Archive for May, 2009
A Shout Out to the Accenture Alumni
Friday, May 22nd, 2009I don’t normally post things here that only make sense to a select few people (normally, what I post makes sense to nobody! Hah!), but last night I attended Accenture’s annual alumni reception, and we spent a disturbingly high percentage of the time talking about blogs, Facebook, and other social networking tools. In the course of it, I promised I’d blog about some people, so here goes:
To Rich Wasch, who surprised me by telling me he reads this blog often – nice to have you here. I hope you like what you read and enjoy your upcoming travels!
To Suzanne Carlson and Jeff Turner, it was great seeing you last night. And don’t worry, I’m still adamantly refusing to join Facebook, so I won’t be clogging up your status page with the minutia of my life.
And to Steve Cooper, about whom I promised to blog something nasty (after he promised that he would never, ever read my blog), let’s just say that if I ever meet your wife, I have a story I can tell her about her about how her pregnant friends use Facebook.
Oh, and a special shoutout to Jennifer Ippoliti, who I know reads this blog. I saw you & waved to you, but never got to stop by & say hello. Let’s do lunch!
OK, the trap is set. Now let’s see how well Google and the various social networks of the web do their job of drawing the above people here to read and comment.
Go!
Categories: Random Acts of Blogging | 5 Comments »
Random Acts of Blogging – 5/20/09
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009Two quick links that I found amusing:
There’s a guy in Philadelphia named Ted Vigilante running to be a judge in Philadelphia. His campaign ad (via YouTube) is called “Vigilante Justice 2.”
The Wall Street Run & Heart Walk took place yesterday in and around New York’s financial district. This from the event’s web page:
Please note that due to construction in the downtown area, the distance for this race has been changed from 5K to 3 miles.
So a bunch of Wall Street folks signed up for this event and contributed money, and then after they committed, the people in charge of it changed the rules on them. Why does that keep happening to Wall Street these days?
Categories: Random Acts of Blogging | 2 Comments »
New York City Sights – Radio City Music Hall
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
As you can see in this handy, dandy map, my office building (50 Rockefeller Plaza) is actually the same physical building as Radio City Music Hall.
That made this set of pictures pretty easy to come by:
If you Google around, you’ll learn that the music hall holds almost 6,000 people and boasts a stage 20 meters deep and 44 meters wide (66.5 feet x 144 feet). You’ll also read that it used to be a movie theater (the largest in the world at the time), and that it houses the “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ (4,410 pipes – the largest ever built for a movie theater). And, of course, you’ll read about the Radio City Rockettes, all 200+ of whom must be between 5’6″ and 5’10″ to participate.
But what you won’t find out is this: how do they change that sign every day? No, no – for that information, you need to come here to Familygreenberg.com (“providing useless knowledge to the masses since 2005″). Just about every morning, I pass this plain, yellow cart filled with plastic panels engraved with letters:
and then two guys (both of whom are clearly not Rockettes, even if they are between 5’6″ and 5’10″) move slowly around the sign with a ladder and change each letter by hand.
I find this fascinating, since Radio City could probably put in an electronic LED display that could be changed from a laptop in their ticket office for less than the combined annual salary of these two guys. And yet, the cart, the letters, and the ladder live on.
Tradition!
Categories: New York, New York | No Comments »
Learning from their mistakes
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009Internal memo received at work today:
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:28 PM
Subject: Authorized Flyover – May 20, 2009THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES A MILITARY FLYOVER AS PART OF THE FLEET WEEK FESTIVITIES
New York City Police Department advises [New Yorkers] regarding a military aircraft flyover that will occur on May 20, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. The flyover is part of the Fleet Week festivities and will include four military planes flying over New York City at a low altitude.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., four F-18 Hornets will pass over the Verrazano Narrows Bridge at an altitude of 2000 feet. The aircrafts will then turn and follow the Hudson River north over the assembled fleet while decreasing their altitude to 1000 feet. When the F-18s reach Pier 90, they will climb to 2500 feet and higher, exiting New York City airspace over the George Washington Bridge.
That’s more like it, folks. Thanks…
Categories: New York, New York, Political Rantings | 2 Comments »
For Sale: Dirt and other Garbage
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009In recent months, I’ve blogged quite a lot about the shuttering of the old Yankee Stadium and the opening of the new Yankee Stadium, but now it’s time for those who obsess professionally to take over. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Yankee Stadium memorabilia sales and auctions:
Seats: This, everyone knew would be coming. You can buy a pair of seats for $1,500 ($2,000 if you’re a season ticket holder and want your specific seats). Two bleacher seats (a bench with no back) is a bargain at $700. A single (non-bleacher) seat goes for $750, although it includes “new commemorative arms” (not sure if that makes it more or less valuable). And just the seat back (without the chair part) will cost you a relatively modest $200, unless you want it autographed, which is more yet again.
Signs: Now we’re moving into the “Please buy everything we were going to throw out anyway” territory. If I try really hard, I can imagine someone hanging up an authentic Yankee Stadium sign that says “No Grilling, Barbecuing or Open Fires” in their backyard (if they had $350 to burn, that is), or even one that says, “The Consumption of An Alcoholic Beverage or Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in the Public Areas Surrounding the Stadium, Including the Parking Lots and Garages, is Unlawful. Violations are Subject to Summons And/Or Arrest” ($500). Well, actually, no – I can’t imagine that at all. But even stranger is the need for a Wheelchair symbol sign ($200) an “Escalator with an arrow” sign ($200) or a “Men” or “Women” bathroom sign ($250). Heck, they’re even selling off the advertising signs they had hanging in the stadium. A Goya sign with an arrow can be yours at auction (current bid is $300, beating out four other bids!). You know, in case you have Goya beans at home and want an expensive, authentic Yankee Stadium sign to point to them…
Other Stuff: And if you thought that was garbage, check this out. You can actually buy a Yankee Stadium garbage can (current auction bid: $325), a turnstile ($2,025), or the bat rack from the Yankee dugout ($1,700). My personal favorite, though, is the plain, white AT&T touch-tone phone from the Yankee Stadium press room (current bid: $100). I mean, think of it – actual sports reporters that you’ve never heard of from newspapers you’ve never read have dialed that phone to talk to their editors about, well, the Yankees, I guess. Some people will literally buy anything.
Grass & Dirt: Then there’s the horticulture. A piece of freeze-dried grass (pictured) is a mere $80. One square foot of sod will run you $120, two square feet is $280. The giant, interlocking “NY” logo behind home plate can be yours for $50,000 (not counting the sprinkler system you’re going to want to buy to keep that from turning brown in the summer). A coin-sized container of dirt will run you $80. You can also buy photos with dirt glued to them. Seriously. They have Mariano Rivera exiting the bullpen with the warning track on the photo covered with authentic dirt and Derek Jeter sliding into third base during a game with authentic dirt flying up around him.
Jim Kelsey, the owner of Beam Clay in Great Meadows, NJ, the supplier of Yankee Stadium dirt since 1952, says you can get a ton of the same dirt for only $75. But then again, no one’s walked on that dirt yet. And therein lies the value. As A.J. Romeo, director of Yankees Steiner Collectibles, so succinctly puts it, “You can’t just sell dirt. You have to make it cool.”
Categories: New York, New York, Sports Talk | 1 Comment »
New York City Sights – Times Square
Saturday, May 9th, 2009This week’s installment of New York City Sights features “the heart of little old New York,” Times Square. Interestingly enough, this takes some explaining. There are a few pictures involved, so I’ve put them below the fold to save some space.
Categories: New York, New York | 3 Comments »
Photo-Op Fiasco: Update
Friday, May 8th, 2009
First of all, here is the picture that F-16 photographer took of the Air Force One 767 flying over the Statue of Liberty. At least they got a good picture out of it. I’m told if you blow it up real big and look real close, you can see New Yorkers on the ground pointing at the sky and running in panic…
On the upside, Louis Caldera, the director of the White House military office who authorized this stunt, has resigned. From his resignation letter to President Obama:
I have concluded that the controversy surrounding the Presidential Airlift Group’s aerial photo shoot over New York City has made it impossible for me to effectively lead the White House Military Office. Moreover, it has become a distraction to the important work you are doing as president. After much reflection, I believe it is incumbent on me to tender my resignation and step down as director of the White House Military Office.
As the saying goes: No shit, Sherlock. Maybe he should consider a job in Hollywood Special Effects? On second thought…
Categories: New York, New York, Political Rantings | 1 Comment »
Popular Baby Names – 2008 Edition
Friday, May 8th, 2009The Social Security Administration has put out it’s annual list of most popular baby names again (bottom right corner – choose Year = 2008 and Popularity = Top 1000. There’s no direct link to the lists…). Anyway, it’s time for the annual check of how strange/normal my kids names are:
Avery: When Avery was born in 2000, the SSA had his name as the 245th most popular boy’s name of the year. Unfortunately, it also had it listed as the 176th most popular girl’s name. The good news in 2008 is that it’s moved up the list. The bad news is, it’s moved up both lists. Avery is now the 216th most popular boy’s name and the 38th most popular girl’s name! By the time he’s in high school, he’s going to be getting form letters addressed to “Ms. Avery Greenberg.” Ah, well – I guess I’ll have to kick in for some of the therapy…
Brandon: When Brandon was born in 2002, he had to 20th most popular boy’s name. In 2008, it’s 33rd. A bit lower, but still a solid showing. And hey – at least the SSA doesn’t know of any female Brandon’s (at least not in the top 1,000).
And just to round out the family, let’s do the adults, shall we?
Brian: Back in 1969, Brian was the 9th most popular boy’s name. In 2008, I’ve dropped all the way to 87. There are no female Brian’s, but there are Brianna’s (#23) and Briana’s (#145).
Sherry: Back in 1968, Sherry was the 52nd most popular girl’s name. In 2008, it’s not in the top 1,000! Damn…quite the drop off. And here’s the ironic part: my in-laws picked out my wife’s name after seeing the Broadway musical Sherry (book and lyrics by James Lipton, now of Inside the Actor’s Studio fame). In the show, title character’s full name is Sheridan Whiteside, who is male!
Categories: Random Acts of Blogging | 1 Comment »
Best Error Message Ever…
Friday, May 8th, 2009Trying to open an Microsoft Excel spreadsheet at work, and got this error message:
Non-technical user’s interpretation: There’s been an error. The error is so complicated, that merely explaining it to you would take too long. Seriously, trust me, you don’t want to know.
Actual explanation: The file’s name was very long, and it was downloaded from the web into a folder that was many layers deep in it’s hierarchical tree. The resulting file name (including the full path) exceeded the maximum filename length, causing a DDE error. ALSO, the error message describing the DDE error is designed to include the file name, and the resulting error message exceeded the maximum error message length, hence the above message.
On the upside, the error message’s advice (rename the file or put it in a different folder) is good advice, and actually did solve the problem.
On the downside, DAMN, what an awful error message. If Hodgman and Long ever saw this, it’d be a Mac ad in no time…
Categories: Tech Talk | 4 Comments »
Amazon Kindle has trouble with the news…
Friday, May 8th, 2009Electronically rendering books is one thing, but the Amazon Kindle is finding out that delivering the news is a whole other kettle of fish. Or is that Keetle of Fice?
From the New York Times:
But if the Kindle, which not only displays the news but also speaks it with a computerized voice, is ever to be the savior of print media, it needs to bone up on its pronunciation.
In particular, the voice of the Kindle mispronounces two important words that show up often in the pages of newspapers: “Barack” (the device rhymes it with “black”) and “Obama” (sounds like “Alabama”).
The science behind computerized voice features has come a long way, but apparently still has a ways to go.
Thankfully, it turns out that the device can receive updates to its pronunciation algorithms wirelessly, and Amazon’s text-to-speech vendor, Nuance Communications, plans to correct the President’s name in the next wireless update.
That said, this is sure to become a source of endless amusement. For example, troubled newspaper, The Boston Globe, is one of the first to offer content via the Kindle DX. So it’s unfortunate that it currently pronounces “Celtic” with a hard ‘c’ (as in “Keltic”).
Categories: Random Acts of Blogging | No Comments »