Commute issues

I’ve heard NYers are perpetually late but unlike most regions there’s an understanding for this lack of punctuality because of situational influences: freak rain, taxi accidents, or train delays. I admit, I’ve used the train delay reason for being tardy a few times, but there have been several justifiable instances where I’m on time and there’s just no way a taxi, walking or a train will get me to my destination or meeting early enough.

Today was one of those days, I had a meeting uptown near 54th and Lex, so I took the dirty E uptown about 45 min before my appointment. I arrived on time up to Penn station and then the train relaxed. You can always tell you’re going to be stuck when the door don’t slam shut on someone and the train releases a burst of air pressure from the breaks as if signing, needing the rest. Apparently someone had gotten sick on the train in the station ahead of us, and it’s holding up the whole line.

Getting sick and halting the transportation system for one of the largest cities in the world seems absurd but apparently it happens more often that I thought. Today I just happen to be reading the NY Post, and in it is an article on one of the MTA‘s latest marketing campaigns as of late: Ads through out the subway lines that encourage New Yorkers to take the day off if they are laid up or sick and to stay off the trains.

Apparently last year, sick customers caused 6,136 delays on the the NY subway lines, which is the 3rd largest cause of delays (for the 2nd straight year – 4,481 delays in 2006). Apparently when passengers are sick, MTA employees and even train conductors must stay with the passengers until EMT or other help arrives to ensure their safety. Without someone to man the trains, everyone must wait….. So next time you’re feeling sick on the train, make sure you get off before you puke! I was 25 minutes late for my meeting because some jackass threw up from his pneumonia.

Maxed Out on Netflix

With the biggest banks falling down like bowling pins from the giant ball of bad financial decisions, so are most Americans (Citibank, Bear Sterns etc.). I’m too not alone when I say I have more debt that I’d like to have. When you live in NY, there’s so much out there to tempt you to spend: events, parties, fashion, bars, plays, movies, shows, whores, and food to name a few. Recession headline loom as home prices fall, gas prices continue to rise as do basic necessities like milk and beer.

All these thoughts have been strummed up this week when I finally rigged up my entertainment system to a wireless computer viz S-video connections. I can now watch all streaming videos, movies and TV (full screen) on my TV in surround or stereo sound. This is sweet! No more need to go to any video store, pay for on-demand or even buy porn! Neflix on demand service has become a reality and the picture is great.

So my first movie on demand was a documentary (not many of the blockbusters are available on demand for fear from the movie industry that the consumer will steal/copy them, and they wouldn’t make money). I watched Maxed Out, a frightening look at the rising level of personal and national debt in the USA with a huge emphasis on the victims as well as the banking tactics that contribute to the mis-education and coercion of the consumer to continue deeper into that debt with misleading offers or revolving door credit.

Typical consumers feeding into the hugely powerful societal push for the best, newest, biggest shit find using that plastic for a new shirt or the latest unique line of sneakers or a new flat screen is enticing. I’ve good about controlling my will power by not participating, partly due to a conscious choice to reduce my debt, increase my capital (get liquid), and focus on financing some important personal goals like our wedding and more travel. It’s bit-my-tongue tough to do this in NY. I hold back from that last $12 whiskey (my body thanks me though in th morning), I only by brand names at century 21 or stick with smaller, lesser known fashion designers (1Aeon), or opt for a smaller tapas spot rather than the steakhouse for Tuesday dinner (if I’m not chefin it up at home).

Maxed Out had also a very striking quote that is important to consider when voting for all future federal, state and local political candidates:

“The government spends more [of the national budget fund] on interest payments [to the national debt], than on homeland security, education and healthcare combined.”

National Debt Clock in NY, IRS BuildingAs of today, the national debt is over 9 TRILLION dollars. The only president in the last 35 years to attempt to reduce the national debt was Clinton in 1999, when we had a budget surplus. At that time the debt was a little over 3.6 TRILLION dollars. Now I hear all the time from my banking institutions, creditors, family and industry professionals that having a high debt and more so growing that debt is a VERY bad thing… so I can’t imagine as smart as we assume our politicians to be, that we continue to grow this.

Either way, I’ll continue to eat well in a more cost friendly way, I’ll continue to live well in creative ways but I do hope our future leaders look to do the same for the American people: get creative in reducing our debt without sacrificing services like police, fire departments, security, education, healthcare, libraries, and parks. We’ve already seen the results of sacrificing public services, in Katrina, infrastructure failures (bridges), and limited funding of our national recreational parks.

Anyhoo… if you don’t have it, get Netflix, reduce your tv watching usage (it’s all crap anyway except for Meerkat Manor, Current TV or Fuel TV), check out this flick and save your money – you’ll be needing more of it soon.

China’s air pollution threatens 08 Olympians

Haile Gebrselassie the world record holder for the marathon run just announced that because of Bejing’s extensive air pollution problem, and his asthma, he won’t be running in the high endurance race.

China’s pollution problems for the Olympics have been well publicized on the net but are not fully well known to everyone in the states (stats are listed below). China had committed to the Olympic committee to ease these concerns and are doing so by moving factories outside the city, reducing taxi use and replacing them with more fuel efficient cars, replacing coal burning furnaces with natural gas, and even committing to closing plants all together during the events of the games. Still:

Runners coughed and gagged as they limbered up. Thick smog shrouded the Tsing Ma Bridge. Pollution index readings on this morning in February 2006 were at 149, the highest in months. Any reading over 100 is considered unhealthy.

A disturbing trend in popular thought is Gary Lough’s quote (husband of Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, a planned runner for the games) said:

“There’s no point in us being especially concerned, because pollution’s not really something you can control.”

Ahh but it is if we want to Gary, it is if we want to. And obviously if this is a situation that’s effect athletes that are in top shape, imaging what it’s doing to those typical day walkers that don’t have the physical conditioning?

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What’s wrong with China’s air:

  • China’s air was rated Worst in the World in late 2005 based on satellite data for all countries contributing pollution and particulates into the earth’s atmosphere.
  • According to the World Bank, 16 cities in the world with the worst air pollution are located in China.
  • The country’s Ministry of Science and Technology has estimated that 50,000 newborn babies a year die from the effects of air pollution.
  • China’s emissions of carbon dioxide, the most important global warming gas, are expected to surpass those of the United States in 2009, according to the International Energy Agency.
  • At a recent Marathon (in 2006), the pollution Index read 149 (Anything over 100 is considered unhealthy).
  • “Eric W. Orts, professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton, says that pollution, if left unchecked, will drag down China’s economic growth and result in huge healthcare costs. In addition, China’s pollution will, over time, erode its competitive position in the global economy.”

“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”
~ Dan Quayle (former Vice President of US, with George H Bush 1989–1993)