Manhattanhenge

Saturday night,  when the sun sets on 42nd street equally balanced between the tall buildings that line the street.  A wonderful sight.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/12/manhattanhenge-new-york-rare-beautiful

Signs

This is a very touching story.  Rather than attempt to retell it in my words, copy this to your browser.

http://creativetimereports.org/2013/12/18/sign-of-the-times-new-york-city-homeless-andres-serrano/

City Humor

These two are from the weekly magazine Time Out.     Joke of the Week

Michael Ian Black:  So Michael Sam is the first openly gay NFL player.  Big deal.  I’ll be impressed when an NFL player comes out as being Jewish.

Chloe Hillard:  I figured out why we don’t hear about black ghosts:  In order for you to haunt a house, you have to own a house.

Another Gladwell Moment

Much of the Chronicles of the City content is about what ‘others do’ not my own actions.  But this event seems important in the annals of decision making to me.  Friday, July 4th I was at Laguardia Airport for a flight to Halifax.  This booking, when made months ago, seemed non-eventful.  Just prior to leaving to the airport, the airlines notifies me by text that the flight is delayed an hour.  By that time it is too late to stop the ‘leaving procedure’ so I just figure I will have extra time in the airport lounge.  At the appropriate time I am at the gate for boarding.  Unexpectedly the gate agent announces that the flight is over booked and are four persons willing to give up their seats for $500 airline dollars per person.  No takers.  The next offer is $800.  Finally $1000.  Two women step to the counter.  They ask the agent to arrange flights for that day and they name a few destinations.  Either the airline doesn’t fly there, or there are no flights available.  The women step away from the counter. I say to myself well, if they get to $1500. Then maybe.  The announcement continues, but the flight begins to board.  As I approach the gate, I say to the agent, for a trip to Sydney, I’ll exchange my seat.  Wait, he says, speak to the other agent.  As I step out of line to speak to the other agent, she makes the announcement that for $1300 airlines dollars…. I say to her, for a ticket to Sydney…. she replies, this is the offer.  I step back in line and board the plane.  As I sit in my seat, I think about the offer and should I have taken it.  I am still thinking about it, when a woman with two young teenage girls is standing by my arm rest giving instructions to them as she fastens them in behind me.  I wait ’till she is just finishing and I ask her if she has an aisle seat.  Yes, she replies.  Well, then I will exchange with you so you can be with the girls.  She is so relieved and hands me her boarding card. I have just acquired a seat in a prime row for which she paid extra to sit in.  That works for me, even more leg room than my aisle seat.  Still I’m mulling my decision.  I shut down the head discussion by saying to myself, you made your decision, it’s fine.  How fine was it?  July 5 all flights into Halifax were cancelled.  I would not have flown out until July 6.  Now if the 4th was overbooked, by the time the 6th rolled around, there would be even more overbooking.  I would have missed the world famous TATOO on the night of the 4th but come to find out, worst of all, I would have had no car rental.  It closed at noon on the 5th and didn’t open again until the 7th.  Once in Halifax I not only had to drive to the City Centre but later on the next day 2.5 hours South to the South Shore.  As Gladwell would say, one has enough experience and knowledge to make instantly correct decisions based on knowledge collected and experience.  Another way to say ‘trusting your gut instincts.  For a ticket to Australia, the hassle would have been worth it.  For anything less, it was an all win for the airlines. No win for the passenger.

The End

Time is a wonder to me. On June 30, left at 6:15 am in a taxi to the airport.  At 10:00 am stepped into plane that immediately began a flight over the water.  This plane did not see land for the next 11,785 kilometers until it landed at 6:30 am June 30th in L.A.  Left LA at 9:00 am for a 4.5 hour flight to New York.  Landed in New York at 5:30 pm June 30th.  You think my head is confused.  My body doesn’t have a clue either.