He didn't invent the telescope, he improved on one made by a Dutchman (who patently had gotten the idea from China.)

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 4:43 PM in response to Open Thread

Found it, bxgrl. Neat! Much better than fragments of the true cross.

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 4:36 PM in response to Open Thread

bxgrl - Galileo is one of my heros! Where was that snippet? (Poor choice of words, I guess.)

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 4:33 PM in response to Open Thread

You can also try blowing out the current thermostat w/ canned air. If it's a mercury switch they sometimes get dust-laden & imbalanced.

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 4:09 PM in response to Heating Issues

Also take pictures of anything affected by their doings & keep a diary of your interactions & send communications via registered mail & keep copies.

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 4:07 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

Too pretty a day for a bunch of bile.

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 10:20 AM in response to Open Thread

Neat quote:
A man's library is a sort of harem. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 10:07 AM in response to Open Thread

Gee, what's up? Are posts just not getting through?

Posted by: Arkady at November 20, 2009 9:58 AM in response to Open Thread

Biffy -I'm surprised you'd think about putting pussies in the disposals - maybe you horked something down there while you were tending the Champettes? You're supposed to represent the interests of all your constituent - esp. the warm & fuzzy ones.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Open Thread

Yeah, Legion, that is cute.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Open Thread

Where's the link for the kitten in the sink?

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 1:18 PM in response to Open Thread

No, Snaps. The way he put it it was lots of separate events which is just fine - quantity & quality.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Open Thread

There was a query about that last week - suggestions ranged all over. You should try searching the archives - I'd guess under plumbing.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Hot Water Problem!

Maybe he's just being incredibly subtle. Discrete means several separate & discontinuous events. Discreet would mean unnoticeable & on the sly.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 12:06 PM in response to Open Thread

THL - There goes my coffee!

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 11:11 AM in response to Open Thread

Metaphorical flames are pouring out of the Bond St. thread.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Open Thread

I haven't used them but this is the recommendation from a neighbor of mine for mains work:

Main Man Plumbing
9204 Ditmas Avenue
Brooklyn
718-342-7900

The price was $2600. I also had gotten a second estimate from another contractor (whose name I forget). My recollection was that the second estimate was in the $3,500 to $4,500 range.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Broken Sewer Main

Legion - Yeah, Obama is doing a great job!

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:30 AM in response to Open Thread

Snappy - Is there more butter for the potatoes?

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Open Thread

Looks like the Maja, THL!

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:25 AM in response to Open Thread

Did anyone watch Jeopardy last night? If so, what were the "answers" for the I Can Haz Cheezburger category?

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Open Thread

Oy! What happened to Cobble's service?

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:09 AM in response to Open Thread

IJ - "No thanks, I don't want a shooter."

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 10:02 AM in response to Open Thread

Simon's in Manhattan.

Posted by: Arkady at November 19, 2009 9:31 AM in response to Apartment Door Numbers

Denton- Did I read it wrong? I thought it was your fish-laden backpack, not Mrs. D's. Maybe I was so teary from laughing at the theology discussion my eyes blurred.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 5:10 PM in response to Open Thread

Denton- Did I read it wrong? I thought it was your fish-laden backpack, not Mrs. D's. Maybe I was so teary from laughing at the theology discussion my eyes blurred.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Open Thread

Neat photo!

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 5:02 PM in response to Wednesday Blogwrap

It is much harder to make a house cat-safe than to make it baby-safe.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 4:12 PM in response to Open Thread

Denton - Sounds as if your cat is smarter than his owner.
Snappy - Definitely get a table to suit you & keep a piece of marble for pastry.
Kens - Many herbs don't mind part shade. They also prefer sandy soil. Best bet is to buy herbs from the market at GAP - thyme, tarragon, rosemary, oregano, for instance, don't grow true from seed. Parsley & sage are hard to start. Some catalogues have boxes w/ angle irons that can fit over a sill so you don't have to drill.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 4:08 PM in response to Open Thread

Will this be your first account w/ them? They may require a deposit.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Utilities & Credit Checks

CarGar - Fingers crossed for good news. Glad she survived the anaesthetic - that's always scarey.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 2:44 PM in response to Open Thread

Those old tiles look like asphalt to me.
Loving the vicarious joy of your reno.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 2:13 PM in response to Beneath the Surface

There are periodic events for community shredding - Google for Lower East Side Recycling - they coordinate beyond LES.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 1:22 PM in response to shredding papers

Try Winston Plummer - 718 755 2802. Tell him Kathleen recommended him.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 1:19 PM in response to GC needed for bathroom project

ExTex - You can thin it w/ a bit of lemon or add 5-spice powder to it. It makes a nice base for lots of additions.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Open Thread

Oyster sauce is a terrif marinade for chicken &/or ribs.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Open Thread

Snaps - What's bottom of the stove toast?
I had dinner last night w/ an old college friend - 1965...

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 12:11 PM in response to Open Thread

"i know im being a black kettle" Wonderful expression!

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Open Thread

Is it my 'puter or is anyone else finding that the site is slow today?

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Open Thread

How did you rent the place? Through an agency? If so, contact them to find the LL.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 9:28 AM in response to Contacting Landlord

If you use solid wood you can join pieces very firmly using biscuits. Ply really isn't good for your application.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 9:27 AM in response to Plywood Sheet for a Door?

Benson - If you have any free time, try to go to the Japanese Gardens - wonderful place! Very different from ours at BBG.

Posted by: Arkady at November 18, 2009 9:24 AM in response to Open Thread

Rob - Just get the heavily flavored ones & smell them before using.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Open Thread

Yeah, Dibs. Let's go back to corn cobs & newsprint for a saner populace.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Open Thread

So much for the natural movement.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 4:00 PM in response to Open Thread

I don't know about the others but Chelsea is awfully pricey.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 3:39 PM in response to StreetLevel: Gardening Supply Store Opening on Hicks

SS - That's true but at this time of year there are relay trucks they can dump into & not have to go back to the depot.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 3:38 PM in response to Street Cleaning / Leaf pickup

I've just scared my cats to death laughing so hard!

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 3:28 PM in response to Open Thread

Ever since I started feeding squirrels they've left my bulbs, herbs & bird feeders alone - even though I don't keep them supplied all the time.
You can order them from:
nottawawildbirdsupply

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 2:35 PM in response to StreetLevel: Gardening Supply Store Opening on Hicks

It's illegal to do that - observed more in the breach. There are several community gardens that are accepting leaves this coming weekend. I've lost the link but one is at 6th Av at 15th St. from 11 to 1 Sat. & Sun.

Posted by: Arkady at November 17, 2009 2:24 PM in response to Street Cleaning / Leaf pickup

Let this be a lesson to any of you out there who are thinking of buying a buiding with RC tenants.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 20, 2009 4:43 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

Mpcmpc is talking specifically about electronic zone valves in a hot water heating system. Even more specifically, I would think; Honeywell electronic zone valves. Not everyone has them.

Posted by: Master Plvmber at November 20, 2009 4:58 PM in response to Heating Issues

Daveinbedsty and all
Thanks for your info.This is not the first building we've bought with RC tenants. But this our first in Brooklyn with a non stabilized building..... we understood the perils of RC but this is obscene amount of damage even the old man who put his boots to warm in the microwave (with metal toes and insoles)did not cause that much harm. If i can prevent them from putting up another Garden hose shower and making it known that this is 24K worth of damaged they cost us. A friend suggested taking them to small claims. This way it would be the incident not rent control laws. There is a question about their lease. She may have been living ells were before her mother died. Does that change things?

Posted by: meme at November 20, 2009 5:43 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

Regarding your last post.I was wondering how old these people were.
You cannot inherit a RC apartment.

Posted by: modsquad at November 20, 2009 5:51 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

I believe the daughter had to be in residence 2 years to keep the apartment. Again, you really should speak to a lwyer to go down to housing court and get information. There are circumstances under which an rc/rs tenant can be evicted and possibly endangerment is one of them. And you do have the right to gain access to an apartment to do repairs. That should be in the lease form as well.

Posted by: bxgrl at November 20, 2009 6:12 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

"A family member would succeed to the rights of the tenant of record upon the tenant’s permanent departure or death, provided the family member lived with such a primary resident not less than two years"
http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/attygenguide.html#8

Posted by: modsquad at November 20, 2009 6:18 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

You have my sympathies. This sounds like a terrible amount of damage.

Posted by: mopar at November 20, 2009 6:35 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

"this is so against me being a socialist but they have destroyed so much"

Capitalist: Former socialist with a rent-controlled tenant.
Conservative: Former liberal who got mugged.

Posted by: denton at November 20, 2009 6:36 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

love it, Denton!

Posted by: pig three at November 20, 2009 7:33 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants