July 2009
26 posts
Bubbles, Zubbles, Toys and Troubles [geekdad]
They’re bubbles. And they’re in color. And they wash out, rub away or plain evaporate after splattering.
Describing Tim Kehoe’s invention – Zubbles – is simple. The 15-year journey from concept to this summer’s product launch was anything but.
“If you said to me, ‘You’re going to spend a quarter of your life playing with bubbles,’ I’d have said you...
Hi, I’m Miss Cyclone. I’m Calling to Save Coney Island. [mcbrooklyn]
While the Bloomberg administration, the City Council and developers are negotiating the future of Coney Island, the group Save Coney Island says they won’t let them (and other fans of the “People’s Playground”) into the discussion. So Save Coney Island is taking its message directly to the people, with some help from...
Obama Arrives Under Watchful Eyes [Brooklyn heights blog]
Wondering what the racket was this afternoon? A police helicopter hovered low over the Heights as a flight of Marine Corps choppers, one of them carrying President Obama to his speaking engagement in Manhattan this evening, swooped low over the Buttermilk Channel and landed at the Downtown Heliport.
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MetroCard could be singing its swan song [urbanite]
The mighty MetroCard - loved by harried New Yorkers, hated by perplexed tourists — could be headed for its last swipe.
Incoming MTA chief Jay Walder supports newer, easier payment methods for the subways and buses, such as the “Oyster card” he introduced to the London system.
The payment method allows riders to pass a plastic card across the...
Hey, Brooklynites: Time Warner Cable "Upgraded"... →
From what I can tell, they mostly moved and removed features, thought Selfish Mom seems to see some silver lining around this cloud. To be clear, I do not approve.
Brooklyn Bastille Day 2009 — Great Day, Big Crowds [mcbrooklyn]
Brooklyn celebrated Bastille Day Sunday on Smith Street and it seemed like half of France was there. Petanque players had an extra set of sand-covered courts to play on this year. The sand was delivered to Smith Street by John Quadrozzi’s cement company. Competitors throw metal balls (boules), trying to get close to a...
Lou Reed: America (Star Spangled Banner)
Get a...
“Actually, I don’t like him, but I like his moves.”
– The boy (on Barry Manilow)
Already, A Toy-Based Movie Even Weirder Than Asteroids [Viewmaster] [io9]
Never mind the Asteroids movie… there just may be a movie being worked on that comes from an even less likely toy origin. Are they really making a movie based on Viewmaster? Brad Caleb Kane, a writer and producer on Fringe, announced the project on Twitter earlier this week: Almost official — after the alien movie...
Joey Chestnut Retains Mustard Belt with Record 68 Hot Dogs [gothamist]
Joey Chestnut is now well on his way to a Kobayashi-like dynasty after winning his third consecutive Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut jumped out to an early lead on his archrival Takeru Kobayashi and never looked back on his way to a new record of 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Kobayashi did...
Are Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick Moving to Park Slope? [OTBKB]
Just got this email from my pal, Verse Responder Leon Freilich: If, as the Post says, Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP) and family move into the limestone mansion on Prospect Park West; and if her HBO series is brought back with new episodes, will it be called Sex and Park Slope? Then I read in Curbed that Jennifer Gould Kalin...
See Bill Hader’s Failed Science Projects Before He Made It Rain Meatballs [Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs] [io9]
More Mr. T and bungled science work fill the new Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs trailer, based on the children’s book by Judi Barrett. Call me an old softie, but after seeing two trailers for Cloudy, it feels like the essence of my favorite childhood book is being...
An Ode to New York ‘Street Face’ [daily intelligencer]
Painter and filmmaker Jeff Sher has made an animated video of people walking around wearing their New York “street face,” which he defines as “a kind of neutral expression with a touch of ‘don’t mess with me.’” It’s much lovelier than it sounds. [Animated Life/NYT]
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Maclaren Grand Tour LX [ohdeeoh]
In our neighborhood at least, there are Maclaren moms and then there are the rest of us. Maclarens signify that you put function above fashion. That you’re not falling prey to (possibly) over-inflated prices for trendy strollers from (Continental) Europe. In other words, you’re not worried about keeping up with the Bugaboos. Well, folks,...
Mayhem in Albany Means Department of Ed is Now the Board of Ed, Again [OTBKB]
Due to the mess in the Assembly Albany, at midnight on July 1 mayoral control of schools ended, which means that the Board of Education is back in business. At some point during the day the newly reconstituted BOE voted to keep Chancellor Klein in command. They elected Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott as president, and...
“Daddy, why does everyone have arms? Are arms cranes on people?”
– The boy