The C-Train was on its normal quiet hustle and bustle until the doors opened and a glass drinking bottle smashed into shards on the platform.
An ordinary man in a cranberry jacket, brown shoes, shirt and tie confronted the individual who threw the bottle.
She was African American girl about thirteen years old. Her head was perfectly round and her hair was matted and held tight by a small red elastic.
He touched her shoulder and told her that it was “wrong” and she proceeded to go off.
“Don’t hit me. You can’t tell me what to do. Your not my father…” Her mouth foamed obscenities.
“Why did you do that?” He asked.
Her curses never ebbed. She continued to justify her behavior and attack the ordinary man until he sighed and turned his back on her.
The man looked beside himself as the profanity continued to litter our collective ears.
The C-Train came to rest at the Columbus Circle station and the passengers stood restless waiting for the doors to open.
“I’m going to school.” She said ending her tirade, the doors opened and she stormed off the train.
Passengers poured onto the platform.
“Are you the guy who confronted the girl?” I said as I approached the man.
“Yes,” he said and vented his anger summing up the whole situation and proceeded to say, “…the whole subway should have blown up. “
“Despite its ugliness. I appreciate what you did in confronting her.”
The ordinary man walked away.
Darn right it was wrong. Teenage girl littering our environment not only with glass, but noise pollution to boot. Bombarding the subway and a man with her twisted justification. I would have like to have a civilized conversation with her parents.
However, intuition tells me that would be pointless.
“You are not alone.”
ACTUALIZE THIS!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
* * NECTAR OF THE GODS * *
A father to a bouncing two year old and smiling six month old; I sometimes feel the need, the need for speed. Coffee is a natural answer to my energy crisis and brewed caffeine a legal means.
I’ve long outgrown those last minute cram sessions sipping sweet brown nectar from a 12-cup decanter. (No mug needed. Please.) Since then, I have graduated to high priced, social coffee (with different sizes besides small, medium and large) served by baristas, or some screaming customer service representative, wrapped in an anti-scald cardboard liner that has fashionable or trendy remark scribed on the cup. I enjoy the coffee, entertainment and package. However, why am I paying a premium for coffee that I can easily make at home for a pittance? Is all this extraneous stuff necessary? No. It is not.
Make your coffee at home.
An alternative would be to grab a cup of java at a local bodega with the classic Greek blue-and-white ‘to-go’ receptacle with the lettering, “We are Happy to Serve You.” For a dollar, the guy hands me a delicious coffee with a vibrant smile. Spanish included.
Save yourself some cash, put your savings in a vacation fund, a 529 plan, a wonderful date with your significant other or save it.
Know the ELSE in, what else am I buying?
ACTUALIZE THIS!
I’ve long outgrown those last minute cram sessions sipping sweet brown nectar from a 12-cup decanter. (No mug needed. Please.) Since then, I have graduated to high priced, social coffee (with different sizes besides small, medium and large) served by baristas, or some screaming customer service representative, wrapped in an anti-scald cardboard liner that has fashionable or trendy remark scribed on the cup. I enjoy the coffee, entertainment and package. However, why am I paying a premium for coffee that I can easily make at home for a pittance? Is all this extraneous stuff necessary? No. It is not.
Make your coffee at home.
An alternative would be to grab a cup of java at a local bodega with the classic Greek blue-and-white ‘to-go’ receptacle with the lettering, “We are Happy to Serve You.” For a dollar, the guy hands me a delicious coffee with a vibrant smile. Spanish included.
Save yourself some cash, put your savings in a vacation fund, a 529 plan, a wonderful date with your significant other or save it.
Know the ELSE in, what else am I buying?
ACTUALIZE THIS!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
* * APARTMENT HUNTING - - NEW YORK CITY 07/2009 * *
The real estate market is taking a nice hammering throwing power to the buyer or renter. I am a renter at the moment and will continue to be so while our budget and income rides a plateau.
NO-FEE means NO-FEE right? Wrong. There are varying fees attached with renting any place and then the non-monetary fees you pay when you are a tenant. (i.e. problems, time waiting to fix something, shoddy renovations, destroyed items, security etc.)
What are these fees before the NO-FEE?
REAL ESTATE BROKERS
Well, if you go through a real estate broker, those fees can be quite shocking. Brokers fee you with application fees (45.00-150.00 per person, mind you.) and a transaction fee of either one month’s rent or 15% of the year.
My wife went to view apartments through a real estate broker and his company with EXCLUSIVE properties and found out how non-exclusive to this broker those apartments were. We were shown the same buildings and same apartments that a colleague in another company showed us a few days earlier. The broker took a hard line and said, “…if you don’t like this, then you won’t like any.” (In regards to a dilapidated, anachronism of a two bedroom on 215th Street, that was in need of a multitude of repairs and an enormous amount TLC.)
Even reputable agencies steer you wrong because they could care less about you and more about the bottom line. You qualify, great! You don’t qualify, well, we’ll rent you a corrugated card board box to be placed in Central Park and has a tres bon view. Oh, and my 15%.
Avoid real estate brokers at all cost(s).
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
We decided to move to a new apartment with the help of a real estate broker. They ‘found’ us a lovely renovated apartment in the desirable area and fit our specifications.
I looked at the paper work and decided to call the management listed on the sheet.
“Yes, sir. We do have an apartment available at that location. A nice renovated two bedroom for …” The rental price they quoted me had the 15% added into rental price that the real estate broker was charging me.
They play the games too.
Though, if you focus on the buildings in the area and do a little phone work, you might find a decent rental.
LIST SERVICES
We paid for a list, about 200.00 that turned up some leads on apartments. We choose a nice two bedroom from the list and were able to solidify the deal by signing on the dotted line. You simply must do the phone and leg work. (These lists organize management companies and no-fee realty companies so you don’t have to. Most of the information is available, but you’ll need to dig if you don’t have THE LIST.)
However, beware… There are lists out there, one in particular comes to mind sold through a magazine shop in the Chelsea area, that is full of absolute garbage leads. A few calls into the list you’ll wonder why people are yelling at nice little ole you.
NO-FEE
There is a fee, however, it is only a credit / background check and it ranges between 45.00 to 150.00 per person applying. (There may be hidden key fees or other charges after the fog clears from signing on the line.)
Choose your adventure grasshopper; just don’t jump into a lawnmower blade.
ACTUALIZE THIS!
NO-FEE means NO-FEE right? Wrong. There are varying fees attached with renting any place and then the non-monetary fees you pay when you are a tenant. (i.e. problems, time waiting to fix something, shoddy renovations, destroyed items, security etc.)
What are these fees before the NO-FEE?
REAL ESTATE BROKERS
Well, if you go through a real estate broker, those fees can be quite shocking. Brokers fee you with application fees (45.00-150.00 per person, mind you.) and a transaction fee of either one month’s rent or 15% of the year.
My wife went to view apartments through a real estate broker and his company with EXCLUSIVE properties and found out how non-exclusive to this broker those apartments were. We were shown the same buildings and same apartments that a colleague in another company showed us a few days earlier. The broker took a hard line and said, “…if you don’t like this, then you won’t like any.” (In regards to a dilapidated, anachronism of a two bedroom on 215th Street, that was in need of a multitude of repairs and an enormous amount TLC.)
Even reputable agencies steer you wrong because they could care less about you and more about the bottom line. You qualify, great! You don’t qualify, well, we’ll rent you a corrugated card board box to be placed in Central Park and has a tres bon view. Oh, and my 15%.
Avoid real estate brokers at all cost(s).
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
We decided to move to a new apartment with the help of a real estate broker. They ‘found’ us a lovely renovated apartment in the desirable area and fit our specifications.
I looked at the paper work and decided to call the management listed on the sheet.
“Yes, sir. We do have an apartment available at that location. A nice renovated two bedroom for …” The rental price they quoted me had the 15% added into rental price that the real estate broker was charging me.
They play the games too.
Though, if you focus on the buildings in the area and do a little phone work, you might find a decent rental.
LIST SERVICES
We paid for a list, about 200.00 that turned up some leads on apartments. We choose a nice two bedroom from the list and were able to solidify the deal by signing on the dotted line. You simply must do the phone and leg work. (These lists organize management companies and no-fee realty companies so you don’t have to. Most of the information is available, but you’ll need to dig if you don’t have THE LIST.)
However, beware… There are lists out there, one in particular comes to mind sold through a magazine shop in the Chelsea area, that is full of absolute garbage leads. A few calls into the list you’ll wonder why people are yelling at nice little ole you.
NO-FEE
There is a fee, however, it is only a credit / background check and it ranges between 45.00 to 150.00 per person applying. (There may be hidden key fees or other charges after the fog clears from signing on the line.)
Choose your adventure grasshopper; just don’t jump into a lawnmower blade.
ACTUALIZE THIS!
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