For Your Viewing Pleasure

Several years ago, I produced a video section highlighting some of New York City’s best aggressive inline skaters for a popular series of skate videos. My section didn’t make the final cut for the video, so my work never saw the light of day (there was no YouTube back then).
So, ladies and gentlemen, this [...]

The “Get Out of Jail Free” Card: Is it Real?

For the record: “Get Out Of Jail Free” cards are real. I have one.
I have long heard the rumors of the “Get Out Of Jail Free” card, and I’m not talking about Monopoly. I’m talking about the seemingly mythical wallet-sized token of domestic immunity which people uniformly claim was bestowed upon them by their best [...]

Your Telephone Procedures: They Are Incorrect

I loath when people do following:
*my cell phone rings*
Me: Hello?
Idiot: Who’s this?
Me: You called me. Who is this?
Idiot: *click*
If you are one of these idiots, you need to revise your procedures.
When telephoning someone, it is imperative that you identify yourself at the very beginning of the conversation. You may then choose to name the party [...]

Optimum Online (Cablevision): Who’s That Girl?

Most savvy New York media folks are aware of the polarizing effects of the new Optimum Online commercials, from the obnoxious “Reggaeton” ad to the newer creepy “Stepford Wife” spot. No matter how much you hate these ads, like I do, they are setting response records and they have people talking.
With this said, I think [...]

(A Moment In) Time I’ll Never Get Back

Kevin Robinson broke the world record for a vertical jump on a BMX bike, reaching a height of 27 feet above the top of a custom built 26-foot quarter pipe, yielding a 53-foot vertical jump . It all happened last night in Central Park in conjunction with Red Bull and MSG.
The weird thing? CentralPark.com didn’t [...]

The Peeing Man: The Confrontation

I finally confronted The Peeing Man in my apartment building.
I’d passed on several opportunities to confront him previously, usually because there were other people around or whatever. Today, we rode the elevator up to the fourth floor together. Just him and me.
This is it. This was my chance.
I was apprehensive about confronting him in the [...]

French Urban-Climber Takes On ‘NY Times’ building.

***BREAKING NEWS**
French free-climber Alain Robert, (a.k.a “Spider-man”) just scaled the NY Times building in Manhattan with no ropes. He was arrested when he reached the roof shortly after noon today.
I wish I would have thought of this.
[UPDATE: A second man has free-climbed the NY Times building today. Renaldo Clarke, 32, of Brooklyn. Here is the [...]

Boyfriend and Girlfriend: A Story of Endearing Commandeering

Girlfriend: Where is my black pillow?
Me: The flat one?
Girlfriend: Yes.
Me: I’m using it for my mouse-pad now. I commandeered it.
Girlfriend: What?
Me: I commandeered your pillow.
Girlfriend: What is that supposed to mean?
Me: I’m not really sure, but in legal terms, I think it pretty much means that I just straight-up took your pillow and unless you [...]

Wait, I’m Sorry. This Is New York, Right?

A challenge to all New Yorkers: Don’t leave me hanging next time.
On my way home from work yesterday, the 6 train was running significantly late for the fourth weekday in a row, rush hour. Folks were standing five or six deep on the length of the platform, all waiting for the same train. We commuters, [...]

This Weekend In Televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

This was a huge weekend, a weekend of firsts for televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), or “cage fighting”.
CBS, in conjunction with EliteXC, aired a primetime “Saturday Night Fights” Special featuring five full-contact bouts. This is the first time, to my knowledge that mixed martial arts has been aired on a major television network. Their [...]