Zombies are the new Pirates, and they’re going hunting for brains. Join a massive zombie walk today (because it’s Halloween, natch) starting at 3pm from the bottom east of Union Square.
The same birdie that tipped me off to the zombie walk sent a link to a video from last year’s walk.

I had the misfortune of being at the Civil Court today. This is the one located on 346 Broadway south of Canal.

The reason I had to be there is because some stupid blind idiotic NYPD cop could not read the inspection sticker on my motorcycle, and deemed it expired.

So armed with photographic evidence, I march into the building; in a not so pleaant state of mind. As soon as I enter, there is a security barrier with metal detectors and xray machines. Frankly, it would be some dumbass terrorist who would want to bomb even dumber government employees in that building.

Everytime I encounter government officials, be they at the court or the DMV, I always get the feeling that the one big prerequisite for getting a job there is that your IQ cannot be over 25. Or some such low figure. Seriously.

The people there are all dour and angry. Ask them a question and you get a rude reply. They literally make you feel that you are committing a crime by invading in the work-space-time. Damn, and here I thought that a big part of the taxes that I paid was for their salary!

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It’s official. My apartment has cockroaches. I just came home from a 4 day weekend in Ohio, and our kitchen was a mess. My flight was delayed and I didn’t get home til late so I didn’t have nearly enough energy to clean it up. My roommate cleaned it this morning, and when I came home to make some soup and do some homework, I opened the door to the garbage and saw THREE cockroaches in there. They crawled inside the garbage, so we got some bug spray and basically bombed the cupboard, as well as the whole area around it. I think I’m gonna wait a little bit and make sure they’re dead hopefully, then go throw away EVERYTHING in the cabinet. Any other tips on how I can get these son’s of B’s outta my apartment for good?

CLICK THE JUMP FOR AN UPDATE!!!
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Had dinner with friends last night at a new restaurant in Brooklyn (post to come about that), and when I got home I turned on the TV (as one is wont to do). Much to my delight, this year’s Halloween episode of South Park was on.

It was pretty funny, but it left me with one burning question: why would Satan choose Los Angeles over New York for his huge Halloween hoedown??? Seriously. In the battle for ultimate city to which Satan and his minions will ascend and throw their bash to end all Halloween bashes, there’s no way LA could hold a candle to NYC. I mean, if ever there was a city suited to the celebration of the darker side of the human spirit, this would be it, right? I get it that all the plastic surgery in LA amounts to a large sector of the population essentially wearing masks every day of the year, but come on…

I had a lot of plans this Saturday. Go to the Tompkins Square Park Halloween dog parade and check out the scary events at Grand Central, among random errands.

But the dog parade was rained out and postponed till Sunday, and it turned out the Grand Central stuff was on Sunday too – duh! And since it was my dad’s birthday (damn him!), I couldn’t go to either event. But the weekend wasn’t a total wash.
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New York’s complex subway system was one of the first in America (only behind Boston, as far as I know), and dwarfs all other American systems in both usage and overall equipment. Considering that, it is incredibly efficient and well-run. But, it is not without its issues and problems. Below are some subway complaints that have been made before, but have really pissed me off over the last week or so.

- What the hell is with the public address system at the stations? The other day, there was some announcement that went on for maybe 45 seconds, and the only word I heard was “Brooklyn.” I am a native NYer and fluent in English. How can they expect a non-English speaking tourist to understand?

- I live in SoHo but work in Murray Hill, so I use the 6 Train most frequently. I notice that often on the 6 (and probably with other lines too), they randomly turn it into an express. So as we are at the stop at Union Square, everything seems fine, and then AS THE DOORS ARE CLOSING, you will hear an announcement from inside the train, barely audible and spoken with the conductor standing WAY too close to the mic, saying that the next stop will be Brooklyn Bridge. This info would have been significantly more helpful if I was informed while the doors were open. Regardless of timing, isn’t the whole point of a local train that it makes all of the stops?

- Why does the Spring Street stop smell so bad? I mean, lots of stops smell bad, but Spring Street just STINKS!

- The 2nd Ave line is the biggest tease. Every time I hear them talk about it, I think “Thank God!!!” Then, I realize that I will be at least 35 before it opens its doors, and I will probably be married, have kids, and be out of the city by then. So it will basically have no relevance in my life. I wish they could have kept it a secret until two days before it opened.

- When you get on a train, step to the middle of the car. Do not stand by the door! This is particularly true if it is a busy time, there is no room in the doorway, or you are heavy-set.

- This is more of a personal preference thing than anything else… I never ever ever ever lean against the walls in a subway station. I have seen people peeing on them, spitting on them, and sleeping against them.

What bothers you about the subway?

We all think Taxis cost too much. But most of us just bring a $20 and hope for the best. Not anymore!

Taxi Fare Finder estimates how much any cab ride will cost within the five boroughs (and Newark Airport). One click on the map sets the starting point, while another click sets the destination. Alternatively, you can type in the your starting and ending addresses. While it doesn’t include gratuity or tolls and doesn’t take traffic or detours into account, it does help to give travelers an idea of what a ride will cost. I typed my home and office addresses in, and it estimated the ride will cost $7.78. That is within $0.40 of what it actually cost me on Friday.

Taxi Fare Finder is powered by Google Maps, and is among a number of really helpful themed mashups that you can use. Check out this NYC Halloween 2006 mashup for some really cool events going on this week. To see more helpful mashups, go to Google Maps Mania.

Thanks to Neil from Melbourne for the tip on NYC Taxi Fare Finder and Tracy Rollings for the NYC Halloween tip.

In an incredibly surprising decision, transgendered people may now use whatever restroom they choose at any MTA property. Additionally, the MTA will be “rewarding” one transgendered person $2,000 for being arrested three times for using the woman’s bathroom, when as far as I can tell from the multiple articles, she is still biologically a man (I had a very hard time phrasing that sentence).

Now, I was raised not to pass judgment on any group, and I believe very much in a “Live and Let Live” mentality… As long as someone isn’t hurting or hindering other people by their life choices, I don’t feel it is my business. But, this is very much a case of the MTA having to pander to a protesting group, having to choose in favor of political correctness over logic. It is irrelevant what this woman “feels like.” If she has male equipment, she should use the men’s room. If she has female equipment, she should use the woman’s room. I don’t see any two ways about it, or any room for debate! This is an issue of biology!

Yes, this woman now feels more comfortable, but what about the other people in the room? Granted, most probably will not know, but whether they know or not, their privacy has been infringed upon to make this group feel comfortable. If this was a former transgendered person who now had the female parts, this would not be an issue. She would feel like a woman, and would in fact be a woman biologically. But it is not. What is to stop a horny straight guy from putting on a dress and going into the woman’s room? Who makes up the rules? Why should the rest of the customers be inconvenienced because this person, who may “feel” like a woman but is biologically a man, doesn’t want to use the bathroom that is intended for them?

Sorry for the rant, but this is really aggravating! We give more and more up in the name of political correctness every day. Where does it end?

Further Reading:
- NY Post
- Daily News
- WCBS TV

Took a 4 down to City Hall Park today, in search of some historical zoning maps I need for a project on gentrification. My first stop was the Municipal Library, followed by a trip across the hall to the records room. Neither of these places had what I was looking for, so I walked a block to the Department of City Planning at Reade and Elk. I asked for the incremental updates to map 8B, and I had photocopies in my hands after mere moments!

This is a shout out to the DoCP. Keep rockin.

” Have You Seen The Well-To-Do Up and Down Park Avenue -
On That Famous Thoroughfare With Their Noses In The Air ”

“Putting On The Ritz” – Irving Berlin – 1938.

Those of you “In The Know” have probably already been reading New York Social Diary for the past five or so years since David Patrick Colombia began the online chronicles of Upper East Side life. Downtown types may think it a bit elitist – however, besides social functions , Mr.Colombia is perhaps today’s pre-emininent New York diarist . Do check out his observant ,amusing site.