
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 10:13 AM
I want to talk about those FU&^ING Chinese again. Man, I had some great Chinese food last night.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:18 AM
Rob - You don't even need a cardboard box - just use your chrysalis.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 10:19 AM
"I want to talk about those FU&^ING Chinese again. Man, I had some great Chinese food last night."
DIBS, do know know any Fukienese?
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:20 AM
Biff...Xing is from Fujian. The sushi chefs at Yamato are as well.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:22 AM
Joe, you can call it anything you like. Most people on here would agree with me.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:32 AM
"Biff...Xing is from Fujian. The sushi chefs at Yamato are as well."
I remember a long time ago being at some Japanese place on the UWS that had amazingly cheap sushi. Unfortunately, the poor quality and preparation of it explained the low prices. I did a double take as I noticed that all the chefs behind the sushi bar were Mexican. Hopefully the sushi chefs from Fujian are more skilled.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:32 AM
ROTFLMMFAO
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:01 AM
dave, why do you defend the republicans? Shouldn't you be thankful to the democrats for allowing your kind to engage in your shenanigans? Imagine if Sarah Palin takes back the country and sent all of your kind to Christian re-education camps where you will receive Jesus into your life and be made to realize your frivolous ways?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 10:33 AM
Kens, next time Brownstoner runs his survey ask him to include your categories so he can post results of % of each.
BTW - he did post last results and I'm an outsider in too many categories.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 10:33 AM
Okay folks,
I found this FOT while searching for the other Mill Basin Beauty.
This is the Mill Basin house with all the columns.
Start at 2:39pm
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/10/house_of_the_da_573.php
btw, the house is still for sale.
http://www.century21.com/property/index.jsp?id=34833437
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 10:35 AM
wow, I have NEVER seen Mexican sushi chefs (in NYC sushi places at least). I have seen all kinds of Asians and in my local sushi place that I go to fairly often, I think the chefs are Malaysian.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:36 AM
> Joe, you can call it anything you like. Most people on here would agree with me.
most people on here are house owners and perma bulls. they are not going to agree with me. they have benefited inordinately from the republican policies of stealing money from the hard working middle and lower class.
***Bill Thompson for Mayor!!!***
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 10:36 AM
i was a little shocked to find out just how boojee most readers are!
ugh, i feel like a scholarship now lol
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 10:38 AM
Pete, I am pretty sure there are a few in betweens and my categories don't cover ALL Brownstoner readers but I am willing to put money that it covers most.
I didn't vote on Mr. B's survey because he didn't put KENSINGTON as a neighborhood and I refused to list PARK SLOPE as my residence because it was basically the closest to where I live on his list.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:39 AM
stevie, I am neither a house owner, perma bull or have benefited from the republican policies and I am still voting for Bloomberg. Lesser of two evils as I call it.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:40 AM
WTF. clove cigarettes are now banned in NY. :-/
i mean, im not a 16 year old goth chick so it's nothing something that's really gonna affect my life one way or the other. but the what the hell are my sister and her friends going to do when they come into the city now? oh THAT's right! maybe they'll try to score weed or crack. GOOD JOB BLOOMBERG! idiot.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 10:41 AM
In 1965 the late great Bill Buckley lost for NYC mayor running against John Lindsay as well as the aging Abe Beame. Buckley's loss to Lindsay paved the way for the Lindsay/ and eventual Beame decline years for NYC. Many longtime New Yorkers were concerned about what was to come for NYC after the "false" Republican Lindsay would take power. The decline began and by 1970 was in full swing. My grandparents who were Buckley backers did not care for Lindsay and vowed that if he lost they would soon enough leave the city of thier birth. In fact my grandfather was so anti-Lindsay he was thrilled that not one but two of his youngest daughters, who were students at LIU at the time were volunteering for Buckleys campaign. Buckley garnered a small percentage of the vote and lost. By 1969 my grandparents and many others like them were gone , never to again reside in NYC. By the mid 1970's they had sold off whatever property they still owned in Northeast Brooklyn and Queens and one they did not sell for sentimental reasons in ENY was burned to the ground in the late 70's. The decline that they so feared for Northeast Bklyn had ripened to it's full potential by the early 80's. I truly believe that the election of someone like Bill Thompson is comparable to what could be the begining of a period of stready decline for portions of NYC. Thompson is not the answer , his failed record speaks for itself. Bloomberg is no prize, he can be arrogant and a phony BUT he is the best choice of the two, as he is beholden to no man or group. Vote carefully.
Posted by: Crescent Hill at October 29, 2009 10:44 AM
quote: "your kind"
who says that, are you kidding me?
Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:44 AM
"Imagine if Sarah Palin takes back the country and sent all of your kind to Christian re-education camps where you will receive Jesus into your life and be made to realize your frivolous ways?"
The 34 most terrifying words in the English language!
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:45 AM
dave, why do you defend the republicans? Shouldn't you be thankful to the democrats for allowing your kind to engage in your shenanigans? Imagine if Sarah Palin takes back the country and sent all of your kind to Christian re-education camps where you will receive Jesus into your life and be made to realize your frivolous ways?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 10:33 AM
WOW, You really are a nutjob. Where can we find some of your published writing?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:45 AM
Btw, "your kind" = ??????
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:45 AM
Bodhi beat me to it.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:46 AM
Wow!
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 10:48 AM
sorry biff. you must be slow today. ;)
Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at October 29, 2009 10:48 AM
OT trend:
Morning: Sports and politics (and off-the-wall Rob post)
Afternoon: Cats and food (and off-the-wall Rob post)
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:48 AM
stevieb,
Go sell crazy someplace else. The class warfare angle is tired, old and played.
If you are for wealth re-destribution just say it, now is your time with all the socialists coming out of the woodwork in the federal government, after all.
If you are for continuing a capitalist based economy speak up. your weak generalization that basically; "republicans are for the wealthy", has been thoroughly debated and discredited over the past year. Try another route, like perhaps you think Bill Thompson has a better voice or you don't like Bloomberg's shoes, try anything but the inane assumption that republicans have no values beyond the edge of a dollar bill.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 10:50 AM
Biff...it depends on who OWNS the restaurant. If it is OWNED by Japanese then the portions are very good, the fish is very fresh and the menu reflects a true Japanese restaurant. If it is owned by other Asians or anyone else for that matter, it's usually second rate. Doesnt matter who is slicing the sushi as long as they've been trained and managed by Japanese.
That said, I often judge the quality of ANY Asian restaurant by how good looking the male help is. :)
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:50 AM
"sorry biff. you must be slow today. ;)"
Um, I think you mean every day.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:50 AM
oh, and good morning to all.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 10:51 AM
"To me it seems the more I make, the more taxes I pay" -dibs
I'm shocked, really shocked at this.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 10:51 AM
StevieB;
So,let's see:
Joe Lieberman is the senator from Israel;
Sarah Palin's secret plan is to set up a Christian Theocracy in the US.
You apparently missed my welcome package yesterday:
Tin Hats this way =====================>
Meds that way ===========>
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 10:51 AM
CGar- we will have a serious discussion about your Wasilla trip. You cannot take the dog- I will not have that poor animal exposed to someone who would shoot her from a plane.
SB- renters are not bitter- only people who think renters should be bitter are.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 10:51 AM
I'm waiting for the "f word" now, Stevie. Isn't that what you really wanted to say????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 10:52 AM
OT trend:
Morning: Sports and politics (and off-the-wall Rob post)
Afternoon: Cats and food (and off-the-wall Rob post)
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:48 AM
Um, Biff;
My lawyers will be talking to you...
;-)
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 10:52 AM
Just when I post a Throwback Thread, someone comes along and posts a racist comment.
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 10:53 AM
FOT - I really like that Mill Basin house. If only it were within my price range and in a more commutable area.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 10:53 AM
And stevieb:
<==============EXIT
wow- something that we all can agree on - stevieb is a nutjob :)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 10:54 AM
morning legion :)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 10:55 AM
"And stevieb:
<==============EXIT"
Please don't go, stevieb!
Every post of yours results in more votes for Bloomberg.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 10:57 AM
""To me it seems the more I make, the more taxes I pay" -dibs
I'm shocked, really shocked at this."
smirk.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 10:58 AM
"If you are for wealth re-destribution just say it, now is your time with all the socialists coming out of the woodwork in the federal government, after all."
I'm all for it...in the right direction. The Rethugs in the last 8 years directed it upwards (and this is incontrovertible, just look at the income statistics).
I'm all for a VERY high marginal tax on, say 50% anything above a million. Then even if if the corps gave their execs highway-robbery salaries and bennies, at least society will (half) benefit from it. And we don't need a compensation czar.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 10:58 AM
It's people like him who give writers a bad name...
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 10:58 AM
Should I dig up the thread where someone (wink, wink) used the F word and the What went all ballistic!
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 11:04 AM
its people like him who give everyone a bad name.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 11:04 AM
Dave, my kind will be right behind "your kind" to the "Christian re-education camps". (no homo).
CGar, in that case, will be re-educated twice :o).
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 11:05 AM
No, wait...it was the N word (I think?)
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 11:05 AM
>>Go sell crazy someplace else. The class warfare angle is tired, old and played.
If you are for wealth re-destribution just say it, now is your time with all the socialists coming out of the woodwork in the federal government, after all.
i disagree. the class warfare is only starting.
i am not for wealth distribution as much for the return of the wealth that was stolen from the middle class and given to the already wealthy.
real wages have stagnated for 30 years while the rich became super wealthy.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 11:06 AM
FOT...make sure you get the correct post where it was directed at someone and not the following post by someone (wink wink) who was discussing the "use" of the word. everything in it's proper context.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:07 AM
CC's SUPERIOR PITCHING????? BWAHAHAHAHAHA
A ROD's SUPERIOR BATTING!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Hi. Pretty busy today. The 1927 Yankees couldn't have touched Cliff Lee last night. He was incredible.
However he can't pitch every night. The series is seven games. And heading into tonight's game, I have one question for the Phillies' starter:
WHO'S YOUR DADDY?
Posted by: East New York at October 29, 2009 11:09 AM
you just come across as being jealous of rich people stevieb. i freely admit i am jealous of rich people but i don't go ranting and raving about it non stop. just shop at associated supermarket and buy your beer in bodegas like the rest of us non moneybags do. places like whole foods and trader joes are lame anyway.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 11:10 AM
"i am not for wealth distribution as much for the return of the wealth that was stolen from the middle class and given to the already wealthy."
Some specific examples for us to discuss, please.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:10 AM
FOT, I don't think it's fair to DIBS to dig that one up.
Plus, he and The What made amends.
Let it die.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 11:10 AM
"And heading into tonight's game, I have one question for the Phillies' starter:
WHO'S YOUR DADDY?"
That's funny, ENY.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 11:11 AM
Too many people think that they are "middle class".
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 11:11 AM
cmu,
You state you are for a very high marginal tax rate?
Welcome to New York City. Land of the over-taxed and overwrought.
Fed taxes, State taxes, City taxes, unincorporated business taxes, mortgage taxes (the infamous Cuomo tax), property transfer taxes, the list goes on just like the taxes on your cell phone bill which are too numerous to mention.
add to that,
water bill hikes
property tax hikes
parking tickets
sanitation tickets
11 dollar tolls
etc
etc
...and you wonder if this is what Americans fought a Revoultion over.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:13 AM
Then define middle class chicken.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:13 AM
I liked the "following post by someone (wink wink) who was discussing the "use" of the word." That was funnier, and targeted a most beloved poster. I don't even remember the original or what it was about, it was too serious.
Do you remember who used the N word in the original? I can try to dig it up.
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 11:13 AM
Here are the reasons that we should not cast our votes for Bloomberg.
1) Term limits extension. Despite the fact that the voters of New York City voted twice FOR term limits, Bloomberg thought that he knew better than the voters what was good for the city and manipulated the media and self interested city council members who would not be able to find a job like that ever again to support his actions.
2) Media. Just because the mayor has spent $87 million of his billions to launch a television ad assault for to taut his "accomplishments" does not mean that there are really accomplishments. He showed his willingness to once again, go against the will of the people with his redevelopment plans. Specifically, the new Yankee Stadium, the new Mets stadium, the proposed West Side stadium and the proposed Atlantic Yards arena. Who are we the people, to know what would work in our communities? Is unfettered development good? Let's just ask the residents of Williamsburg who live among abandoned and stalled construction sites.
3) Schools. Just because the mayor says the schools have gotten better doesn't mean that he is telling the truth. Ask any educator, who now only teaches test taking techniques and not teach. Ask any special ed student who has had his IEP altered becaues their "small school" does not offer the appropriate services. Ask any parent who has been effectively barred from having any say in their child's school experience.
4) The City Charter revision is coming. Do you think that the we have a Manhattan centric government now? Wait until, Bloomberg eliminates the community boards altogether. As things stand now, if it were not for the experience of community board staffs, we would not have any local accountability for city agency services to our community.
We don't need an imperial mayor who knows what's best. We need a mayour who will fight for the best interests of ALL citizens, not just the wealthy, not just those who inhabit the island of Manhattan.
Posted by: BrooklynIsHome at October 29, 2009 11:13 AM
au contraire, chicken. I envision us as all lower class (socially and mentally) :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 11:15 AM
ENY is right that the 27 Yanks couldn't have touched Lee last night. He was that good. while I am desperate to see Pedro destroyed tonight, I am also quite afraid of the concept of him resurrecting his early 2000's form for 7 innings and putting us in a 2 game whole.
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 11:17 AM
here is how *i* define middle class
anyone who is not on public assistance (welfare, section 8, or unemployment) up to making 99,999 K. (that 99 K can be combined or a single)
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 11:17 AM
BIH - I think it's more important to have a mayor who can be effective. Unfortunately, I don't think BT is it.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 11:17 AM
FOT,
Don't wade into that thicket again. If you are a newbie and weren't around when all that went down, you're in over your head. And if you were around, you should know better.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 11:18 AM
"i am not for wealth distribution as much for the return of the wealth that was stolen from the middle class and given to the already wealthy."
Some specific examples for us to discuss, please.
*
Lets start with the de-regulation of investment banks and the SEC allowing the leverage to go from 15:1 to 40:1 between 2003-2007. That created a lot of millionaires who bought brownstones and priced poor renters out of the desirable neighborhoods in brooklyn.
When everything fell apart in 2008 and we realized that all the profits from 2003-8 were phantom paper gains, the tax payers stepped in to support the investment banks and everyone got big bonuses in 2008, and again in 2009.
How is that not thievery?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 11:19 AM
The more I think about it, the less I care about the term limits extension. I am more concerned about doing what is right for this city than the term limit controversy. If the people really want Thompson in, they'll vote for him.
Vote for whom you think is the best candidate for the job, people! Vote for Thompson if you think he can do a better job for the city, but don't vote for him or abstain from voting because of the term limit issue. Just my opinion.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 11:19 AM
"FOT, I don't think it's fair to DIBS to dig that one up."
I didn't mention a name for a reason Biff, cause I didn't want to call attention to that person.
But you're right Biff, I won't dig it up or post it. It's not fair.
Moving on.
Kitty talk, please.
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 11:19 AM
"Then define middle class chicken.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:13 AM"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0DUsGSMwZY
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 11:20 AM
yeah, Republicans are not just motivated by wealth, that's so unfair-- they also want to exploit prejudices, curb civil rights, and curb worker's rights! hahaha. J/K. i mean, its true, except that northeast republicans don't really match up with that otherwise RNC description. I am voting for Bloomberg, even though I'm mad at him for the homeless shelter clearing-house thing. I think he's got an impressive urban-pplanning vision; again, apart from homeless shelter clearing house.
otherwise-- Mark Winson Griffith for the 36th! Let's talk local!
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:20 AM
wasder, I agree. I'm not over-confident whatsoever about tonight's game. Even when past their prime, great pitchers like Pedro often have a way of resurrecting their best stuff.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 11:21 AM
stevieb,
the fundamental problem with your argument about a "30 year" class struggle in which the "middle class" lost their money is this;
You assume a static class structure. We have a dynamic class structure in which people and families move up and down the ladder. Some, very publically as we see all the time in city newspapers. The story of the immigrant turned owner, the story of the owner turned philanthropist or the wealthy gone poor.
what do you think attracts people to this nation in the first place? The possibility.
What's next? a fundraiser for MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice?
...uh spell check on my last post. that should read revolution. sorry.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:22 AM
Somewhere I read or heard about Pedro pitching well in warm weather only now...
The knock on CC was he always sucked in big games. In cleveland, a big game was the ALCS. In New york, a big game is no the ALCS - that's just a signpost on the way to a championship for Yankees fans - but the World Series.
That was a fascinating game last night. the best part was the ceremonial first pitch. VERY moving!!
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 11:24 AM
oh, Legion, spare me the outlier poor-immigrant-cum-lucrative business owner. Stagnant wages for 30 years, despite a constant rise in productivity-- there is something seriously wrong with that, and you don't have to be a socialist to think so.
so, i have a cat that used to smell like nothing, and now she constantly smells like litterbox-- thoughts?
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:25 AM
God I f**ing hate Pedro!
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 11:25 AM
Since it was requested: Just in time for Halloween my cats went into needing-exorcism mode this a.m. Eldritch screams & fur standing on end. A stray was sitting nose-to-nose w/ them on a window sill. Thank goodness the window was closed!
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 11:25 AM
Classic, chicken!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:25 AM
"big game is NOT the ALCS" - oh, the typos!
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 11:26 AM
Have you checked her butt, Blowfish?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 11:27 AM
blowfish, Did you change the kind of litter? Food?
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:27 AM
And to whom will Mark Winston Griffith be beholden? Truly not an indenpendent candidate (although he has never claimed to be.) Mark is just looking for his NEXT big thing and has found a group of homeowners who cannot GET the incumbent to bend to their will.
Posted by: BrooklynIsHome at October 29, 2009 11:27 AM
CC was not the problem last night. 7 innings of two run ball should be good enough for the Yankees to win. Most nights anyway. Gotta hope AJ is not a head case tonight and that Pedro finds a way to lose to the Yankees just like he used to in his prime for the Red Sux.
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 11:29 AM
i did her change her foof, actually, i got the huge costco kind. but all of her fur smells like amonia. same litter tho.
um, incumbent won't bend to the will of his constituents? is that code for show up to work and represent his consituents? yeah, that's a really unreasonable expectation BIH
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:30 AM
Lets start with the de-regulation of investment banks and the SEC allowing the leverage to go from 15:1 to 40:1 between 2003-2007. That created a lot of millionaires who bought brownstones and priced poor renters out of the desirable neighborhoods in brooklyn.
.
How is that not thievery?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 11:19 AM
Stevie, just because some people are priced out of homes it doesn't mean that their wealth/income has been stolen from them.
What you want sounds like entitlement: I can't sell my books that I write so therefore I deserve a place to live.
If you want to live on a commune, go find one.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:31 AM
What rubbish, Legion. If you don't believe statistics, there's no argument. The lower income group has been essentially static, the very high income earners have seen quite an increase in the last decade or so.
"The top 10 percent, roughly those earning more than $100,000, also reached a level of income share not seen since before the Depression"...NY Times Business section 5/7
Just because you can cite specific examples of upward social mobility it does not negate that fact. Of course there are examples of "poor immigrants" who "worked hard" and reached the "American dream." (sounds like a Zagat survey). What you need to see is the average and the trend, and the fact that unemployment has reached 10% may be significant.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 11:31 AM
Yankees bullpen, other than Rivera, is scary.
And not in a good way, for Yankees fans.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 11:31 AM
Sorry folks, for drudging up a negative topic.
We need a feel good song right now. One of my all time favorite poster gave us:
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/12/open_thread_wed.php
> SnarkSlope to compose new musical.
The infinitely wise Montrose Morris is correct. I present to you, ladies, gentleman, posters of all ages, a rough draft of:
"Brownstonerian Rhapsody"
Are these the End Times?
Is this just real estate?
Caught in a collapse
No escape from the big deflate
Open your eyes,
Look up to the comps and see
I'm just a poor boy, I got no equity,
I got a liar loan, sub-prime loan,
Risk rate high, FICO low,
Any way the price goes doesn't really matter to me, to me
Muffet, just bought a place,
Put an offer in today,
Pulled the trigger, so they say,
Muffet, the fall has just begun,
But now you’ve gone and thrown your cash away
Muffet, oooh-oooh-oooh,
Didn’t think you’d ever buy
If I’m not back again to blog tomorrow
Comment on, comment on, as if pricing doesn’t matter
Too late, the end has come,
Foreclosures on my block, prices dropping like a rock
Goodbye, everybody, I've got to go,
Gonna mail the bank the keys and walk away
Muffet oooh-oooh-oooh, I don't want to cry,
But I sometimes wish I'd never done bought at all
[guitar solo]
I smell a little whiff of doom down on Wall Street,
Banker d0uche, banker d0uche, will you do the perp walk now?
Fannie Mae and Freddy, swirling down an eddy, whee!
Housing bubble! Housing bubble!
Housing bubble! Housing bubble!
Housing bubble trouble-o-o-o-o
I’m just a renter and nobody loves me
He’s just a hipster from a rich family-
Spare him his life from responsibility
Easy come easy go, will you let me go
Bernanke!
No, we will not let you go
(let him go)
Bernanke!
We will not let you go
(let him go)
Bernanke!
We will not let you go
(let me go)
Will not let you go
(let me go)
Will not let you go
(let me go)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Obama mia, ‘Bama mia, ‘Bama mia save us all
Beelzebush has a pardon put aside for me, for me, for me
So you think you can rob me and bail out the bank
So you think you can sell me the Kool-aid you drank
Oh Henry, can’t do this to me, Henry
Just gotta bail out, just gotta bail right outta here
Everything’s in tatters,
Anyone can see,
Everything’s in tatters, everything’s in tatters, you see
(Who knows where the TARP goes?)
Posted by: SnarkSlope at December 17, 2008 10:33 AM
Posted by: Funny Old Thread at October 29, 2009 11:31 AM
i was really pissy i went to watch the wendy williams show last night and the stupid world series was on. GRRRRRRR
unless i checked the wrong channel or something. grrrr the world series just be a pay-per-view event, not on regular tv.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 11:32 AM
yeah, what happened to Phil Hughes? Guy was lights out all year and all of a sudden can't throw the ball over the plate.
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 11:32 AM
BrooklynisHome,
your point about the schools not getting better is false. objective studies have shown a decreased gap in learning between black and white students over the past few years.This is not a result of "teaching to test" as critics would say, but a fundamental change in the core curriculum which emphasizes early reading goals and math goals. That gap that in the past was often written off as insurmountable has been decreasing. We have seen more accountablilty from schools as well.
how do I know it works?
My son was reading before finishing kindergarden. I didn't even start till 1st grade(yes I went to public schools in NYC).
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:32 AM
[scooting over to go sit next to cmu, ah, comfy now.]
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:33 AM
quote:
"If you want to live on a commune, go find one."
LOL, sadly, even the communes in brooklyn youll need to be super rich to get into. i.e. do a search on all the Co-housing threads hahahah
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 11:34 AM
thanks Cobby.
What do you think of these academic models?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class#Academic_models
In all models, over half of households should be considered working or lower class but in my (admittedly limited) experience, most people want to put themselves into the middle or upper classes.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 11:34 AM
cmu,
you are missing the point altogether.
first off, you treat the classes as a set population.
they obviously aren't.
second, you assume no overall improvement in standard of living which is again false.
you tie your assumptions to a numerical indicator of rich and poor without regard for the intrinsic meaning.
at best because of a preconceived notion of what wealthy means, at worst because of a need to foster discord between members of our society in order to advance political ideology.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:36 AM
FOT, that was one of the BEST posts ever. I think I fell a little more in love with Snarky that day, sigh!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:37 AM
OK, now FOT, you are reposting old threads that were already recently reposted, although I can never get enough of that one. Seriously, what's your story? Multiple login? Longtime lurker? Newbie/
Biff, are you ceding soem of your presidential duties to FOT?
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 11:37 AM
I thought we settled this nonsense. Vote Snappy for Mayor and all your problems will be solved! Hola losers :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 11:38 AM
Thanks, ch!
Have to take issue with your choice on "proving" schools are getting better, Legion. Son reading before 6? My son (and I'm a very proud parent) did not start until 6-3/4; one of his friends (a kindergarTen jock) was reading the Sports section of the NYT at 6. What does all that prove? Nothing. BrooklyisHome's point is well taken.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 11:39 AM
You've got my vote, Snaps!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:39 AM
Snappy, you going to have Christine Quinn as your b&^tch??
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:40 AM
**InsertSnappyNameHere for mayor**
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:40 AM
"add to that,
water bill hikes
property tax hikes
parking tickets
sanitation tickets
11 dollar tolls
etc
etc" - thanks Legion for giving us reasons not to vote for Bloomberg.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 11:41 AM
Oh y god Legion I cannot believe you are trying to argue that stagnant wages are meaningless. You almost made me use crazy all-caps. I cannot believe you are disavowing any difference between classes. Try an entire generation of thirty-somethings with advanced degrees and professional jobs that have to borrow money from their middle-class, lesser educated parents in order to make ends meet. seriously. Foster discord? ohmyfingod. you pay my mortgage, then, and we'll have peace. Is calling the top 1% of the county wealthy a statement clouded by 'preconceived notions of what wealthy means'? do you even listen to yourself?
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:42 AM
"CGar, in that case, will be re-educated twice :o)"
Kens, I'm afraid if stevieb and his "kind" had it his way, I'd sew a pink triangle on one sleeve and a yellow star on the other, and he'd march me off to something other than a Christian re-education camp.
Off to enjoy my frivolous shenanigans now!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 11:42 AM
All right...two votes down...8 million to go. Think I can make some headway by Tuesday?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 11:42 AM
DIBS, The Phillies look really good with Cliff Lee on the mound... Hopefully Pedro struggles tonight.. But I don't understand the hostility... You aren't a Red Sox fan are you?
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 29, 2009 11:43 AM
Legion, the gap between the rich and poor in this country is the widest since post WW II, and accelerated in the past decade with the republican policies of estate, dividend, income, corporate tax cuts as well as deregulating everything.
The republicans coerced us into sending millions of jobs overseas, and while this increased the profits at big corporations and boosted stock prices, hurt ordinary americans who dont hold as much equity as a percentage of their net worth as the wealthy. Moreover, with the dividend tax cuts, the profits that showed up at big corporations were transferred easily to the wealthy who held the shares for a long time. This is legalized theft and not obvious to most people unless you have the time to connect the dots.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 11:43 AM
you pay my mortgage, then, and we'll have peace.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:42 AM
Why is it that all they really want is a handout? Something for nothing.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:45 AM
Legion: I'm NOT "treating the classes a set population,"...that would imply I'm using specific groups to prove my point.
It's an overall statistic: "the top 300000 earn more than the bottom 150 million" (NYT) for instance is a statistic. What's to argue with that? If you think it's OK, I can't argue with you, but I think income disparity of this nature, and which is increasing, is unacceptable.
And afa "overall improvement in standard of living" is concerned, that was true in every decade from the Depression until the 90's. I'm sure I can dig up a citation, but it has NOT happened since then. Indicators (except perhaps house size) shows a Lowering of the s-o-l.
"to foster discord between members of our society in order to advance political ideology"...I widh I could, if not discord, at least outrage. But only the Republican media-wonks are good at doing that, and falsely at that, not us lefties.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 11:46 AM
blowfish, come sit over here with cmu and me.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:46 AM
"The more I think about it, the less I care about the term limits extension."
Says PLUSA President Biff Champion!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 11:47 AM
blowfish,
who's arguing there aren't any differences between classes?
there are surely differences, it's just that in America, if you are poor you can still get three meals a day and live in a brownstone just like the rich.
tell me I'm wrong.
tell me there aren't people of upper and lower classes living side in this city.
what you would like is an automatic front row ticket.
nice try.
I wanted a ticket to the Yankees game yesterday.
couldn't get it.
guess I should just call all those people in the stadium a bunch of rich, exclusionary types.lol.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:48 AM
"Why is it that all they really want is a handout? Something for nothing"
And I suppose the rich don't?
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 11:49 AM
The republicans coerced us into sending millions of jobs overseas, and while this increased the profits at big corporations and boosted stock prices, hurt ordinary americans who dont hold as much equity as a percentage of their net worth as the wealthy.
Moreover, with the dividend tax cuts, the profits that showed up at big corporations were transferred easily to the wealthy who held the shares for a long time. This is legalized theft and not obvious to most people unless you have the time to connect the dots.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 11:43 AM
Legalized theft????? Just because you don't own any stock the dividends have been "stolen" from the ordinary Americans?????
I haven't heard this much bullshit since yesterday when everyone was talking about how good the Yankees pitching and hitting was.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 11:50 AM
"if you are poor you can still get three meals a day and live in a brownstone just like the rich. tell me I'm wrong."
EH?? WRONG
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 11:51 AM
"The republicans coerced us into sending millions of jobs overseas"
The ignorance of some people on this site is astounding. Stop staring at your navel and realize that we are in a global economy. Have you recently checked where your Sony or Panasonic TV is made? Malaysia - not Japan. In the past 10 years, most Italian textile plants have shifted their production from their home base to Asia. ALL of the advanced economies have shifted alot of their production to Asia, REGARDLESS of who was in control of the government. Most of the governments in Europe are far to the left of that in the US, and the same damn thing has happened. The largest automobile manufacturer in China is Volkswagon.
Get your head out your brownstone ass for a minute and understand that economics has a life of its own, regardless of these crazy theories you cook up.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 11:52 AM
What's with the bitterness kens, legion and DIBS?
Stop and appreciate what you have, you can afford [literally and figuratively] to be a little more generous to your fellow humans.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:54 AM
**yawn**
***Snappy For Mayor** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 11:55 AM
cmu,
again, you are not getting my basic premise, so I will spell it out for you and stevieb.
you say that a widening wage gap and "rich and poor" status in america is evidence of something gone wrong.
I say, it is an integral (not always fair) part of a capitalist society which values upward mobility and actually encourages it. You don't have to buy in though if you don't want to.
I say that the quality of life for the "poor" in America is not necessarily a Dickensian squalor as it is in Brazil for example, but a more subtle difference.
if you are poor, you can still fly in a plane.
if you are poor, you still get 3 meals a day.
if you are poor, you can still drive a car.
if you are poor, you can still make yourself not poor.
the end point of your arguments are that the rich have somehow taken something away from the middle class in the past 30 years. when in fact, what we have lost is the manufacturing base due to much more complex factors of globalization and improved standard of living expectations.
even when we had the manufacturing base, people didn't live as well as they did today in comparison to the wealthy.
in the 50's you couldn't just hop a flight to Florida for 99 dollars. You were lucky to even have one family car.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:55 AM
No, DIBS, the pay-my-mortgage comment was in response to Legion's claim that stagnant wages have no real-world quality of life repercussions, and that a frank discussion about economic injustices was really only a tool to 'foster dischord.' i was saying that was as crazy as expecting he should pay my mortgage to avoid dischord.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:56 AM
dibs is pissed and his phillies won.. Shit I am happy and my Yankees lost.. What is wrong with DIBS?
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 29, 2009 11:56 AM
"Get your head out your brownstone ass for a minute and understand that economics has a life of its own, regardless of these crazy theories you cook up."
Until it dies - and gets a "do over"
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 11:57 AM
also, can't believe you are comparing your inability to get a yankees ticket with the plight of the working class. i see first hand everyday what some these people are dealing with. people with 2 jobs, sometimes more. trust me, their problems are worse than not getting into the yakees game.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 11:58 AM
cmu,
have you heard of a little neighborhood called Bedford-Stuyvesant?
yes, there are poor folks living beside wealthy folks there.
sorry to burst your bubble.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 11:58 AM
"wasder, I agree. I'm not over-confident whatsoever about tonight's game. Even when past their prime, great pitchers like Pedro often have a way of resurrecting their best stuff."
"yeah, what happened to Phil Hughes? Guy was lights out all year and all of a sudden can't throw the ball over the plate."
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Oh ye of little faith. One loss has you guys afraid of the Yanks losing the whole thing? You guys are jumping off the bandwagon? Phil Hughes is a 20-something who's never been in the playoffs. Girardi will figure out a way to make the staff work up to Mo, just as he's done ALL season! Did Jim Leyritz think it was over when the Braves were up 2 games to none? Did Andy Pettite? You guys get it together and shape the f**k up!
"God I f**ing hate Pedro!"
NOW you've got it! Keep those vibes going! ABOVE ALL, DO NOT SELL OUT ON YOUR TEAM. REPEAT AFTER ME:
WHO'S YOUR DADDY?
Posted by: East New York at October 29, 2009 12:00 PM
I'm very happy. I just can't stand it when nutjobs like Stevie spin their own economic theories to support their political beliefs.
I guess he's a fiction writer.
cobble, Stevie started all of this. I'm just responding.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:00 PM
I'm taking such pleasure in seeing everyone rip stevieb (aka dandel) a new one today.
Thanks all.
:)
Posted by: 11217 at October 29, 2009 12:01 PM
yes, there is a variation of wealth.
Legion, if your point is that our poor working class is better off than the people in the slums of india, north korea, or brazil, then I agree with you. is that what you are saying?
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 12:02 PM
"You guys get it together and shape the f**k up!"
You are totally right of course ENY. I just was just expressing my deepest fears amongst friends. But fair weather I am not and of course I remember losing the first two games in 96 at home. So yeah, F**K PEDRO! Go Yanks!
Posted by: wasder at October 29, 2009 12:06 PM
The problem with your statement, benson, is that it misses the point of job transfer abroad. You're right in that manufacturing transfer is inevitable, but we here could've mitigated its effects.
There was the opportunity to encourage the types of technological manufacturing here which would've given us a head start--say solar panels, high-speed rail, etc. And a little protectionism would've gone a long way. I guess "patriotism" is only a buzz-word for the political arenas.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 12:08 PM
DIBS, I want some of the money that you earned. Can you send it to me?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:08 PM
blowfish,
it is part of what I am saying. the other part is that those people in the slums of india, north korea and brazil don't get a chance to succeed.
at the very least all do in our country today.
by sowing this type of class discord you are negating that idea and substituting the notion of a caste system or a rigid structure to wealth in america.
I'm also asking you to examine what it is you mean when you say poor in america, because too many times this term is thrown around with all the assumptions of a Sally Struthers commercial.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:09 PM
"I'm very happy. I just can't stand it when nutjobs like Stevie spin their own economic theories to support their political beliefs."
Oh, ok, now we get the ad hominen attacks. I guess sane, calm, rational, correct people like you and Legion should allowed to spout your apolitical, humanistic beliefs without retort.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 12:12 PM
ditto, you deliver up the two brothers in law to me and we can work something out. no homo.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:12 PM
>>what we have lost is the manufacturing base due to much more complex factors
>>Stop staring at your navel and realize that we are in a global economy.
>>Just because you don't own any stock the dividends have been "stolen" from the ordinary Americans?????
yes, it is a global economy. but the exporting of our jobs overseas have benefited the rich more(who hold greater % of equity) than the poor. The profits at big corporations were passed on at a lower tax rate (div tax cut) to the wealthy, who just kept the money. part of that money should have been spent on job re-training or creating new and dynamic industries. otherwise, we are going to continue to see the unemployment rate continue to climb and more social unrest to come.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 12:12 PM
CMU - the standard of living has been raised in many countires countries exporting to the US, your protectionism would have mitigated or even prevented that. No need to be so chauvinistic about whose standard of living sould be raised.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:12 PM
Legion, every time I go to Louisiana I see that "Sally Struthers commercial" level of poor. And I am not exaggerating. I have family that live that way. Just because you don't see it in your immediate surroundings or everyday does not mean it doesn't exist here in the USA.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:12 PM
I'm also asking you to examine what it is you mean when you say poor in america, because too many times this term is thrown around with all the assumptions of a Sally Struthers commercial.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:09 PM
QOTD
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:14 PM
That's true, ditto. And as a immigrant from one of them, you've spiked my guns awhile.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 12:14 PM
From today's Times, for cats and their owners:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/garden/29pets.html?_r=1&ref=garden
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 12:14 PM
Lest dogs and dog owners feel excluded:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/27/garden/20090727-reader-dog-photos.html
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 12:15 PM
i am asking you to examine what it is you mean when you say 'chance to succeed.' That is a phrase that thrown around too much. Maybe the people in the Congo have a chance to succeed, if they simply stage a violent revolution. Our working class people have systematic obstacles designed to keep them from advancing, designed to stop them from using their own labor as capital, despite the fact that some break through.
i am also thanking everyone for not pointing out my typo-bonanza today.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 12:16 PM
CMU;
Please compare the job growth in the US with that of Western Europe and Japan over the past 25 years. There has been virtually ZERO job growth in these other economies.
Ever hear of Cisco, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Intel or Yahoo? These are the companies of the future. They have generated vast amounts of wealth and jobs. Tell me: where is the Japanese or European equivalent of Google or Intel?
Finally, let me politely respond to anyone who questions my patriotism: F%ck you very much.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 12:16 PM
CMU, I remember (India?), and, I'm an immigrant from a country whose standard of living has not increased due to exporting to America.
DIBS - your 50 yr old mind is as sharp as a surgical knife when it comes to remembering potential lays.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:19 PM
insertsnappyname,
we can always do better, no doubt. but I will ask you. do those people in Louisana get free schooling? do they get free medical care? do they get free food ? do they have shelter?
you know they do. this is the USA after all.
you make it seem like there is no role for free will in this nation.
Is that what you and CMU are suggesting? because that is a much larger debate.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:20 PM
"I guess sane, calm, rational, correct people like you and Legion should allowed to spout your apolitical, humanistic beliefs without retort."
Correct! Now you're getting it, cmu! ; )
Patriot! Whose a patriot!? Didn't Sarah Palin teach you anything? Only conservatives/right wing republicans are patriotic! We're no good rotten commies who should be taken out and shot for our beliefs! We're ruining this good country of ours, I mean theirs!
[Thank g*d I have to leave now, I feel SUCH a rant coming on....]
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 12:21 PM
First game into the season and M4L can no longer boast that the Knicks are undefeated.
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 9:22 AM
That's call foresight my man. I knew this would happen hence I squeezed in all the undefeated lines for as long as I can.
another brutal day covering mtgs for boss and yeah, no decisions were made - just bs brainstorming, planning, etc chit chat
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 12:21 PM
Cobble- can I sit with you guys (Snaps- I'm voting for you too!)
Brooklynishome- if by incumbent you mean Al Vannished, the man who has done nothing for Crown heights, Mark Griffith is by far a better choice. Vannished is useless- it isn't just homeowner who want him out. Its those of us who want to see an effective leader speaking up and out for us. No one can bend Al to their will- he doesn't care.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 12:22 PM
cmu...maybe you misunderstood my post. He's inventing his own economic reality to fit his political view. He's not spinning actual economic theory.
As for the "nutjob" ad hominem attack, go back and read his earliest posts today from before you arrived on the scene.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:22 PM
CMU and Snappy,
I do take offense at you suggesting that I am somehow lacking in "humanistic" qualities because I expect much of my fellow man. I do expect my fellow man to strive to make things better for himself and his family. I do expect my fellow man to hue closely to an ideal that is fast becoming an anachronistic notion; "work is good for the soul".
I also expect my fellow man to learn from his past mistakes and realize that a society built on the assumption that you are due something, is a society on route to failure.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:25 PM
I'm voting for Snappy, too. Lessee, that makes how many? Ladies we got some work to do!
Cobble, break out the folding chairs.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 29, 2009 12:27 PM
oh please- the only people questioning anyone's patriotism were thankfully voted out of office in the last election.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 12:28 PM
Legion, I will assume they get free schooling. I won't guess as to medical care and food. As for shelter, I wish you could see their 'shelter.' It's a crying shame. The only thing I mean to suggest by my comment is that real poverty, the likes of which most of you have never laid eyes on, does exist right here in this country. It is so easy to sit back with our education and our few dollars in the bank and tell others to just get off their ass and get out of squalor-level living situations without having a single iota of a clue as to what it would take to do so. Armchair economics and politics don't do shit except put more hot in into the room.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:29 PM
lol,
blowfish,
so now you are saying that we are failing because we don't have mechanisms for a revolution?
spoken like a true marxist. bravo.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:29 PM
Yay! More votes! We gotta hit the campaign trail ladies :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:30 PM
Snappy '09! I amking my own lapel pin out of office supplies as we speak...
Legion, people that work hard are due something, they are due the fair vaule of their labor. not everyone has a chance to do more than unskilled or low-skilled jobs, and thats not because they're lazy or don't 'learn from their mistakes.'
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 12:31 PM
sorry, but I think Stevie was pointing out what he felt was irony, DIBs, not an ad hominem attack. Plenty of rightwing politicians use social issues as wedge issue to get votes.
And Benson, too, getting little pissy when nobody attacked your personal patriotism but the irony of how 'patriotism' to get votes for political party and then make it easier and more profitable to export jobs by corporations that seem to care less and less about this country.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 12:31 PM
Legion, I in no way meant to suggest that you lack humanistic qualities. If I offended you, I apologize. Again, my only point is that severe poverty is here.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:32 PM
As a city and state taxpayer who can't vote, can someone vote for Bloomers for me?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:33 PM
Yay! Blowfish is on board too! Can I con/bribe anyone else to vote for me?
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:33 PM
"And Benson, too, getting little pissy when nobody attacked your personal patriotism but the irony of how 'patriotism' to get votes for political party"
You mean exactly what CMU did? His implication was that his political beliefs are the patriotic ones. Ridiculous.
I didn't take it personally. I just gave his suggestion the respect it was due.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 12:35 PM
No, Legion, ohmygod, I was saying that 'chance to suceed' is as relative a phrase as the word 'poor.' I was saying the boradest sense, everyone has free will, so even if the oppressed people in the other countires i mentioned conceivably could revolt, but that doesn't mean they are not oppressed. (BTW, we don't have 'mechanisms for revolutions? what deos that even mean?) Here in the states, just because people have free will doesn't mean everyone has equal opportunities to break free from the economic status, and that it is only a matter of individual will. God, my snarking is so clear.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 12:35 PM
"your kind" Pete.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:35 PM
Um, Ditto, I think you meant to ask if anyone can vote for Snappy for you :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:36 PM
insertsnappynamehere,
now you are speaking from emotion. and I will respond from emotion, how many fellow citizens here in nyc have similar stories of poverty and squalor and oppression which which forced them to leave their homelands. Ask them why they came here. they will tell you of a cousin, or a brother or an aunt who came here and fulfilled their lifelong dream without the assumption of a mansion or a place in the hamptons. those who just wanted to practice their religion, or be free of dictators or make enough to raise a son. they didn't go to Venezuela to achieve that, they came here.
I will say it again, to state that a group of americans has somehow forced another group to live in sub-standard conditions or stolen something away from another group is to deny the fact that people are still living their dreams here daily. Sure there are crooks all up and down the classes, but it is not an inherent notion to our society.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:37 PM
ditto- you want us to vote Underwear for you?
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 12:37 PM
What's with the bitterness kens, legion and DIBS?
Stop and appreciate what you have, you can afford [literally and figuratively] to be a little more generous to your fellow humans.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:54 AM
huh? cobble, what that has to do with anything I am saying today? You have NO idea how much I appreciate what I have and what I actually earned myself and I don't think either does Dave or Legion but I can't speak for them.
In terms of being a little generous to fellow humans..... I don't usually throw in people's faces what I do or don't have but I donate more percent of my income to charities than probably 80% of Brownstoners. I also donate loads of time to non-profit organizations and programs so please don't comments on something you are not aware of because I say that there are people on here with sense of entitlement or that someone is being ridiculous. Not agreeing with disparity of middle class or voting republican or democrat has nothing to do with not respecting fellow human beings.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 12:38 PM
I'd vote for anyone wearing a pair of snappy bloomers
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:39 PM
"Not agreeing with disparity of middle class or voting republican or democrat has nothing to do with not respecting fellow human beings.
"
Amen to that, Kens. You know someone can no longer logically debate an issue when they start questioning your personal genorosity or patriotism.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 12:42 PM
Legion...I never said anyone forced people to live this way. I only said that they *do* live that way in this country. And the part of me that is ultra conservative doesn't give a hoot about oppression in other lands that drive people to come to the USA (I believe in taking care of Americans first and exclusively before helping anyone else or allowing them to come here to avoid poverty and squalor). I just don't have the energy or desire to get into a super deep discussion on a blog about this, it will only serve to get me angry and frustrated. Let's just agree to disagree and look forward to quaffing a brew together at the next PLUSA event :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:43 PM
Ditto, I've got snappy bloomers! Oh, wait...no I don't. To the store ---------->
:)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:44 PM
I think this is as appropriate a time as any to announce that I've become a member of the Union League Club of Philadelphia. Yes, it IS the quintessential Republican social club but you must read up on how and why it was founded. It was the first Union League club in the country followed by Brooklyn & Manhattan. Check wikipedia and see especially the role that the NY club played in organizing and protecting the Colored regiment for the Civil War.
he motto of the club is "Love of Country Leads" which was the motto of the 6th Cavalry in the Civil War.
The club has original portraits of the Presidents of the United States, but ONLY the republican presidents; so in that sense it is still VERY republican.
One of the overriding reasons for joining though is that you get a "full pour" at the bar. :)
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:46 PM
I love the rich and 'successful' telling those who aren't that poverty doesn't exist in America - and that everyone had a fair shot at getting a piece of the pie.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 12:47 PM
hiya
the only positive thing I got out of the Yankee game was to get my ass to support the troops!!
so I implore anyone to try and send the troops treats/hygiene products/socks/magazines and letters of appreciation
yes you have the pain in the ass job of shipping them via the post office -but you can do it all online from your home or office and fill out the customs form
I was so moved by some of what the soliders were asking for. Just basic items like toothpaste, coffee and wet wipes... - check out this site.. - just click on any of the names on the left column
http://www.anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 12:48 PM
As a city and state taxpayer who can't vote, can someone vote for Bloomers for me?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:33 PM
Ditto, I'll gladly vote Bloomers for you. I wasn't going to vote at all but because of people like Stevie, I'm going JUST to vote for Bloomberg.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 12:48 PM
cobblehiller,
kens is right, that was really presumptious of you to think that I am bitter.
I am in fact happy with my life and circumstances. and having been poor I certainly understand the difficulties faced by the poor. It is why I continue to work with and for the poor in my professional life.
I could have easily moved to a rich retirement community in Arizona and spent my weekends in Vegas. Instead I work in places like the South Bronx, Bushwick and East New York. And somehow I'm ok.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:48 PM
**amendment**
When I said "the ultra conservative part of me" I should have said the extremist conservative part of me. I realize that their are tons of people who consider themselves ultra conservative and would view my position on that as extremist and I should not have put myself in their category per se.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:48 PM
snappy,
fair enough, I'll still write you in for Mayor. ;)
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:51 PM
g10 and thl, did you catch modern family last night? Quips abound. I need to get a dvr so I can play back when I've missed something.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 12:52 PM
dh, I don't think anyone is saying that poverty doesn't exist in America. Nor has everyone had a fair shot at getting a piece of the pie.
But what is true is that people from "everywhere" "all socioeconomic levels" and the most utter levels of poverty HAVE gotten the pie, and large pieces of it too. They applied themselves and worked their way up to the pie.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 12:53 PM
>>Maybe the people in the Congo have a chance to succeed,
i dont think we should aspire to be better than DRC. we can do better.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 12:54 PM
Thanks Legion :-) I think I've got 5 or six votes now...I've got some shilling to do!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 12:54 PM
AAh, benson, reading comprehension 101 is needed. I implied that being "patriotic" might, just might, include trying to keep jobs here and/or preferring American-made goods. If you or others took that at a criticsim against their patriotism, just remember "[it's] the last refuge of scoundrels."
And *that* was meant to be funny.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 12:54 PM
There have been good arguments on both sides of this, and I've decided to stay out of it, because I don't have time to sit here today, but honestly, Benson, you once again, go where no one has gone.
"You know someone can no longer logically debate an issue when they start questioning your personal genorosity or patriotism."
No one said that, no one implied that about either you or Kens, and a logical debate was happening until you had to make a personal statement of affront over your patriotism.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 29, 2009 12:56 PM
"do they get free medical care?"[implies yes]
I'm confused. Has Louisiana seceded? Or gone socialist? I'm moving there, can save $1090/month on my insurance.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 12:56 PM
Deleep - I did! - it was GREAT -seriously the best show on TV! - you have to remember when it's on so you can watch!
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 12:57 PM
dirty hipster,
Yes, please tell us who is saying that poverty doesn't exist. I already said we could always do better, but at the same time, let's not throw the word around as a political canard to incite a "class warfare" mentality as stevieb was clearly espousing. And let us not get to the point where we can't discuss the true societal successes of this nation.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 12:58 PM
Legion- you and I often disagree on political and some social issues, I know. Having been both well off and poor in my life, I have to say that life happens. It certainly happened to me with a vengeance. I wish I could believe that everyone has the same shot at success but the reality is many people have neither the inner resources, or the social resources to change their lives. What I do believe is that this country does allow for greater mobility than others, but that isn't the same as saying everyone has the same opportunity or ability to get ahead.
I think what you've done with your life, and the work you do is more than admirable. Would that more people had as much social conscience (requisite snark- how can you be a republican???) :)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 12:59 PM
When all is said and done, and all qualifications, nuances, hat-tipping and considerations have been taken into account and performed, there's a reason people risk life and limb trying to get into this country. And it isn't the tea they serve here thats for sure.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 12:59 PM
"But what is true is that people from "everywhere" "all socioeconomic levels" and the most utter levels of poverty HAVE gotten the pie, and large pieces of it too. They applied themselves and worked their way up to the pie."
Outliers Dave - for every 1 person that came from nothing and "made it" there are 5 that are doomed from conception.
A college degree has as much worth as a high school diploma 20 years ago. School costs are at an all time high - kids are coming out of college with 100s of 1000s of debt, sky high interest rates and competing for a job that will likely have stagnant salaries for the next 5 years or so.
I'm not a hater and I admire all you successful, hardworking posters, but the dynamic is MUCH different today than it was when you were my age.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:01 PM
um, why does no one get my 'chance to succeed' jab? I was saying that we should be careful not to confuse 'chance to succeed' with equal opportunity for unaided success depending only on sheer individual will, and I don't think the latter is an objectionable goal
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:02 PM
"dirty hipster,
Yes, please tell us who is saying that poverty doesn't exist. I already said we could always do better, but at the same time, let's not throw the word around as a political canard to incite a "class warfare" "
Sorry dude - tried to clarify above.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:03 PM
If the goods made overseas (Honda, Toyota, Sony, etc, etc, etc) are better then only a fool would buy inferior American products.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:03 PM
Ditto -you can find PG tips at fairway.... you know?
ha
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 1:03 PM
"I do take offense at you suggesting that I am somehow lacking in "humanistic" qualities because I expect much of my fellow man. I do expect my fellow man to strive to make things better for himself and his family"
But the essence of humanism is empathizing with those less fortunate than ourselves (or at least my poor definition of it,) unlike, say, Randism with its extremist individualism. So when you and others here imply that the poor are poor because they don't just hitch up their britches and WORK, it's pretty telling. And galling.
I would contend that most of the "poor" work a lot harder than, say, me, or all of us posters who spend hours blathering on this site. Maybe even two jobs. Tell them that the reason they don't make a million is that they are lazy or un-ambitious.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 1:05 PM
ditto- is that a slur on Tetley?
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 1:06 PM
Montrose;
Have you somehow set yourself up as the monitor of my behaviour on this thread?
It was logical debate, Montrose? Yes, StevieB's "your kind" statement was certainly logical.
Cobble's remark to Legion et al. was certainly logical.
I've made my statement regarding CMU's "patriotism" remark, and he explained himself. Moved on.
Keep trying, Montrose, but I'm not taking the bait.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 1:06 PM
you people make my brain ache sometimes.
so i was at wendy's for lunch (just a small chili) but i bought a book of coupons, 10 coupons for a free frosty!, for only a buck! that's 10 cents per frosty! i know youre supposed to give these coupons out to kids on halloween but i dont think there's a wendy's in brooklyn and im thinking that park slope parents might snub their noses if they see their kids getting a free frosty coupon. . the dollar spent on it did go to a good cause however! actually do kids go trick or treating in nyc. i swear ive been here like over 8 years and i dont recall ever seeing a trick or treater.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:07 PM
g10, it was so manic last night. You need to concentrate when you watch, no throw away lines. I thought the Dr scene was hilarious, let alone the great photo ops.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 1:08 PM
did you guys see my post about supporting the troops?
Geeeeesh!
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 1:08 PM
>>But what is true is that people from "everywhere" "all socioeconomic levels" and the most utter levels of poverty HAVE gotten the pie, and large pieces of it too.
Where are the statistics to back you up? How come the gap between the rich and poor is the widest since WW 2?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:08 PM
I love the rich and 'successful' telling those who aren't that poverty doesn't exist in America - and that everyone had a fair shot at getting a piece of the pie.
Yeah, please put down your crystal balls there Masters of the Universe(aka lucky). We know you work hard, just admit that the rest of us do too (some much harder). Any honest business person will admit that success is 40% hard work and 60% right place, right time.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:08 PM
Theodore Dalrymple has turned into a one-note act but he described these issues very well in his book "Life at the Bottom: the Worldview That Makes the Underclass."
A doctor, one short point he makes is when a murderer describes how the stabbing death he is incarcerated for happened: "The knife went in." As in, unfortunately these things just happened, go figure.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 1:09 PM
CMU and Stevie, a part of my job (and my departments) is figuring out whether we can produce something overseas or in-house (U.S. and maybe Mexico/Canada). Trust me, we really try to have products produced here but with unions and factories here, it's just financially not possible. Just to give you an idea in perspective....If I were to buy a Samsung LCD TV now in BestBuy made in Malasya, I would pay around 1,200. If that same Samsung was produced here in a union factory, I would pay about 8,000 for the same TV which most likely would actually be lower quality of production or about the same quality but no way better. Now my sales would go down by about 80% cause I would barely sell enough 8K TVs. Because of that, I will lay off 80% of my workforce (marketing, design, finance, HR, engineering) and hire 80% more machine workers for the factory so my headcount will be about the same. Now....guess who makes more average salary, a marketing associate (I am not even talking management role) at my company or a average machine worker at a factor in the US??? Trust me, it's simple economics when it all comes down to it. If you come to any of our meetups, I would gladly tell you my industry and show you the numbers broken down. You hardly will be able to argue FACTS that are on paper right in front of you.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 1:10 PM
Delepp
omg - yesssss with their diana ross baby!
priceless
and mannie and his poncho
Rob - of course kids go trick or treating in NYC - esp park slope
hellooo - why not head up to 7th avenue on Saturday around 5pm and they have a parade and all the stores hand out candy
I would think PS parents would actually not be interested in Frosty coupons due to the fact the frosty isn't organic
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 1:10 PM
you people make my brain ache sometimes.
so i was at wendy's for lunch (just a small chili) but i bought a book of coupons, 10 coupons for a free frosty!, for only a buck! that's 10 cents per frosty! i know youre supposed to give these coupons out to kids on halloween but i dont think there's a wendy's in brooklyn and im thinking that park slope parents might snub their noses if they see their kids getting a free frosty coupon. . the dollar spent on it did go to a good cause however! actually do kids go trick or treating in nyc. i swear ive been here like over 8 years and i dont recall ever seeing a trick or treater.
*rob*
I didn't get any trick-or-treaters last year. I wonder if its because of my building, I never lived in an apartment building before...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:11 PM
rob, turns out kids *do* trick or treat in nyc. i think that neighborhood produce maps of which houses participate-- maybe you could get a hold of a map, dress up like a butterfly...
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:11 PM
bxgrl,
I really do appreciate how many on the OT can discuss these issues and still agree to disagree. from the start, I've always felt like John Lennon about it;
"...think of what I'm saying
we can work it out and
get it straight or say goodnight...
..we can work it out..."
"...when you talk about Chairman Mao...
...you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow...
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:12 PM
at least we have hundreds of reality tv shows these days that do give ANYONE of ALL walks of life, the opportunity to become millionaires, or at least make at minimum 50 grand with minimal effort. these didnt exist much many years ago, but they do now. so people who complain need to start applying for these dumb shows, humilate themselves for cash, and make people like me laugh. how to make money these days sure is different than before, but it's still possible. im just throwing that out there as a possibility.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:13 PM
A lot of life is timing, but paying attention is just as important. Look at Bloomberg, left/fired from Salomon and saw an opportunity in publishing of all things. He became content king of financial data. He made his fortune in Publishing, not banking.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 1:13 PM
Rob, let's you and I go trick or treating this year. You can have all the chocolate I get.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 1:14 PM
some are rich due to family money. some are rich cause they got super lucky somehow. well, I aint talking about them. I'm talking about the ones who busted their assed and got some varying degree of success they're happy with. if you aint happy with what you have, what you've accomplished, etc., ask yourself if you have honestly put forth the "110%" effort before you go blaming the system, other people,... I'm pretty confident there's valid & relevant reasons to assign some blame to others but I'm even more confident most of the blame rest with the person in the mirror. for example, I didn't get into MIT vs some of my buddies did. I thought I was as smart or smarter than them. they studied more, worked harder vs me hanging out more and there is where I failed myself in the quest to get into MIT (didn't put forth 110% effort)
Some of you need to step up to the podium and accept some accountability
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 1:15 PM
I get Trick or Treaters every year. If you have decorations or even a stoop light on the kids come. In apt. bldgs. it works the same way - hang a dec or put out a pumpkin. Some bldgs. have sign-up sheets.
Gem - I've sent things to the troops.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 1:15 PM
But what is true is that people from "everywhere" "all socioeconomic levels" and the most utter levels of poverty HAVE gotten the pie, and large pieces of it too.
Where are the statistics to back you up? How come the gap between the rich and poor is the widest since WW 2?
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:08 PM
I really can't believe that you're a writer. You have no ability to comprehend what I wrote, do you.
All I'm saying is that many have. Many people posting here today, myself included, came from backgrounds that were not wealthy and not even middle class, yet they have done great things for themselves.
Some of the richest people in the world came from backgrounds of poverty and working class.
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-rags-to-riches-stories.php
Also, look at most sports celebrities.
How's this for a story:
Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $2.5 billion
Born in rural Mississippi to a poor unwed teenaged mother, and later raised in an inner city Milwaukee neighborhood, Winfrey was raped at the age of nine, and at fourteen, gave birth to a son who died in infancy.
FIND A NEW AGENDA.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:15 PM
quote:
If I were to buy a Samsung LCD TV now in BestBuy made in Malasya, I would pay around 1,200.
LOL x 5000. i bet if you looked hard enough you could find that samsung lct tv for 100 bux in bed stuy ;)
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:17 PM
>>If the goods made overseas (Honda, Toyota, Sony, etc, etc, etc) are better then only a fool would buy inferior American products.
it is not the buying of foreign goods that is unfair. what is unfair is exporting of jobs and the rich benefiting inordinately from their stock holdings along with dividend tax cuts but that money did not come back into the economy in the form of job re training or the creation of new and dynamic industries. That is what is unfair. The rich took the money and kept it. Some bought brownstones in Park Slope.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:18 PM
"LOL x 5000. i bet if you looked hard enough you could find that samsung lct tv for 100 bux in bed stuy ;)"
ROB!! Do you WANT to get yelled at!? LOL
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:19 PM
arkady - thanks! - I am just so moved by some of their needs - sorry perhaps it's my naive ignorance, but why isn't the gov't giving them toothbrushes and kleenex etc?
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 1:19 PM
You can't compete with slave labor and you shouldn't. What Ken is describing is the "race to the bottom" that was caused by the exporting of American jobs overseas where conditions can be extremely dangerous. Read about the Triangle Fire of 1911 and then we'll talk about facts and figures. People in China, Bangladesh and Indonesia work in buildings with chained fire exits and sometimes aren't even allowed to leave AFTER work. When they're in their late teens or early 20's in many cases their eye sight is gone from working in the dark and their backs are permanently bent from stooping over tables for 18 hours at a time. Washed up old men and women at 23.
That my friend is why unions exist.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:20 PM
"I've become a member of the Union League Club of Philadelphia"
Congrats, Dave!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 1:20 PM
quote:
Rob, let's you and I go trick or treating this year.
YES! i am totally up for that. i have gone trick or treating a few times as an adult, and if you make people laugh, you can get some fun stuff!! i went with a friend one year, snuck into a few buildings, and wound up getting MONEY, condoms, candy, random food, etc. i went as a hobo and she just went as herself, no costume.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:20 PM
"Some of you need to step up to the podium and accept some accountability"
"Some of the richest people in the world came from backgrounds of poverty and working class."
"and [people at] the most utter levels of poverty HAVE gotten the pie, and large pieces of it too"
I am collecting raise-yourselves-up-by-your-bootstraps cliches. Please send all future submissions to me at cmu-the-communist@aol.com
The above three receive 7, 8 and 8.5/10 respectively.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 1:21 PM
wait a second, my building DID get trick or treaters. arkady, i was on the stairs of my building last year on halloween and did wind up giving out candy (with an upstairs neighbor) to some kids who walked by. i remember it being very late tho (and i was pretty drunk by that hour so that's probably why i forgot haha)
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:23 PM
Ok...this is the last thing I'm gonna say on this subject...
Doing great things for one's self does not necessarily involve becoming a millionare a la Oprah and sports stars. That is rare and we a all know it. When I taught high school, I always told my kids that there is honor in EVERY job that legal and allows you to support yourself and a family should you choose to have one. Not everyone will be filthy effing rich. What everyone does deserve is good food, shelter, medical care, safety, etc. If you manage to get that by being a doctor, lawyer, plumber, car mechanic or janitor it's all good.
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 1:23 PM
>>I really can't believe that you're a writer. You have no ability to comprehend what I wrote, do you.
i am a writer; not a reader. LOL
the rich poor gap that is widening is a problem and may lead to more social unrests in this country (as unemployment picks up and people read about big bonuses on wall street) Think pitch forks and angry mobs in front of your bed stuy house, dave.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:24 PM
Funny, legion- especially when you think that John Lennon was the ultimate liberal pinko commie ;)
I think what is so disturbing is how things that are for the common good are being labeled socialist or communist or marxist. No country can work as a nation without some degree of socialism. But today people throw the term around as though another Stalin is about to take over and suck up all the wealth to redistribute to peasants. This country doesn't work like that, will never work like that. If a public option is socialism, so is maintaining roads, or an army or system of law. I think socialism is a way of fearmongering without thinking. The town Hall meetings on health care are but an example.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 1:24 PM
Sorry DIBS - your examples are funny - let me give the dumbed down hipster version.
"there are rich people who used to be poor - look at oprah and basketball players!!"
you forgot rap stars.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:24 PM
cmu,
there is a difference between humanism and an assumption of less ability.
be careful how little ability you ascribe to your fellow man.
we are all created equal, or at least it is one of the foundation principles of this nation.
from what you are saying, we should assume less of people and perhaps set up a society in which everyone is taken care of.
Exactly what Brave New World was written about.
so tell us,
are you an Alpha or a Delta? in this society you want to set up.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
it is not the buying of foreign goods that is unfair. what is unfair is exporting of jobs and the rich benefiting inordinately from their stock holdings along with dividend tax cuts but that money did not come back into the economy in the form of job re training or the creation of new and dynamic industries. That is what is unfair. The rich took the money and kept it. Some bought brownstones in Park Slope.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:18 PM
Boy, you really like to beat your head against the wall don't you.
First of all, it's a capitalistic economy. benson covered the job thing already...it's a global phenomenon.
Secondly, regarding "new and dynamic industries," there are more industries/businesses/technologies created in the US than anywhere else on earth.
The rich don't just "keep" their money. The INVEST it. I invested money in Bed Stuy and people benefitted...the seller, the people I hired to work on the place, the resturants I patronize, the car service I take.
If you don't understand capitalism then, fair enough.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
k...this is the last thing I'm gonna say on this subject...
Doing great things for one's self does not necessarily involve becoming a millionare a la Oprah and sports stars. That is rare and we a all know it. When I taught high school, I always told my kids that there is honor in EVERY job that legal and allows you to support yourself and a family should you choose to have one. Not everyone will be filthy effing rich. What everyone does deserve is good food, shelter, medical care, safety, etc. If you manage to get that by being a doctor, lawyer, plumber, car mechanic or janitor it's all good.
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 1:23 PM
Well said.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
DIBS, are you seriously pointing to Oprah Winfrey as proof that no social welfare or even labor regulations are needed because everyone is self-made.
KENS, not financially possible? Two words: American Apparel.
m4l: you not getting into MIT because you did not work hard enough = everyone else that didn't go to college or otherwise advance themselves the way the wanted must be because they didn't work hard enough-- did i get that right?
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
MORE4LESS
"Some of you need to step up to the podium and accept some accountability"
Oh yea...
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 29, 2009 1:26 PM
My wealth came from speculation. Someone else lost out in order for me to have mine. Should I give it back?
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 1:27 PM
SH*T- forget Mayor- Snappy for Queen! (Now, that's a Tiara, snaps!)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 1:27 PM
Just heard on the radio that Boeing is opening a plant in South Carolina - sticking it to union organizers in Seattle who threatened to strike w/o certain stipulations in new contracts. SC plant isn't union. Bet the next union vote will be different in Seattle?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 1:28 PM
"KENS, not financially possible? Two words: American Apparel."
Don't go there - they are bums who don't pay their bills or deliver good on time.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:28 PM
goods***
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:29 PM
300 posts...enuf said...10-4
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 1:30 PM
The rich don't just "keep" their money. The INVEST it. I invested money in Bed Stuy and people benefitted...the seller, the people I hired to work on the place, the resturants I patronize, the car service I take.
If you don't understand capitalism then, fair enough.
Fair enough but in a FREE country workers DO have a constitutional right to organize. The cookie crumbles both ways...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:30 PM
quote:
"The rich don't just "keep" their money. The INVEST it. I invested money in Bed Stuy and people benefitted...the seller, the people I hired to work on the place, the resturants I patronize, the car service I take."
:-/ well arent you the fairy godmother of bed stuy
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 1:30 PM
chicken
I am sure you gave your fair share to UNCLE SAM..
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 29, 2009 1:31 PM
>>If you don't understand capitalism then, fair enough.
If capitalism is working so well, why did the gap between the rich and poor widen to the most since second WW? Why have real wages stagnated for 30 years?
This is just the "republican" brand of capitalism; deregulate, cut taxes, export jobs. Look at what it did to us. The middle class is tired of getting screwed by the rich. We need a second american revolution, NOW!
***Bill Thompson for Mayor!!!***
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:31 PM
bxgrl,
lol, I thought you'd like that Lennon reference. but even he understood that there were limits to societal changes while still maintining a viable free society.
funny story, on one of the recordings for Revolution, he substitutes "in"
for "out" in the line about "when you talk about destruction, ...you can count me out."
certainly, the government has a role in protecting and fostering society.the problem comes when government becomes so large that it's inherent weight crushes our free spirit and abilities. or worse.
there was a reason, Solzhenitsyn wrote The Gulag Archipelago.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:32 PM
I'll take Queen, too Bxgirl! :-) (does that come with a raise?) lol
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 1:32 PM
DH: oops. OK, duly noted, AA not a helpful reference!
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:33 PM
"My wealth came from speculation. Someone else lost out in order for me to have mine. Should I give it back?"
Ah, so you're one of those evil speculaters!!! Yes, give us your money!!
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 1:34 PM
"I am sure you gave your fair share to UNCLE SAM..
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 29, 2009 1:31 PM"
No, I gave it to Lady Britannia - but I'll probably be giving a fair lump to Uncle Sam in the future.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 1:35 PM
That's all i was sayin, Joe from Brooklyn. I'm out.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:35 PM
stevieb,
you just took a two hour break. and now you want to come back demanding higher wages?
thank you for proving our point so succincintly.
lol.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:36 PM
Joe, you can call it anything you like. Most people on here would agree with me.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 10:32 AM
Ahem....
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:37 PM
>>"The rich don't just "keep" their money. The INVEST it.
The rich are asset gatherers. Real estate is a form of wealth preservation. They look to retain their wealth in the form of assets, hard or financial.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:38 PM
"went with a friend one year, snuck into a few buildings, and wound up getting MONEY, condoms, candy, random food, etc"
I love the Halloween episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where Frank gives out condoms by mistake!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 1:38 PM
This is why I love this blog, adult people talking about adult things.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 1:39 PM
Think pitch forks and angry mobs in front of your bed stuy house, dave.
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 1:24 PM
Only if Thompson becomes mayor.
Stick to writing fiction. it's clear that you don't understand what capitalism is all about.
Sorry, I got to go do some currency trades now. Hopefully there will be some loser on the other side of the transaction and I can beat him down into a level of subservience after he loses his rent money speculating on ETrade.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:39 PM
This is why I love this blog, adult people talking about adult things.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 1:39 PM
Hope you're being sarcastic... ; )
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:42 PM
lol dibs,
you are too much.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:42 PM
"I invested money in Bed Stuy and people benefitted...the seller, the people I hired to work on the place, the resturants I patronize, the car service I take"
Escorts too numerous to count ; )
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 1:43 PM
Legion,
I know we disagree philosophically on quite a bit (besides Billie Holiday). But do you really think we are any where near a soul-crushing level of government coersion and control in our lives as existed in the former USSR? There is always room for debate in the US about what functions governmetn should or should not do itself, or regulate, but it takes more than govt size to send dissenters to teh gulag and crush their souls. Stricter regulation of the financial markets, or comprehensive health care, or progressive tax structures, whatever their merits, are not going to lead us to the gulag.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 1:43 PM
blowfish, my point is there's merit in both sides of the argument but too little to no accountability for self not putting forth best effort that one knows they're capable of. beside that MIT example, I have many personal experiences where I got beat out for something by others who tried harder. My point is putting forth best effort allows you to consider not assigning any blame to self for not getting something. but not putting forth best effort puts into squarely into the blame-pool. There are people, organizations, gov, etc that can help or block you from something but the one thing you have most control of is your own effort.
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 1:47 PM
Slopefarm;
When folks are talking about mandating that a person buy health insurance,or face a penalty, we are indeed losing more of our freedoms. Just curious as to what will happen if folks don't choose to buy health insurance and don't pay the penalty. Will they be hauled off to jail for these acts? Call it what you will, but I call it oppression.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 1:48 PM
Escorts too numerous to count ; )
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 1:43 PM
I conveniently left them out, CGar for fear of being accused of taking advantage of the plight of the downtrodden yet still young and hot looking class of people.
And I've got a pretty good story to tell about a guy who was hustling for many years and finally landed a nice job. Yes, it's a union job but I do not begrudge or belittle him for that. If he goes on strike for 12 weeks vacation, all bets are off. Besides, he's a Yankees fan.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:49 PM
CMU, glad my line made it onto a list of yours. BTW, you remain on my top spot of "holier than thou" and "do as I say else you're completely wrong" lists. some have tried but none will be able to unseat you
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 1:49 PM
slopefarm,
these types of movements always start off with the best of intentions then devolve into a bloody mess.
look at the french revolution, it was all; down with the rich, chop off their heads and let's all party. Robespierre "the incorruptable" and Danton and all those high ideals.
then the "great terror".
and finally Napoleon to clean it all up as Emperor.
nice.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 1:50 PM
"I conveniently left them out, CGar for fear of being accused of taking advantage of the plight of the downtrodden yet still young and hot looking class of people"
RAOTFLMMFAO, Dave! Yeah, I have one or two stories like that myself!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 1:54 PM
Legion, I will take the blame for the Yanks dropping game one. I tend to be a bad luck charm for baseball so I don't watch the games. Like a fool, I turned on the game in the 3rd and 5 minutes later the Phils hit that home run. I promise not to turn on the games anymore! HGTV it is :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 1:55 PM
arkady did you see my question?
Posted by: gemini10 at October 29, 2009 1:55 PM
I don't watch sports that have players unions.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 1:56 PM
Ugh - i really shouldn't engage in blog convos while quitting smoking - i want to jump out the window!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 1:57 PM
Maybe the good luck charm known as Kate Hudson has lost its glow.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 1:59 PM
sorry to interrupt but important breaking news folks
(this hopefully will end warring going on here):
"New research published in the online journal PLoS ONE demonstrates for the first time that a non-human adult animal species regularly engages in oral sex behavior. While the behavior has been seen in juvenile animals before(both heterosexual and homosexual bonobos), this is the first time it has been observed in adult animals...The field research, which was conducted in Guangzhou City, China, reveals that in the case of the greater short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) female species-on-male species oral sex now has been documented as a regular occurrence. Scientists observed that in instances where oral sex was performed, copulation time increased."
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 1:59 PM
ROFL, DH!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:00 PM
Yes, Gem, & I don't know the answer. I'd thought it was better now.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 2:00 PM
so benson- isn't your favorite candidate,Bloomberg a proponent then of big government intervention into personal lives? Smoking, weight, diet? That isn't intrusive? How about all those anti-abortion laws, such as the one now on hold in Oklahoma? Not intrusive? Intelligent Design- a religious concept- being taught in public schools? Not stepping on anyone's religious toes? Prop 8? Intruding on the personal lives of gays- not intrusive?
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 2:01 PM
Legion,
I think it is a little crazy to think we're headed for a French revolution of our own based on a few over-the-top comments on the OT. But if you think something bigger is at stake in StevieB's posts, then have at it. I don't want a guillotine in Prospect park any more than you do.
Benson,
Is your soul crushed by mandated auto insurance? By Medicare (I realize you'r not actually there yet, but still . . .)? I respect our disagreements on politics and policy and I wouldn't attempt to convince you to like what's being proposed on health care. But I don't see it as a step on the road to totalitarianism.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 2:02 PM
in instances where oral sex was performed, copulation time increased."
So nature IS like one big, violent porno movie...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:02 PM
thank god for wireless access in this conf rm else I would've fallen asleep in this boring mtg - food coma from huge lunch is kicking in too
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:03 PM
snappy,
so it was you who jinxed the home team!
better tevo it for now on.
hey, at least we're both Yankees fans.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:03 PM
Awesome Pete! Remember that song:
You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
:-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:03 PM
I've dated a bonobo but never a fruit bat
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:04 PM
Dolphins and humans and now bonobos apparently are the only animals who have sex for pleasure, I believe.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 2:04 PM
Legion, I'm gonna stick to watching HGTV and then turning on 1010 Wins to find out who won once it's over! That way, if they drop anymore games it won't be my fault :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:07 PM
**The OT is back to sex...the world is properly on it's axis again**
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:09 PM
Slopefarm;
You know well the difference between mandated auto insurance and mandated health insurance - being a bright lawyer. The former is a requirement to drive on public roads. It is not a personal requirement. If I chose to drive strictly on private property, auto insurance is not mandated. If I chose not to drive at all, auto insurance is not mandated.
Again, my question: how do you characterize a situation where a person may go to jail for not getting insurance for their own personal well-being?? I called it oppression, but I would be curious to see how you characterize it.
As for Medicare: I am not in opposition to a social safety net, and that is what this program is. It is humane to provide medical care for those in their elder years, as they no longer have the ability to generate an income, and the "race is over", sort of speaking. This social safety net is paid out of my taxes. I can elect politicians who determine what level of taxes we pay. Again, I have some freedom here. I don't see it the same as being hauled off to jail because I choose not to insure my own person.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:09 PM
slopefarm,
we don't have to be headed to a revolution, but certainly if you look over the past two centuries there are countless cases of what I'm talking about;
PolPot, MaoZedong, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Castro, Tito, Franco, Milosevic or Chavez to name a few.
most used the same game plan to wrest control of the population.
not saying that's happening here, but I'll certainly remind people of the characteristics.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:10 PM
what? ive seen my ADULT dog give or@l s-x before to other animals. that study must be very old or something.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 2:10 PM
Don't let Sarah Palin find out.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 2:11 PM
pete,
thanks, now I have one more thing to worry about when I go into my attic.
bat juice.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:12 PM
Dolphins and humans and now bonobos apparently are the only animals who have sex for pleasure, I believe.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 2:04 PM
Is there some other reason for sex????
Boy I wish we had all the emoticons like Asshathill.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:12 PM
ROFL, Legion!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:13 PM
Benson - That only makes sense if you as the uninsured may not go to an emergency room for free treatment - which used to be the case years ago. But it's a greater burden on the tax pool to misuse the emergency room than to spread responsibility over all citizens. Self-employed, I was paying upwards of $1000. a month for lousy insurance because having insurance was the responsible thing to do. Many people can't afford that (&, goodness knows, my lifestyle has improved since I got to 65 & didn't have to carry that) & there are few alternatives. Universal health insurance of some kind is desperately needed. Among other things, people w/ some kind of safety net more often have conditions seen to before they reach a crisis - lessening the costs even more.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 2:16 PM
Howling @ "bat juice"!!!!!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:16 PM
Dolphins & humans are also, I think, the only critters in whom the female doesn't have a "season" but are ripe year 'round.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 2:18 PM
m4l: "There are people, organizations, gov, etc that can help or block you from something but the one thing you have most control of is your own effort"
Got an idea: consider writing a self-help book. You got the phrases down pat.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:18 PM
"I don't want a guillotine in Prospect park any more than you do. " --
Slopefarm--Are trying to start a debate about death penalty right now? aren't there enuf arguments already?
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 2:20 PM
"PolPot, MaoZedong, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Castro, Tito, Franco, Milosevic or Chavez to name a few."
I doubt StevieB and his followers will be joining that list or getting any similar traction in the U.S. I just don't see your concern that anything on that level of atrocity is going to happen here. I also think there is a lot of room to discuss income disparities, the advantages of wealth and problems of poverty without being lumped in with that illustrious crowd. Would you add teddy roosevelt to that list? RFK?
Benson,
I don't see that the bills coming out of Congress have criminal provisions attached.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 2:20 PM
"I don't want a guillotine in Prospect park any more than you do"
No, not Park Slope neither...!! LOL
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:20 PM
Dave, Raj Rajaratnam asked the Court to lower his bond - by $75 million - and modify his travel restrictions, claiming he's no flight risk:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33535534
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:21 PM
cmu, apparently there are more than a few people her who could use a self-help book. It might be their first step into the real world.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:22 PM
But wouldn't a guillotine be period appropriate in some nabes? Where is Shillstoner when you need him?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:23 PM
ill take a guillotine in prospect park over those disgusting poop dropping horses and peacocks ANY day!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 2:23 PM
Arkady;
I think you are switching the argument. You are arguing for the safety net to be extended to the uninsured. We can argue about that if you will, but that is NOT what I'm talking about here.
Let's be specific. Suppose you are a healthy 25 year old and as such, you wish to purchase only inexpensive, bare-bones catastrophic insurance. This is a logical move for many young people. Under the legislation being proposed, this person would not be allowed this freedom of choice. He would be mandated to buy a full-fledged policy at a much higher premium, or else face a penalty or jail. This is oppression.
If this health plan does pass, I predict it will quickly be scrapped because young people (such as the case I just cited) will quickly come to realize what happened: a new, stealth heavy tax had been imposed on them.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:25 PM
Trying to connect topics here; didn't leading progressives call this bill a (fruit bat) blow job to the insurance industry?
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:25 PM
Isn't there already a guillotine at Grand Army Plaza?
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:25 PM
KENS, not financially possible? Two words: American Apparel.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
You kidding right? LOL. Besides what DH said, I can name about 10 reasons why they are just horrible without even involving the whole outsourcing issue. Don't get me started :o). I may not know about 401K allocations or politics but my specialized niche is consumer products analysis and production of consumer goods is a pretty hefty part of it.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 2:26 PM
A quote from The Wreslting Party by Bett Williams:
"I recently saw a documentary on dolphins. It turns out they're not the loving, spiritual creatures we thought they were. They are violent territorial animals driven by sex who will fight each other sometimes to the death and even kill their young. I was quite happy that these symbols of Californian New Age culture were not, after all, the cute baby golden retrievers of the marine world but in fact a bunch of seething hussies and wife-beaters. "
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 2:26 PM
KENS, not financially possible? Two words: American Apparel.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
You kidding right? LOL. Besides what DH said, I can name about 10 reasons why they are just horrible without even involving the whole outsourcing issue. Don't get me started :o). I may not know about 401K allocations or politics but my specialized niche is consumer products analysis and production of consumer goods is a pretty hefty part of it.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 2:26 PM
Got an idea: consider writing a self-help book. You got the phrases down pat.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:18 PM
nah, too many people are like you - think they're god, always right, always telling people what to do,.... doubt such people will buy a self help book. how about I sell you a big mirror so you can admire your own perfection?
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:26 PM
Slopefarm;
It sure does. How does government have the power to enforce any personal fine other then through the threat of jail???
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:27 PM
slopefarm,
stevieb was the one mentioning "class struggle" and "soaking the rich".
I just followed the logical conclusion.
we can work on this together through a deliberative legislative/voting process, or we can go the class warfare route in which myself and my family will be seen as the bad guy, no matter if I'm rich or poor.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:28 PM
"An apartment building in Bed-Stuy went without running water for two months this summer. To make the situation worst, their landlord died and there was no one to take over the building. Residents at this building had to go above and beyond just to receive the necessities of life."
They just tried harder...and look...it worked! they survived.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:28 PM
CGar...although his passport has been taken I believe he also retains a Sri Lankan passport as well.
His ego is big enough that he believes he will win. If that becomes less likely, he'll flee. He's not crazy like Madoff.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:30 PM
I've got a couple self-help book we could all stand to read:
"When to Realize that You ARE NOT Going to Change Anyone's Mind"
"How to Exchange Ideas Freely While Not Trying to Change Anyone's Mind"
"How to Cope When You Find Bat Juice in Your Attic"
:-)
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:31 PM
You are right Pete, sorry. We can have a guillotine in Prospect Park as long as there is enough due process to make sure it can never be used, not even on a peacock. That'll keep everyone happy except rob.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 2:31 PM
Is it beer-o-clock yet?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:34 PM
KENS, not financially possible? Two words: American Apparel.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 1:25 PM
You kidding right? LOL. Besides what DH said, I can name about 10 reasons why they are just horrible without even involving the whole outsourcing issu
Ken: another two words:
New Balance (Made in USA and Union labels right on the tongue)
It's plenty patriotic to buy quality clothing made right here, that's what I call investing in my country.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:34 PM
Legion, that book was for you! Maybe we can get Iyanla Vanzant (sp?) to write it :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:35 PM
benson don't be daft. most statutory debts don't come with jail time. IRS just attaches to your return or your bank account or your creditors/account receivables. There is a criminal IRS provision but that was specifically excluded from the health reform debate a long time ago.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 2:36 PM
I'm switching my vote to Snappy!!
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:36 PM
OK, ok, so American Apparel blows, got it
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 2:37 PM
I don't strive to change anyone's mind. I just want them to understand that I'm right.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:37 PM
Suppose you are a healthy 25 year old and as such, you wish to purchase only inexpensive, bare-bones catastrophic insurance. This is a logical move for many young people"
Precisely what is wrong!! It;s not logical for the rest of us. But then, you don't care about that, do you?
It should not be thought of as insurance...it's health care funds, and we all owe into it. It *should* come out of general revenue (that 50% tax on over-a-million income would fund it nicely)
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:37 PM
- -_^..^_--
''
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
m4l: "how about I sell you a big mirror so you can admire your own perfection?"
Maybe I could reciprocate so you could watch all those working harder than you about to catch up.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
Blowfish;
OK, I won't argue on a technical point. Let's accept that the government will attach a lien to your property instead.
If you think that the government dunning a person's account because they choose not to buy health insurance, or they choose not to buy a certain type of health insurance is a good thing, then we have a different conception of freedom.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
Thanks Benson!
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
It never ceases to amaze me what people do on the subway. A first (for me at least): The woman opposite me wrapped a gift between stops. Soup to nuts. Assembles the box, fills it with tissue paper, puts in the gift (a perfectly nice looking silver picture frame), takes out a full size roll of wrapping paper, which she then cuts with regular size scissors (I'd really want to be sitting next to her when the train lurches), a Scotch tape dispenser, and ribbon for good measure.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
You're on a roll, Dave, ROFL!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:40 PM
Benson - I wish it had been mandated when I was 25 - uninsured. Got cancer. Took me 10 years to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars & was red-lined for any health insurance until I was 48 & had been cancer-free for a number of years. So each time it recurred I was again working only to pay health care costs.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 2:41 PM
"I don't strive to change anyone's mind. I just want them to understand that I'm right."
Watch your back, dibs, m4l will get ya.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:41 PM
Legion, your cat is missing a front paw!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:41 PM
no, benson, didn't say that. i happen to agree the personal, out-of-pocket mandate on purchasing private insurance is not the answer, and shouldn't have a place in the debate.
(Snappy '09) (No homo)
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 2:42 PM
Joe, at next gathering, I'll let you read label on my new balance - it has "made in China" on it.
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:43 PM
"I don't strive to change anyone's mind. I just want them to understand that I'm right."
A quote worthy of any dictator.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:43 PM
"But then, you don't care about that, do you?"
You're right CMU. I am a selfish, cold-hearted SOB. Thanks for pointing it out.
Actually, I think M4L has got your number just about right.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 2:43 PM
Joe, at next gathering, I'll let you read label on my new balance - it has "made in China" on it.
Not all models are completely made in USA, just the "sweatshop free" ones. I can show you mine (no homo).
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:46 PM
Maybe I could reciprocate so you could watch all those working harder than you about to catch up.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:39 PM
huh? I would need binoculars cause those harder worker folks would be ahead of me and I would be very proud of them cause I acknowledge their hard work gave them that legit lead over me.
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:47 PM
Essential managerial skills:
-Good listening
-Fairness
-ability to cut ice cream cake at staff retirement parties
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 2:48 PM
cargar,
I was going for the bat but the posts automatically allign right. ok, how about a wolf dog?
^..^
O )
VV
as you can see I have way too much time on my hands here.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 2:50 PM
http://www.newbalance.com/USA/
According to New Balance 25% of their shoes sold in N. America are proudly produced in the U.S.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:51 PM
How the hell do you wrap a gift on a jerking train? I always admire the ladies who manage to do full makeup on the D as it rumbles across the bridge.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:51 PM
can we pause a moment
we all seem testy
quick group hug
proceed
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 2:52 PM
'You're right CMU. I am a selfish, cold-hearted SOB. Thanks for pointing it out"
Did not say that. But your comment about how it's 'logical' for a healthy 25-yr old to NOT buy insurance shows that you buy into a laissez-faire capitalist viewpoint which might be characterized as over-rational at least.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:53 PM
Watch your back, dibs, m4l will get ya.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:41 PM
I've already tried that, to no avail. no homo
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:53 PM
gee IJ, my bosses have mastered #3 so far...So they just received nice big raise and bonus!
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 2:54 PM
nah, too many people are like you - think they're god, always right, always telling people what to do,.... doubt such people will buy a self help book. how about I sell you a big mirror so you can admire your own perfection?
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:26 PM
M4L you're hilarious today. I had a good laugh.
Joe, only about 70% of New Balance is made in U.S. and those are the higher end which range from $130 and up. No thanks, I'll stick to my $45.00 pumas or my $25 dollar keds. and FYI, in terms of working conditions, you also have some historic evidence and anecdotes. Yes, there are companies that employ child labor and whose employees work 18 hours and unsafe conditions BUT there are plenty of companies that do the right thing and even because they outsource they do not partake in those vendors. My company builds schools in China and requires all of their employees to have kids enrolled in schools and subsidizes programs where the factories are. They get benefits and paid time off and live a fairly decent lifestyle. They might not afford vacations BUT their kids go to school, they have healthcare and roof over their heads and they put food on the table every day.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 2:55 PM
"how about a wolf dog?"
LOL, Legion. I can see the bat now, but it also really looks like a cat. Don't let ENY see that wolf dog - it looks just like Scooby Doo!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:55 PM
My first official act as Mayor will be to have everyone smoke a fattie and calm the eff down!
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:56 PM
I meant to add:
It's as rational as a childless person not wanting to pay school tax.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 2:56 PM
According to New Balance 25% of their shoes sold in N. America are proudly produced in the U.S.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:51 PM
That would basically equate to 25% of revenues spent on marketing. I bet there's little to no profit margin on these shoes and all the profits are handsomely made from the shoes made in China. It's a marketing ploy. People are gullible.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:57 PM
Dibs, you are right. About everything. Except all those things we disagree on.
Benson,
Glad we agree on something. Snappy for Mayor! This is shaping up to be a big tent candidacy. (Sorry, CGar) Oh, and Snap, you don't need 8 million votes, only registered voters, and turnout will be small. You are just a few hundred thousand shy of victory. Keep at it. Things are looking up.
(If you win, do you report to Biff or does he report to you?)
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 2:57 PM
Joe, China needs unions. not so sure about unions in USA - particularly how businesses would rationalize using unions vs. not. like it or not / right or wrong, bosses decide where to locate jobs. what would union's pitch / angle be to convince businesses to not relocate jobs elsewhere?
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 2:57 PM
Uh oh! Cargar, you've done it now! Where is ENY to get on Scooby??? :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 2:57 PM
you just got my vote snapster
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 2:58 PM
They might not afford vacations BUT their kids go to school, they have healthcare and roof over their heads and they put food on the table every day.
Roof AND a table. We were wrong, you and DIBS are generous...
(on second thought, at least they have health care, even if it's just bottles of oil refinery waste in medicine bottles)
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:58 PM
I like your campaign style, snap. No circumlocutions. Just blunt pronouncements.
OK, back to work.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 2:58 PM
Snappy, I am voting for you BTW!!!! Damn it's 3 o'clock and I haven't finished what I was planning to finish today. Gotta go back to freakin crunching numbers. I need a drink today! :o)
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 2:59 PM
DH, you always crack me up! OK, Group Hug. (No homo)
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 2:59 PM
CMU;
May I offer some advice to you, per Snappy's recommendations? Please politely speak your mind. Please DO NOT make statements like "you don't care about that , don't you?". In other words, don't speak for another person, which you consistently do, and you know we've been at this place before.
I would also advise that you stay away from loaded words like "patriotism" and "not caring".
Speak your convictions, make your case, and respect someone else's opinion.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:00 PM
Yay! More votes!
Slopey, Biff is out! He's not even in the PLUSA office on this important day. I shall rule alone :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:01 PM
Joe, China needs unions. not so sure about unions in USA - particularly how businesses would rationalize using unions vs. not. like it or not / right or wrong, bosses decide where to locate jobs. what would union's pitch / angle be to convince businesses to not relocate jobs elsewhere?
Stimulus package.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:02 PM
Joe, you know exactly what I mean. Whatev.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 3:03 PM
Joe, you know exactly what I mean. Whatev.
I hears you...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:04 PM
Snappy, you have my vote for Mayor, of course, even though as Slopey points out, you're stealing my big tent!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 3:05 PM
PS, Snaps, I was gonna write in The Naked Cowboy, but now you're my write-in vote
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 3:06 PM
Cargar, I'm only *borrowing* the tent! You can have it back on Wednesday morning right after the victory speech :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:06 PM
According to New Balance 25% of their shoes sold in N. America are proudly produced in the U.S.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 2:51 PM
That would basically equate to 25% of revenues spent on marketing. I bet there's little to no profit margin on these shoes and all the profits are handsomely made from the shoes made in China. It's a marketing ploy. People are gullible.
Still real people making them in real factories.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:07 PM
I think the mayoral race is down to Snappy versus the "Rent is Too Damn High" guy. Bill Thompson and Bloomie have bowed out.
Snappy, what will YOU do about the rent???
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:09 PM
Thanks, Benson! You wouldn't guess to look at me that all those thousands have been invested in this body, would you? But I'm alive 40 years after they said I wouldn't be.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:12 PM
Benson, rent is too damn high! I will get rid of rent control/stabilization except for those who currently have it and are elderly and let the market do it's job. I will also smack the ever-lovin' shit outta people who move to NYC and feel it's appropriate to pay/are willing to pay $4k for a studio with no sink in the bathroom :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:14 PM
Oh, & I should mention that along w/ being red-lined for health insurance, I also couldn't get a loan for my co-op w/o a guarantor because I was uninsurable. And paying off medical bills doesn't count towards your credit rating.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:14 PM
Careful how you answer benson's Q, snaps, you need the bitter renters and the overleveraged owners to get elected. Another blunt answer must be looking pretty good right now.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 3:16 PM
"I will also smack the ever-lovin' shit outta people who move to NYC and feel it's appropriate to pay/are willing to pay $4k for a studio with no sink in the bathroom :-)"
Now here is a platform all can unite around!! I suggest that you bring in Tybur6 as your campaign manager.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:17 PM
Yes! Tyburg would be perfect! I would make him NYC Housing Czar!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:18 PM
I'll get back to y'all later. I gotta go install a sink.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 3:18 PM
And, after my first surgery, I was declined admission for the 2nd because, "Miss D, you still owe for the first procedure & you're uninsured & you might die." My doctor personally guaranteed my debt so he could save my life!
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:19 PM
Snappy - What's your stance on en suites? (I'm betting Bloomie has several.) And recessed lighting?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:20 PM
Joe, jobs are moving out of states with unions to those without. stimulus pkg won't help that. if anything, it'll be pkg from states luring business to relocate from a heavy union state
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 3:20 PM
LOL slopefarm. That sounds funny to me for some reason.
benson, your sense of humor is one of your most charming qualities.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 3:20 PM
personally im all in favor of abolishing the child labor laws (obviously they shouldnt work 12 hour days) but i think children are deemed unproductive and/or detrimental to society (i.e. the ones who get lower than a C average overall, caught doing something bad more than 3 times, etc.) should be forced to work.
1.) it bring in money for their families
2.) it would give students who are more interested in learning as opposed to having to sit in a classroom where 90 percent of the time is given to discipline, and
3.) it would ease up to workload for these
supposed blue collar workers who work to the bone at 2 jobs.
is anyone with me? pay them in skittles if you must, but put their useless butts to work.
we are like the ONLY country in the civilized world where people still refer to ADULTS in their mid twenties as "kids" :-/
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 3:22 PM
Hey everyone, I'm late to the party (and after reading today's fodder grateful I was!).
Arkady, I've been unisured for 4 months of my life. I was between jobs and didn't take COBRA b/c I *thought* I couldn't afford it.
I shattered my ankle shortly after the window for my ability to elect COBRA (90 days) had closed.
I then had to pay 63K out of pocket in medical bills. In actuality it could have been worse since I was able to negotiate fees with several of the main providers. That money? I had been putting it away since I was a teenager. I was hoping to use it as a down payment on a home one day. I had to start again from scratch.
We as a people can NOT afford to NOT have healthcare.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at October 29, 2009 3:23 PM
Arkady, that might get me in trouble! I say en suites for all and recessed lighting is perfectly fine! (It's 1980's track lighting that makes me cringe)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:23 PM
Rob;
Is this your way of announcing that you are running for mayor too?
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:24 PM
"and the homeowners (the privileged class). The privileged class has benefited from the policies of deregulation and tax cuts that the republicans promoted for the past 30 years."
Hot damn, I never woulda thought I've made it to the privileged class! Thanks you for the promotion!
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:24 PM
Joe, jobs are moving out of states with unions to those without. stimulus pkg won't help that. if anything, it'll be pkg from states luring business to relocate from a heavy union state
Posted by: more4less at October 29, 2009 3:20 PM
YES, very good point.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:24 PM
Rob, you've got my respect. You are the most gangster poster on B'stoner. You state your opinions, no matter how wacky we may all think they are, and you refuse to apologize for them. YOU GO BOY!
LOL
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:24 PM
Benson - Kens is voting for Bloomers for me on account of my disenfranchsement.
Also, I hear only landowners and homeowners are permitted to vote, so 40% of brownstoner readers are also staying home.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:27 PM
"What we all REALLY need to be worried about is the GOVERNOR's race!"
As much as I detested Guiliani as mayor, and was terrified about him running for President, I actually think he might make a good gov. He might be just the ticket to clean up that mess, and he'll be fairly pro-NYC, I would think.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:27 PM
"and can i work for the Department of Labor?"
Can you sit on Ditto's greencard application labor certification for 6 years? In which the job is yours.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:28 PM
Denton, now that I've seen that stove, I'm calling you privileged!!! LOL J/K
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:29 PM
"but i think children are deemed unproductive and/or detrimental to society (i.e. the ones who get lower than a C average overall, caught doing something bad more than 3 times, etc.) should be forced to work."
I foresee this platform issue being controversial!
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 3:30 PM
Or we could eat them, rob.
"Doctor Lecter, what is this amazing amuse bouche?"
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:30 PM
Ditto, Kens is voting for ME!!!
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:30 PM
Did I miss anything, other than the revolution?
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 3:32 PM
Rob, the only problem with your platform is that Pathmark and Target are already overrun with bad-attitude having, gum cracking, actin' like they are doin' you an effin' favor for ringin' up your shit teens! I say send 'em home and let 'em annoy their mamas!
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:33 PM
Oh, no!, Denton! Say it isn't so!!! I've always thought of you as a voice of reason! I don't want a dictator as gov! And now that he's seen Bloomie extend term limits we'd never get him out of office!
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:33 PM
Snaps - thats what he told you. However, based on the results of the Brownstoner survey, we know that 95% of brownstoners are liars.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:34 PM
"and the homeowners (the privileged class). The privileged class has benefited from the policies of deregulation and tax cuts that the republicans promoted for the past 30 years."
Hot damn, I never woulda thought I've made it to the privileged class! Thanks you for the promotion!
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:35 PM
denton, I wouldn't mind Guiliani in albany either. Though I wonder why he would bother as that swamp is so infested with maggots it may be even more ungovernable than NYC at its worst.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 3:36 PM
OK - Now Brownstoner I know has it out for me. For 2nd time this week he featured a Forum thread where I commented.
Now everyone knows I have exposed brick and now they will see that I am awful landlord who hasn't had heat on except for 2 days this season. He is purposely trying to humiliate me.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 3:36 PM
ROFL Ditto!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:36 PM
I just ran into a new profile on silverdaddies.
30, lives in 11217 zip code of Brooklyn and likes to cross dress.
OK...which one of you out there is on more than one website right now?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:36 PM
"I'm all for a VERY high marginal tax on, say 50% anything above a million. "
cmu, you don't know economic history in the US else you wouldn't call 50% VERY high (in caps!). Prior to Reagan, the highest marginal tax was 70% and it's been as high as 90%. But somehow we all survived.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:37 PM
snappy how coud you not mention CVS!
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 3:38 PM
Denton;
Now here is something we can agree on! Albany needs a pit bull to clean up that swamp. And what better pit bull is there than Rudy??
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:38 PM
Whoooppps! Ok...add CVS to that list!
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:40 PM
My company builds schools in China and requires all of their employees to have kids enrolled in schools and subsidizes programs where the factories are. They get benefits and paid time off and live a fairly decent lifestyle. They might not afford vacations BUT their kids go to school, they have healthcare and roof over their heads and they put food on the table every day.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 2:55 PM
It's a marketing ploy. People are gullible.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 2:57 PM
Ding! Next victim...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:40 PM
Oy! Denton, Denton, Denton!!
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:40 PM
and term limits for Sheldon Silver - Retroactive!!
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:41 PM
I would definitely vote for Giuliani for governor. We need somebody up there to kick some ass.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:42 PM
quote:
"Rob, the only problem with your platform is that Pathmark and Target are already overrun with bad-attitude having, gum cracking, actin' like they are doin' you an ffin' favor for ringin' up your **** teens!"
oddly, i love those girls and their take no sh*t attitude. at least they are WORKING and not out causing trouble. give me one of those cashier girls ANYDAY. and how are they anymore "effing doing a favor ringing up your sh-t" any different than the people at the park slope co-op who think working 3 hours a MONTH at a cashier is doing EVERYONE a favor (including mother earth in fact!!!) any different?
foul-mouthed, long-nails, yappin on her cell phone teenage girl at Associated >>>>>>>>> crunchy, hairy armpitted, eco-fascist old egg bearing late age mother!!!!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 3:43 PM
Sheldon Silver would be tossed in the East River.
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:44 PM
I would definitely vote for Giuliani for governor. We need somebody up there to kick some ass.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:42 PM
*Bernie Kerik* for pardon?
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:45 PM
That's some serious hatin', rob my friend!
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 3:46 PM
"Sheldon Silver would be tossed in the East River."
Snappy, with that campaign pledge, I am ready to commit voter fraud on your behalf!!! I'm stuffing the ballot baoxes for you!!!
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:46 PM
lol rob!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:46 PM
""The more I think about it, the less I care about the term limits extension."
Says PLUSA President Biff Champion!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 11:47 AM"
Exsqueeze me, but I have never suggested overturning the 20 year term limit on the PLUSA presidency!
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
Spitzer was a noted ass-kicker (& doer of other things to them.) Same bulldog rep as Rudy. In his spare time Rudy is a cross-dresser (maybe that's who's on silverdaddies, dibs!) who lives w/ gay couples & then repudiates them. What kind of raid will he be caught in? Diving for divas? Opera bouffe?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
OK, make mine a vote for Snappy.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
Joe, what the fuck is that about?? My comment about marketing ploy was in the response to New Balance, not Kens company building schools.
Why be such an asshole trying to start trouble????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
"I do expect my fellow man to hue closely to an ideal that is fast becoming an anachronistic notion; "work is good for the soul"."
Legion, I mostly agree with that statement, but with 16% or citizens unemployed, perhaps this isn't a good time to go there.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
denton, I was scared I might somehow have my computer crashed if I said anything above 50, I would go for higher, say 70.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 3:48 PM
...just a question,
where do they keep Sheldon Silver's
dracula coffin in Albany?
is it beneath the governor's mansion?
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 3:49 PM
Just grabbed a dirty water dog from a hot dog vendor.
How long do I have to live?
***Oscar for Mayer*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 3:49 PM
"Rob, the only problem with your platform is that Pathmark and Target are already overrun with bad-attitude having, gum cracking, actin' like they are doin' you an ffin' favor for ringin' up your **** teens!"
It's amazing what a hello and a smile will do with them sometimes.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 3:49 PM
Wooohooo! I got voter fraud now! I could actually win this thing :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:49 PM
CMU - why not 100?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:50 PM
Oh G-d, denton! Not rudy- for a guy who claimed to clean up NYC he certainly did his share in dirtying it. Remember Kerik?
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 3:50 PM
"I'm not a hater and I admire all you successful, hardworking posters, but the dynamic is MUCH different today than it was when you were my age."
dh, I agree with you. As someone who dropped out of HS school due to screwed up family circumstances, and left home, yet made it pretty far in life, I realize that things are much harder today. The first circumstance is the absence of shelter. Back in the day there were 'welfare hotels' all over that a person could get a leg up in.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:51 PM
quote:
That's some serious hatin', rob my friend!
nah. i never said i HATE any of them. but i do like to call them out on their baloney
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 3:51 PM
Joe, what the fuck is that about?? My comment about marketing ploy was in the response to New Balance, not Kens company building schools.
Why be such an asshole trying to start trouble????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:47 PM
Hey now, you can't say I'm putting words in your mouth (or asshole, no homo). I would assume you agree that New Balance is not first and only company in the history of the world to use a feel-good marketing ploy.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 3:52 PM
Silver does save in commuting costs when he flaps home from Albany to roost upside-down on the Lower East Side.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:52 PM
hey, Rudy's tough enough to dress up as a woman,
what makes you think he can't mop the floor up there in Albany as well.
...no he didn't
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 3:52 PM
DH, I do smile and say please and thank you. I still get the gas face from them :-(
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:53 PM
quote:
It's amazing what a hello and a smile will do with them sometimes.
DING DING DING!
(or wearing violet contacts!) seriously!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 3:53 PM
"Back in the day there were 'welfare hotels' all over that a person could get a leg up in"
Not sure what "day" you're referring to, Denton, but in 1986, I briefly lived in what was then almost entirely a welfare hotel, the Roger Williams on Madison in the 30s, which I believe is now a luxury boutique hotel.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 3:54 PM
denton,
"...legs up in a hotel" ?
let's not get in to Eliot Spitzer now.
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 3:54 PM
500
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 3:55 PM
denton, I was scared I might somehow have my computer crashed if I said anything above 50, I would go for higher, say 70.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 3:48 PM
Yes, please, take more so that lazy, non working, welfare trash sucking at the teat of the government can get even more of something for nothing.
Bite the hand that feeds you too. When rich business owner's taxes go up they are typically smart about that and find ways to cut costs so that they can retain more. Firing workers is a really easy way of cutting costs.
People really need to learn some economics before they spout this shit off.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 3:55 PM
Guiliani may be a pitbull but I don't think he has real track record on 'good government'. He is definite partisan I doubt interested in limiting power of politicos.
Does have same personality even though different political outlook as Spitzer - egocentrics.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 3:55 PM
quote:
"I agree with you. As someone who dropped out of HS school due to screwed up family circumstances, and left home, yet made it pretty far in life, I realize that things are much harder today. The first circumstance is the absence of shelter. Back in the day there were 'welfare hotels' all over that a person could get a leg up in."
you know... it's all of you old school gentrifiers who back in the day made all of those DISAPPEAR! so now those places arent available for people who want to live in nyc and not pay thousands of dollars in rent. evil, EVIL people you were back in the 70s and 80s, and in some cases 90s.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 3:56 PM
"I briefly lived in " -- another term for shacking up or 1 night stand?
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 3:57 PM
Wow Denton - that's remarkable. Not sure what else to say without sounding weird - but hearing stories like yours, no matter when they took place definitely makes me feel a little bad for complaining sometimes!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 3:57 PM
I think you got it Cargar!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 3:58 PM
"Call it what you will, but I call it oppression."
I agree benson, pisses the sh*t outta me every time I get a bill for my guvment-mandated car insurance!
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 3:58 PM
Snaps - thats what he told you. However, based on the results of the Brownstoner survey, we know that 95% of brownstoners are liars.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:34 PM
LOL.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 3:58 PM
This probably was a bad day to try and read the Open Thread. I had to stop after the 30th comment. HOLY!!
How do you guys keep up? I guess you have to be in it to win it.
Posted by: Tara in the Slope at October 29, 2009 3:59 PM
"Guiliani may be a pitbull but I don't think he has real track record on 'good government'
Hmm, you might want to ask small businesses around town about that , after they saw their commercial garbage hauling bills decline by 40% after Rudy broke the back of the mafia's grip on this industry in NYC.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 3:59 PM
There's a welfare hotel at the top of Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint, about 20 mins commute from midtown.
Should I make a reservation for ya?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 3:59 PM
"DH, I do smile and say please and thank you. I still get the gas face from them :-("
haha snappy - i hear ya. some are just miserable!!
But sometimes some seemingly tough cookies turn out to be a hoot!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 3:59 PM
Umm, Joe you totally not making any sense. We never MARKET building schools in Asia and it isn't anywhere on our website. My company does it because they are a globally responsible company. Try your "Ding!" on someone else.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 4:00 PM
Tara, we are going for the gold in the Super Pathetic Olympics :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:01 PM
Denton;
A tired and irrelevant argument. See my post above. Auto insurance is not a personal mandate (a tax by another name). It is only required if you wish to drive on publicly-owned roads.
Posted by: benson at October 29, 2009 4:01 PM
uiliani may be a pitbull but I don't think he has real track record on 'good government'. He is definite partisan I doubt interested in limiting power of politicos.
Does have same personality even though different political outlook as Spitzer - egocentrics.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 3:55 PM
We've got a Treasury secretary that doesn't pay his taxes, how about a felon Attorney General- Giuliani's boy *Kerik for *TOP Crook er *COP*
(Actually Andrew Cuomo should be a felon but Giuliani the DA was willing to plea bargain for Mario's son)
"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right..."
"And ye shall seek the truth and the truth shall set you free"
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:01 PM
""I briefly lived in " -- another term for shacking up or 1 night stand"
No, Slumlord Millionaire ; ), my studio wasn't available for move-in when I started law school, and all I could afford was the Roger Williams, which at least had heat!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:01 PM
c-gar, the roger williams! There used to be a club across the street called Savage back in 86, only open on Tuesdays, the things I saw! Lady hennessy brown and a guy who &*^%$ with his stump.
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 4:02 PM
"Try your "Ding!" on someone else."
ROFLMMFAO!!! I don't know why, but that cracked me up.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:03 PM
"The world owes me" isn't a success or happiness-promoting attitude.
But lets not forget, success is getting what you want, happiness is liking what you have. Or something catchy like that.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:03 PM
I always thought Guiliani was such a family values guy- ask Donna.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:03 PM
"My company does it because they are a globally responsible company."
Now who is being gullible?
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:04 PM
"They might not afford vacations BUT their kids go to school, they have healthcare and roof over their heads and they put food on the table every day."
Glad to hear they have healthcare, Kens. Hard to make the argument about over-priced American labor when there is no law to guarantee that here.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 4:05 PM
""And ye shall seek the truth and the truth shall set you free"
Now who is being gullible?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:05 PM
DeLepp, you and I usually remember all the same clubs, but you "stumped" me on Savage. I was probably too focused on the Robert Chambers saga: "Sex Play Got Rough" said the NYPost.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:06 PM
I meant good gov't as far as entrenchment of politicians and backroom dealings, 3 men in a room, limiting power only to the legislative head while the rest of the legislators sit around waiting for hours.
I don't think he is interested in limiting power of those top politicians (including governor if he were it).
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 4:06 PM
Do you all remember all the porn shops that were further up Lexington around where they built Citicorp????!!!!!! Fun times there.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:08 PM
"3 men in a room"
Says the man who accuses me of shacking up!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:08 PM
OMG, from 6 minutes ago to now, there are 15 additional comments.
"Tara, we are going for the gold in the Super Pathetic Olympics :-)"
Obviously! And everyone is trying to wheel themselves to the finish :-)
Posted by: Tara in the Slope at October 29, 2009 4:09 PM
Come on! I've gotta go to a meeting - someone say something funny quick!
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:09 PM
Glad to hear they have healthcare, Kens. Hard to make the argument about over-priced American labor when there is no law to guarantee that here.
I heard they free dog food too, there seems to be a surplus now that all the dogs have "mysteriously" died.
"Food and Drug Administration investigators say the Chinese companies may have spiked products with the chemical melamine so that they would appear, in tests, to have more value as protein products." ABC news
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:10 PM
Really? I never knew there was a porn district in the mid-50s, though I seem to recall male prostitutes around 53rd
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:11 PM
Funny? Ok...Two men walk into a bar...
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:11 PM
dibs, location, location, location for all the dignitaries staying at the waldorf.
c-gar, can't remember what I had for lunch but I'll never forget some of the acts at savage!
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 4:12 PM
It was 53rd.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
Denton, they actually do.
Joe, without knowing who I work for, it's kinda pointless for you to make statement on who is gullible. I gave up a pretty cushy job in corporate law because I really wanted to work for globally responsible company. We are NOT perfect as a company but I do enjoy here much more than for a law firm that made all those money and bonuses from Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed securities. Having said that, if I get laid off tomorrow and get an offer to go back to corporate law (which is a pretty good possibility for both) and I need to support myself, you better believe I'll do it and won't even think twice.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
CarGar - Lots of those in the west 50s about 30 years ago.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
"you know... it's all of you old school gentrifiers who back in the day made all of those DISAPPEAR! so now those places arent available for people who want to live in nyc and not pay thousands of dollars in rent. evil, EVIL people you were back in the 70s and 80s, and in some cases 90s."
rob, I don't think it was the people that lived in the hotels that made them disappear. Rather, the collusion of the liberals (claiming conditions were intolerable) and the real estate interests (who wanted them turned into condos) destroyed them.
Thanks dh but I was agreeing with your original point; not sure if I could replicate my story today. I'd like to think so, but it would definitely be harder.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
ditto,
did you hear the one about the nun, the rabbi and the bat?
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
"Food and Drug Administration investigators say the Chinese companies may have spiked products with the chemical melamine so that they would appear, in tests, to have more value as protein products." ABC news
"and the truth shall set you free..."
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:15 PM
Legion - Is that the one w/ the water-into-wine, the Manischevitz & the juice?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:17 PM
West 50s, yes, Arkady (and inquiring minds want to know how you know that). I don't remember porn shops in the East 50s. Only the male prostitutes on 53rd, between 2nd and 3rd, north side of the street as I recall, but don't ask me how I happen to know that. DeLepp, Waldorf-UN proximity makes a lot of sense.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:18 PM
Joe good point. You should also cut and post about massive US ground beef recalls, spinach E. coli problems, etc etc. All that truth, better get started.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:18 PM
Legion, tell the one about the man who finds bat juice in the attic :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:19 PM
good point joe.
hmmm maybe we should all demand free subsidized government healthcare plans for our pets too? why not!!! this is the land of the free! free stuff for everyone that is.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 29, 2009 4:19 PM
Tara, it was indeed me who invited you to join us that time at Union Hall. The topic here in the OT changes hourly. Vent, complain, celebrate, joke, whatever. Some days it's all I read, others I avoid it.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 4:19 PM
"Do you all remember all the porn shops that were further up Lexington around where they built Citicorp????!!!!!! Fun times there."
Yeah dibs, I remember that. I was especially cracked up by one of the porn stores that put a big sign in its window 'we welcome our new neighbors at Citibank'.
CG, there was a whole male hustler thing going on in front of 909 & 919 3rd. Lotta runaway kids and such. Coupla years ago I got a letter published in the NYT about it. Don't know if it's still active. dibs? lol...
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 4:20 PM
Joe, why are you commenting on your own post?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:20 PM
Arkady,
lol, that's it!
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 4:21 PM
Denton, they actually do.
Joe, without knowing who I work for, it's kinda pointless for you to make statement on who is gullible. I gave up a pretty cushy job in corporate law because I really wanted to work for globally responsible company. We are NOT perfect as a company but I do enjoy here much more than for a law firm that made all those money and bonuses from Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed securities. Having said that, if I get laid off tomorrow and get an offer to go back to corporate law (which is a pretty good possibility for both) and I need to support myself, you better believe I'll do it and won't even think twice.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 4:14 PM
I ain't knockin' your hustle brother, just pointing out that your probably not saving the world.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:21 PM
QOTD: Try your Ding on someone else.
that was the funniest, ditto! say it at your meeting.
BTW, All your base are belong to us.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 4:23 PM
CarGar - I engineered in a sound studio upstairs from a gay cinema on 53rd. Hilarious to see all the "straight" guys dodging into it after lunch.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:23 PM
snappy,
that's pete's story...and now my fear... :(
Posted by: Legion at October 29, 2009 4:23 PM
"CG, there was a whole male hustler thing going on in front of 909 & 919 3rd"
The better to pick up Skadden lawyers!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:24 PM
Stevie, instead of wringing your hands over your perceived "wealth redistribution" why don't you just work harder????
To me it seems the more I make, the more taxes I pay so quit looking for a handout and vote for the guy who's going to run this city better and make it more prosperous over the long term.
You seem to be part of the problem, not the solution. Can you tell me with a straight face that Thompson will be a better mayor than Bloomberg???? I THINK NOT unless you're on some sort of hallucinogen
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 9:26 AM
**
Dave,
If I wanted a handout, I would be working for one of the banks that kept TARP money.
***Bill Thompson for Mayor!!***
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 4:25 PM
IBM just announced that they will give their employees 100% coverage of healthcare. There will be no deductibles or copay. It encourages them to seek healthcare rather than avoid it and because of that they remain healthier, thus driving down overall costs over the long term.
This is how capitalistic corporate America works when it works best. The best economic solution is the best solution for all parties.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:25 PM
That's pretty funny, Arkady. Not at all surprising, but funny.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:25 PM
Stevieb - you wouldn't like that because then you'd actually have to pay income tax.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:26 PM
Rob,
I did read recently couple of congressman proposing tax deduction for pet care/expenses ...Up to $3500 a year deduction. Would be very popular with cat/dog/pony people here. (and before you start, Benson, it was a republican).
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 4:28 PM
Joe, why are you commenting on your own post?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:20 PM
Because I'm THAT good Dave.
PLUSA's aren't born, they're made...
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:28 PM
Really corny/bad joke for you:
Two old ladies are standing at a bus station and one of them is smoking. Suddenly it starts raining so the smoking one takes out a condom from her purse, cuts the edge off and puts it over the cigarette. Her friend asks her: "What are you doing?!?" So she replies: "I don't want my cigarette to get wet so I covered it with a condom"
So her friend asks: "What's a condom? Where did you get it?" So she says: "At the pharmacy" So the next day her friend goes to the pharmacy and asks the clerk if she can get a condom. The clerk asks: "What size?"
So she replies: "I dunno, one that will fit a camel"
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:29 PM
Whoa, DIBS, too little, too late, for two small a population. That kind of market solution is way to slow- takes things to reach crises level first, with decades of despair, and short-sighted corporations losing out on long-term savings in the interim
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 4:29 PM
Okay, I can't keep up with this!
Deliver the much hyped and greatly anticipated brownies to the Slope, please.
Posted by: Tara in the Slope at October 29, 2009 4:29 PM
Again, Stevie, your lack of logical thinking is truly incredible.
I think you've actually got a psychological problem where your train of thought shifts from reading one post and then commenting on a completely different subject.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:29 PM
i like that spelled "too" in every possible way, and that now i'm commenting on my post with a metapost. di'd like to be deputy mayor, please
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 4:32 PM
Despite what anyone might rightly think about the management of TARP recipients, the employees that actually bring in the revenues work harder than your self-entitled lazy ass could ever conceive of.
They make big bucks and they pay the taxes so you can get your free cheese, Stevie,
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:32 PM
??? What's w/ the blogwrap photo? Hands?
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:33 PM
snappy, benny hill conry indeed but a riot none the less!
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 4:33 PM
Tara- I have brownies. I also have drink. :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:33 PM
Di can't be deputy Mayor. That's gonna be Rob. Snappy told me.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:34 PM
Hey! What's wrong with free cheese? (as long as it's vermont sharp cheddar...but I bet they don't give that away) :-)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:34 PM
'm glad you know all the answers, blowfish.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:35 PM
Cgar,
Skadden's in the Conde Nast building now. D&P moved into the old Skadden space in 919.
Actually the Conde Nast lobby is really funny. One security line has a bunch of dumpy grey-haired guys in suits carrying litigation bags. The other has mostly tall stylish young female models.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 29, 2009 4:36 PM
" Only the male prostitutes on 53rd, between 2nd and 3rd, north side of the street as I recall, but don't ask me how I happen to know that. "
Nothing wrong with a poor law student trying to earn tuition money. As long as waited to get law degree to overcharge clients. :)
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 29, 2009 4:36 PM
Ewww! That blogwrap photo is creepy Arkady. I don't wanna know if that old man dresses right or left and now I'm afraid that image is burned in my poor corneas!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:37 PM
Anybody else drunk already?
Posted by: Biff Champion at October 29, 2009 4:37 PM
DeLepp, another corny one:
A couple went to a gallery to look at some art. One painting was of a beautiful, naked woman with only a little foliage covering her private area.
The wife thought the picture was in bad taste and moved on quickly, but the husband lingered, completely transfixed.
"What are you waiting for?" asked his wife. "Autumn?"
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:37 PM
Joe good point. You should also cut and post about massive US ground beef recalls, spinach E. coli problems, etc etc. All that truth, better get started.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:18 PM
Well, I'm kicking ass so far...
I wouldn't really compare the results of farm workers not being provided toilet facilities (they should start a union or something)to *POISON* purposely put into food.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
*DING DING DING!*
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 4:38 PM
I think Mr. B has been reading too much of the OT & he's gone round the bend.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:38 PM
"Nothing wrong with a poor law student trying to earn tuition money. As long as waited to get law degree to overcharge clients. :)"
ROFL, Pete! Touche! (One way or the other, I was screwing my clients.)
Slopey, I know, but back in the day, they were at 919. That's pretty funny!
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:39 PM
Joe - so there was a rational basis to you pulling that story out of the hundreds? I thought it was just your anti-asian bias working.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:40 PM
Whoops! It wasn't Mr. B, it was A Love Wrap - no wonder!??
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:40 PM
I have a headache- Snappy- are you still running for Queen? Or can I up it to Brooklyn Goddess? YOu get a tiara and a lightning bolt.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:44 PM
I'm back...
"that was really presumptious of you to think that I am bitter."
Hmm, my bitter comment was based on the "tone" of your comments. I just find it curious.
Kens, You and I should just stop speaking/commenting to one another. You assume my remark is personal, it's not.
Oh, and DH, I completely agree with you, the dynamic has changed dramatically over the past 20 years+ from when I was a 20 something.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 4:44 PM
I think Joe's been turned down by a lot of Asian girls and therein lies the root of his problem.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:46 PM
Snappy said rob could head of dept of labor, i think (i'm too lazy and self-entitled to scroll back and check).
even DIBS said i have all the answers, so, sounds like an endorsement to me. BF, Deputy Mayor.
DIBS i didn't think you were quite so Rand-sian, but i'm too new this forum.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 4:46 PM
Talk about paying for school:
Chris Rock - Never Scared
"You know the stripper myth? There's a stripper myth, that's being perpetuated throughout society. The myth is, I'm strippin' to pay my tuition. No you're not! There's no strippers in college! There's no clear heels in biology! Shit, man. I didn't know they had a college that only took one-dollar bills. And if they got so many strippers at college, how come I never got a smart lap dance? I never got a girl that sat on my lap and said, If I was you, I would diversify my portfolio. You know, ever since the end of the Cold War, I find NATO obsolete!"
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:46 PM
Bxgirl, I am now shilling for Master of the Universe! :-)
Cast your votes here ----------->
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:47 PM
cobble, both you and the ha have been MIA all day. What's going on?????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:47 PM
the What
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:48 PM
"11217 zip code of Brooklyn"
That's East New York, Dave.
Posted by: East New York at October 29, 2009 4:49 PM
Oh, I hadn't even thought about Deputy Mayor, Blowfish. I'm gonna have to take notes and decide on my cabinet. I'll get back to you all tomorrow with my final decisions :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:49 PM
Yes, DIBS, you've finally figured it out. I am the What.
Actually, What and I were having lunch and talking about you all.
Actually, What and I were planning his run for Mayor. We're going to turn Manhattan into Asshat Island, with theme parks and everything!
[I had to go out to meet/lunch with a freelance client.]
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 4:50 PM
That and his "white supermarkets vs. black supermarkets" bit which I just heard again this morning.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
11217 is North Slope
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
snappy, you and my father would get along famously!
Posted by: DeLepp at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
>>They make big bucks and they pay the taxes so you can get your free cheese, Stevie,
The only way they make the big bucks at TARP banks is by stealing money from tax payers!
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
oh no, snaps! My cousin was married in shoes with clear heels.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
ENY, Scooby Doo at 2:50
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:52 PM
My fave Chris Rock quote:
"what do you mean red meat will kill you? ... people are starving all over the world, what do you mean red meat will kill you? ... no no no, don't eat no red meat? ... no, don't eat no GREEN meat"
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:52 PM
Snaps, I love the rest of that bit about it being a father's main job to keep his daughter OFF THE POLE!! LOL!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 4:53 PM
DeLepp, bring your pa out for a brew!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:53 PM
Oh, sorry Arkady is right. I was thinking of 11207. My bad.
Posted by: East New York at October 29, 2009 4:53 PM
"Actually, What and I were planning his run for Mayor. We're going to turn Manhattan into Asshat Island, "
er....a little late,. cobble
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:53 PM
ROFL Bxgirl! Tell her never to watch any Chris Rock standup then!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:54 PM
What's with the bitterness kens, legion and DIBS?
Stop and appreciate what you have, you can afford [literally and figuratively] to be a little more generous to your fellow humans.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 11:54 AM
Umm, cobble, look at the post above. You NAMED me in your comment and theny you say it wasn't personal? Please do tell me how it isn't so.
But if you don't want to speak/comment on one others post (which I think is taking it a bit extreme) I am all for it. Your choice.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 4:55 PM
"er....a little late,. cobble"
Snort! I stand corrected. ; )
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 4:56 PM
600 to bxgrl methinks. Biff?
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 4:56 PM
Chris Rock on love:
"If you haven't contemplated murder, you ain't been in love. If you haven't seriously thought about killing a mother****, you ain't been in love. If you haven't had a can of rat poison in your hand and looked at it for forty-five minutes straight, you ain't been in love. If you haven't bought a shovel and a bag and a rug to roll their ass up in, you ain't been in love. If you haven't practiced your alibi in front of the mirror, you ain't been in love. And the only thing that's stopped you from killing this mother***** was a episode of CSI"
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 4:57 PM
"The only way they make the big bucks at TARP banks is by stealing money from tax payers! "
They pretty much are the taxpayers. The top 5% of earners pay 60% of Federal Income Taxes. So stop fretting so much.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:57 PM
Trust me on this, snappy. This cousin has no sense of humor :(
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 4:58 PM
benson: "May I offer some advice to you, per Snappy's recommendations? Please politely speak your mind. Please DO NOT make statements like "you don't care about that , don't you?". In other words, don't speak for another person, which you consistently do, and you know we've been at this place before"
Aaah, that's called a "question", perhaps snarky in tone, but it's based on sound judgment of your statements and tone. If you disagree with it, say so but don't tell me what I can and cannot say. It's not polite.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 4:58 PM
kens, I was speaking about the TONE of your posts. I didn't say: Kens, you are a bitter person.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 4:59 PM
That woman who cursed me out a few weeks ago just came in and said, "Jester, all's well that ends well."
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 4:59 PM
The only way they make the big bucks at TARP banks is by stealing money from tax payers!
Posted by: stevieb at October 29, 2009 4:51 PM
Reading too much of the Onion, Stevie. Get a grip on life.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 5:00 PM
No sense of humor but willing to wear clear heels? That's one helluva combo! LOL J/K
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 5:03 PM
Joe - so there was a rational basis to you pulling that story out of the hundreds? I thought it was just your anti-asian bias working.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 4:40 PM
I like blondes; is that an anti-asian bias?
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 5:03 PM
Don't get me started, Car Gar. I'm working too hard today to start thinking about...that dog.
I'm amazed by your subway story, tho! Like you, I cannot believe the things people are willing to do on the subway. Amazing.
Posted by: East New York at October 29, 2009 5:03 PM
I think Joe's been turned down by a lot of Asian girls and therein lies the root of his problem.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 4:46 PM
I saw a really really really hot Asian girl on a train today. Couldn't get myself to flirt with her. I am a total chicken when it comes to that.
I am outta here. See ya all lata.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 5:03 PM
""you don't care about that, don't you?". "
CMU, you're being disingenuous. Thats not a question, its an accusation.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 5:05 PM
D they call you jester at work???? They call me dave.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 5:05 PM
I wouldn't care if you said I am bitter but by saying to
"Stop and appreciate what you have, you can afford [literally and figuratively] to be a little more generous to your fellow humans. "
you're making a generalization that I am not generous and not appreciative of what I have.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at October 29, 2009 5:06 PM
Joe, liking one thing don't mean you hate another. Trying just being indifferent.
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 5:07 PM
*Ding!* I'm gonging you out for Asian appreciation month.
Dave, no candy for you (no homo either).
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 29, 2009 5:08 PM
"you're making a generalization that I am not generous and not appreciative of what I have."
not trying to escalate - but lots of people have the "i'm right and you're wrong" rather than "we have different ways of looking at things and that's okay" attitude.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 5:09 PM
Question re healthcare, primarily for Benson but for anyone else that holds his view of restriction of freedom from mandated individual purchase of healthcare.
If this were an addition on income tax, would you feel any differently about it?
The UK has something called "National Insurance" that employees and employers have to pay into as a percentage of salary (and deducted at source but that's a discussion for another day). This covers the cost of providing the National Health Service and also state pensions.
Individuals can purchase their own private medical insurance (or it's offered as an additional perk for employees) which allows you to jump the queues for procedures that have waiting lists.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 5:09 PM
One coworker knows and sometimes does; it was just for the public retelling.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 5:10 PM
I saw a really hot female postal carrier yessterday...was it wrong to be surprised?
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 5:11 PM
600? Me? really??? Oh- I just want to thank all the little people who made this award possible (you know who you are). As you know, an award such as this is the result of teamwork- thank, thank you all. Wait- did I mention everyone.... whoops! *yanked off stage by cobblesnaps*
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 5:11 PM
Chicken - And it's o.k. to have both Nat'l Health & something like BUPA so you can get the best of both worlds - pay privately if you want to. Options such as that are important.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:11 PM
"I saw a really hot female postal carrier yessterday...was it wrong to be surprised?"
absolutely not! i'm gawking at a smoking policewoman right now!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 5:13 PM
I'll see you asshats later. Fight nice :-)
***Snappy for Mayor*** (TUESDAY!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 5:14 PM
We don't know, IJ. Were you surprised because your cataracts miraculously cleared up? You were overcome with lust? You were expecting a bird with a leg canister? :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 5:15 PM
Ok, I'll be more specific.
"3. Those that don't work hard enough and cry how poor or unfortunate they are and claim that they work hard enough and just life didn't align their stars."
This sounds bitter to me. It negates the fact that there are millions of people without jobs right now who actually did work really hard to get where they were a year or so ago and still want to work hard, but are relegated to the trash basket by your "3.".
Sometimes there are extraordinary external events that effect one's life. Sometimes a family member gets sick, and a job offer is let go in favor of better working hours to care for that family member. Sometimes a child gets sick. Or a person gets sick themselves. It seems too easy to be so cold and bitter, harder to stop and think about what happens to individuals.
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 5:15 PM
"Wait- did I mention everyone.... whoops! *yanked off stage by cobblesnaps*"
ROFL!!!
ok...now I'm really out...nite!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at October 29, 2009 5:15 PM
Joe: i'm a blonde (no homo) and i comment on my own posts (no homo). now i'm out 4 reals.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 5:16 PM
A COTD post made me think. What proportion of the renters here have housemates (excluding significant other and children)?
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 5:17 PM
"Wait- did I mention everyone.... whoops! *yanked off stage by cobblesnaps*"
LOL!!
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 5:18 PM
That's my point Arkady, it works pretty well over here. Just wondered whether it would work over there.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 5:19 PM
"D they call you jester at work???? They call me dave.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 5:05 PM"
I thought they called you "Dave in bed"?
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 5:21 PM
I think so, Chicken, but obviously others don't.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:22 PM
"A COTD post made me think. What proportion of the renters here have housemates (excluding significant other and children)?"
I would imagine alot - huge premium paid for living alone. I do.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 29, 2009 5:25 PM
Cobble and I both know those circumstances all too well.
I don't say that there aren't people who do nothing to improve their lot in life, but assumption shouldn't be that this country is filed with uncaring masses of lazy-good-for-nothings only wanting to suck at the gov't teat. If that were the case, this country would never have achieved what it has.
But a country that has little care or compassion for all of its citizens, isn't going to be the ain't democracy grand poster child for the world either.
If history has shown us anything, its that no country can survive without concern for all its citizens. We like to think we are more enlightened today, we are more concerned with human rights- if that means making sure we have a safety net in place, so be it. Because life without one is frightening indeed. Believe me, I know. So does Arkady, and cobble and snappy-and many more.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 5:28 PM
Arkady, that was the reason for my question.
National insurance is levied at 10% on the employee and 10% on the employers (there is an upper limit though). Some of that is for the state pension so let's call it 10-15%, say 10% for the employee and 5% for the employer.
I would expect people to be up in arms about increasing tax rate by 10% so there would need to be cuts in other spending to accomodate - military spending would probably be the most obvious one. How do people feel about that? Fewer guns to defend you but more doctors to save you?
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 5:31 PM
Do cats count, chicken? In that case I have too many :-)
I live alone- and I love it. A huge premium, and worth it- as DH says. For me it is a quality of life issue.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 5:33 PM
'""you don't care about that, don't you?". "
CMU, you're being disingenuous. Thats not a question, its an accusation."
Well, we non-American-born folk would consider that sound debating technique; I realize we're a little more thin-skinned in these parts, sorry.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2009 5:33 PM
Chicken- with the enormous amount of waste in this country (pork barrel legislation, bridges to nowhere, accepting lowball offers for premium real estate air rights, over paid and overbenefitted politicians), seems to me we shouldn't have to make a choice. The past administration used that choice as a scare tactic for everything. Cut some expense accounts in Congress- that should free up billions. (full disclaimer- yes- hyperbole)
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 5:38 PM
chicken- we wouldn't need to increase taxes by 10%, i think you know that-- already today, a good chunk of tax money goes to healthcare, and we pay out-of-pocket, AND, employers pay about 20% on top of wages for healthcare. SO, done and done.
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 5:38 PM
There were big headlines this a.m., Chicken, that the Big O had managed to get military expenditures reduced significantly. It's my opinion (hope) that so far he's setting up his ducks & he has a big picture of how all his programs will mesh. Most of the hassle now is recalcitrant Republicans - polls show most citizens want the public option he's been pushing & definitely a majority thinks healthcare is of paramount importance.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:38 PM
Yes, I also live alone and love it.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 29, 2009 5:40 PM
"I live alone- and I love it"
Hmmh. What am I, bxgrl, Mr. Cellophane?
Posted by: CarrollGardened at October 29, 2009 5:40 PM
I live alone too - aside from 2 small, furry dependents. Whole reason I bought a house was so I didn't have to deal w/ people - turns out I'm not "co-operative".
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:43 PM
Arkady i'm serious about the smelly cat-- i was thinking maybe now that's she's 7, she doesn't clean herslef as well? she's a long-hair black/white domestic
Posted by: blowfish at October 29, 2009 5:45 PM
I've lived alone since the late eighties. Do you really think I could have a platonic relationship with someone if we actually lived together??? Long distance is the key.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 29, 2009 5:47 PM
I was serious about checking her butt. It could be she got a little runny from the change in food & hasn't done as good a job as normal cleaning up. You can do it for her w/ moist towels & her digestion will settle down fairly quickly. Seven isn't all that old for turning geriatric - even 11 isn't as a rule.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:48 PM
That wasn't very clear - I was distracted.
7 is young for senility.
Posted by: Arkady at October 29, 2009 5:50 PM
"The UK has something called "National Insurance" that employees and employers have to pay into as a percentage of salary (and deducted at source but that's a discussion for another day). This covers the cost of providing the National Health Service and also state pensions."
Chicken, ain't much different from here. Employer and employee both pay around 6% for social security (retirement). Also deducted at source for employee, if employer doesn't withhold and pay he gets locked up pretty quick. And there's another chuck for medicare, which is insurance for the elderly.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 5:55 PM
dibs, you don't live alone. You just live with someone new every night.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 5:56 PM
DIBS, you own so doesn't count.
I was interested to see how many people shared accomodation because of economic neccessity - shared bills and a 3-bed place costs less to rent than 3x studio/1-bed apartments.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 6:01 PM
Denton, so just increase the payments a little bit, decrease the military spending and boondoggles and make the medicare not just for the elderley but for everyone. As Dubbya might have said, "Mission Accomplished"!
This governing lark seems pretty easy, no?
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 6:08 PM
Contracts exchanged today, homeless on Wednesday. Oh joy!
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 6:08 PM
Congrats, chicken! [I think.]
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 6:11 PM
of course, chicken. But we can't have the government tax its citizens for healthcare and simply pay the docs because that's 'socialism'. So we have to have these convoluted plans that are so complicated no one even understands them.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 6:21 PM
thanks Cobby. Planning to actually move out over the weekend so I don't have to take any time off work.
Posted by: the chicken at October 29, 2009 6:22 PM
Correct, denton! Isn't this fun!?
Posted by: cobblehiller at October 29, 2009 6:27 PM
Chicken- we saved a refrigerator box for you :-)
Mr. Cellophane- LOL!!!! No C Gar, of course you ive with me. Virtually.
blowfish- if you cat is smelling like ammonia take her to the vet and have her tested. Sometimes an extra strong ammonia scent is from a urinary tract infection.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 29, 2009 6:27 PM
I just got out of the meeting, are there any sandwiches left?
Hello?
Posted by: dittoburg at October 29, 2009 7:32 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
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