Anyway, their tour schedule is on Myspace and they are in town for a couple shows. I will probably check them out tomorrow at 10 PM at Don Pedro, in Williamsburg. Let me know in the comments if you come over.

Maybe it’s just me, but this summer has been pretty awesome in terms of overall weather condition and everything. I just loved it over here in your city [NYC]. This is one of my favorite snaps which I took walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Even though I have to go back and I do look forward to people over there in Berlin, I am also gonna miss this place a lot, lot, lot, …

Of course I could check out the tripplaner website beforehand, but let’s reserve my beef with the tripplanner for another blog post.

So while I am really glad that the subway system runs all around the clock, I have also found myself numerous times standing on a platform in the middle of the night wondering when my dear train comes to bring me home. Just add to the uncertainty of time, the uncertainty about the overall service (”It’s the weekend, does the 2, 3 stop here?”), rats and all kind of weird people to make this experience a lasting one.

Last weekend I went out with some friends in Williamsburg and to get their I took a L-Train from Manhattan to Bedford Avenue and I noticed that the L is the first one of all the lines I’ve used that actually displays the time of when the next train runs right on the platform. At least in Brooklyn.

And while I was waiting for the the train at Spring St, they kept announcing an ETA for the next train every three minutes. Not that you need it so often, but it’s still a nice service.

So this is still pretty rare for NYC and the system is probably a pilot. All the people I talked to about it so far were joking about the MTA raising prices soon to compensate the spending on the panels. ;) Even though I oppose raising the prices (Of course!), I feel like this system is long needed.

Does anyone share my enthusiasm and know more?

Now, the good news is - she did not die. But she could have.

I’ve been riding my bike since I was little, and I’ve always lived in at least semi-metropolitan areas, and I’ve also gotten into a couple accidents myself. Most of the time because of reckless behaviour, a couple times where it hasn’t been my fault - though I have to admit the times my own stupidity got me into something do outbalance the others.

Taking my bike around Berlin, I think I pretty much have a feel for how people on a bike behave. It’s not too different from how people in NYC act. One of the biggest misunderstandings is - you think that red lights never apply to you and you just keep going. All in all we do so much outrageous shit biking, violating every rule in traffic there is.

And it gets even worse when people who ride bikes don’t have a driver’s license, or have never driven a car - yet they bitch about people in cars all the time.

Most of us people on bikes (with or without a car/driver’s license) have absolutly no idea what we are dealing with. We don’t look left and right, but generally assume that people in cars will look out for us. I am not sure why that is so. And many situations - even when “nothing” happens - are so scary. Especially when you are on the other side of the table.

For example, all of the sudden there is a bike crossing in front of you, even though you are on a green light. Or, this is my favorite, at night time, people in dark clothes with no lights and reflectors. I don’t think people realize that they are indeed playing jeopardy by how they take part.

Today, the lady cut from between two parking buses (a 4 foot gab!) into the street. If she had looked to her left, she would have seen all the cars coming and - this is an assumption ;) - she would not have run directly into the cab. She obviously got away on the lighter side - probably with a fracture, but at least she did not loose her life.

Now, just so I don’t get run over by bikes tomorrow - I know that people in cars are not perfect either. People smoke, eat, phone, listen to music - they don’t pay attention either. And cab drivers are sometimes a particulary crazy bunch as well.

What I am trying to say is - don’t assume! You can’t shift all the responsibility just because you are “smaller” compared to a car or bus. Think about how people perceive and see you in traffic, and then try to stay on the safe side always. If that means you need to buy lights and reflectors for the bike, then do it. Or driving slower, just live with it. Just don’t play jeopardy.

The other night we were hanging out at Brooklyn Water Park, which is basically underneath the Manhattan Bridge. The view on the surroundings is pretty good, and popular. I snapped this shot of one of the infamous NYC waterfalls. They are pretty hideous, no? :)

I captured this from a wall in Chinatown, and it kinda got me thinking. I feel like sometimes, the message is simple and strong. I wish there was more like that.

Today, Empire Fulton-Ferry State Park, 4-8pm, Corner of Plymouth & Main Streets, Dumbo, Brooklyn

There’s plenty of cool shit going down (including Graffiti Research Lab from Vienna) - tomorrow (10th July, 2008) at Alphabeta Shop on 70 Greenpoint Ave. (BROOKLYN) - 6PM - 1AM. One night only, that means - ONLY TOMORROW.

Be there, or be square.  :)

More info:
http://overspraymag.com/blog/?p=443

Anyone know the (historical) reason for this?