October 27, 2008

Specialized high school test at Brooklyn Tech

I Don't know how many of you had to deal with this on Saturday or Sunday but what a chaotic mess. Thousands of kids and parents having NO IDEA where to go or what to do.
For those that may not know our kids in Brooklyn have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get into a decent public high school. There is an exam for "specialzed" public schools. Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant, etc.
In addition to that the kids have to select their first choice, second etc. Then hope they can get into a school that they like and might better fit their needs and wants. Let's face it isn't that one reason we pay taxes? So we may be better served? Or that is the way it is supposed to be at least.
Yesterday, we arrived for the test and it was mobbed. Traffic was snarled on Dekalb (funny enough no one was there to direct traffic). I guess writing more tickets and filling up the cash cow of the Traffic Dept. was more important yesterday. Brooklyn Tech is a big building with several entrances. Funny enough no one bothered to even post one single sign informing kids/parents where to go. There was one doorway mobbed with people and no one seemed to know what was going on there. Most didn't know where to go to take the afternoon test. (there had also been a morning test too)I asked a few people and they had no idea either. Was there any info on the web site to clearly spell out what to do when we go there? Nope. They do tell you to help the kids keep their stress low for the big test but I ask you how that is supposed to happen when you arrive at the "test center" and are greeted by an unorganized, chaotic mess. I even said out loud "I could organize this better than this" and one of the "personel" heard me. She said "who said that"? I said "I did." She said "You want to go around and do it?" I said "Yes. Who is in charge of this fiasco?" She said all people had top do was come around to the other side (as we had finally done) to enter. I told her there was absolutely no way for anyone to know that. Picture someone coming here for the first time. How are they supposed to know where to go or what to do? There is no information OF ANY KIND, ANYWHERE. She said she had been doing it for 30 years and that seemed to be good enough. SIGH.

Ok so if people are treated that way. As if they aren't important and their tax dollars "at work" appear to be carelessly spent is that acceptable? Is the city or the school system at all interested in marketing any kind of positive image at all for themselves? Based on yesterday they certainly aren't. Why should I care when they seem like they are doing me some kind of favor? What a joke. If yesterday were a business I would never shop there again and tell every I knew to stay away. Trouble is it is public school and it is the only game in town unless you want to pay a premium for private school.
How after 30 years (especially now with the huge growth in Brooklyn) do they carry on an event like this business as usual? If Amazon tried that they would be out of business. Instead they try very hard to get the customer what they want. They might even ask how the customers shopping experience was and then...get this. Actually implement something out of the information they receive! Wow! What a concept NYC public school system.

Please don't give me the excuse about budget cuts either. All it takes is some planning and forethought. Jeez. Learn from the previous years and improve it. Is that really so difficult? Talk about building a crummy image for yourself...well there it is right there.

Trying not to belabor the point too much (I guess I am though) but I was in a Whole Foods in California back in July and what a great experience. Very helpful staff, friendly, clean, extremely organized and when we couldn't find something it didn't feel like they were doing me a favor or something.

I guess government organizations don't have to run themselves like this because they are the only game in town. Too bad because the rest of the world is catching up with us and if the rest of government is organized this poorly we will eventually crumble like Rome, Britain, and other so called leaders of the world did.

Anyway, if anyone out there knows who is in charge of that mess yesterday please feel free to send it on to me.

Thanks,
Robert

Posted in Forum by transistor at 11:24 AM | Comments (15)
Categories: News/Commentary

October 14, 2008

Halloween in Clinton Hill part 3

I don't know why part 2 vanished but our part in the annual Halloween walk here in Clinton Hill (246 washington Ave between Willoughby and Dekalb) is well underway. Lots of stuff to still do but we are making great progress. If you want a great time with the kids this Halloween you must check it out this year.
Each house has it's own theme and ours has been and is still classic monsters/horror and sci-fi. You can see by the pic that the full sizes Phantom of the Opera is about ready to go. You can also see the set for the show being constructed. This year?
Last year the show featured the Wolfman, Dracula, The Frankenstein Monster and Dr. Frankenstein.
This year will feature a Lara Croft character, an ancient egyptian preist, the Mummy and The Golem. No. NOT Golem from Lord of the Rings but The classic and legendary Golem of Prague. If you don't know about the famous Golem legend go here for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem If you have never seen any of the Golem films go here to learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golem_and_the_Dancing_Girl

We are psyched for Octbober 31 and expect it to be bigget than ever. Usually we get more than two thousand kids but Halloween being on a Friday night it should be even bigger. Come see the show right here in front of 2 front and center brownstone buildings. Pick up your Halloween walk map at the Hall street and Dekalb garden. Make sure you come by to see one of the shows. There will be three performances. The first probably around 6:30 (when it gets dark).
Once again if anyone wants to be a part of the show by handing out candy, managing the crowds or (if you have talent for this sort of thing) help out backstage with effects please let me know ASAP!

Until next time,
Robert

Posted in Forum by transistor at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

October 1, 2008

Clinton Hill Halloween time!

I guess I am a Brooklyn "oldie." First came here to Clinton Hill in 1979 then moved here permanently in early 1980. Back then it was a different place and I kind of liked it. Yes there were abandoned buildings, abandoned cars, no amenities to speak of and it was more dangerous than today for sure. It also was a place where a young guy like me could do most anything he wanted. In 1989 though I bought a brownstone on Washington Ave and was here to stay.
To tell the truth I halfway miss the old days around here, but I guess you got to give up something to get something. One of those somethings (and my favorite) is the Clinton Hill Halloween walk.
It is growing bigger and bigger and as this neighborhood changes it will continue to do so. For those of you who aren't familiar the Halloween Walk is an annual event where houses "volunteer" to be part of Halloween. Those houses are then marked on a map that is handed out Halloween evening to whoever wants one. The kids are guaranteed to get candy and maybe see a cool attraction at these houses. Of course other houses that aren't on the walk also participate so you never know how many "stops" the kids will be making that night.

I have been part of the walk for 12 years or so and have the biggest "show" (if you will) on Washington ave. A quick note. Halloween is MY major holiday. My love of classic monsters, horror and sci-fi gets that one day to express it self to everyone. In fact if a presidential candidate were to say that Halloween would be made into a major holiday he/she would get my vote in a second! I even started a film company to make horror / sci-fi films. (You can also see last years show here on youtube. It's a bit dark but this year we expect to have a better quality film to show.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW67aHEmz6Q

So....I am now in the ever growing annual throes of producing our Halloween show. (You can see the photo from 2006 that accompanies this post.) This year we will have 6 full size, realistic, classic monsters (3 more than last year). They are Frankenstein Monster, Wolfman, Dracula, Mr. Hyde, The Mummy and the Phantom of the Opera. Hundreds of film clips of classic horror/sci-fi from silents all the way up to today. LOTS of candy and of course the show itself.

We will be aiming at 3 shows that night. Possibly even four. I would like to keep a running commentary here as Oct 31 approaches. Progress we are making etc. Anyone else that has an attraction is certainly welcome to also join in with their progress. It is a LOT of work but it is worth it for us at least. We are looking for like minded volunteers to hand out candy, crowd control and if you are somewhat skilled to help out backstage with the effects. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested.
SO here it is Oct 1. Let the countdown down begin!!!

Robert Troch

Posted in Forum by transistor at 12:47 PM | Comments (2)
Categories: Leisure