jpreardon.com

Sorry about the lack of updates. I realized today that it has been more than a week since my last entry. I was away on business all last week, so I did not get a chance to do much in the way of writing. I did manage to have some fun too so I’ll post a detailed report on that in the next couple of days.

You would think that after seeing rain 27 out of the last 50 business days, New Yorkers would quit talking about the weather, yet it continues to be a hot topic. Despite the ongoing grey skies and rain slicked streets, life goes on. I attended a wedding Friday night that cheerily went on in a generous friend’s apartment due to fears that the gray skies might open up while in Central Park.

So we are all wet, pizza deliveries and party tent rentals are up. I would hate to be saddled with a share in a beach house this year. The season is rapidly approaching its mid-point, and the sun has only peeked out from behind the clouds for a few weekend hours at a time (at best).

New York’s crime rate is also a topic of conversation. Recent crime figures have been showing an increase in crime. Most alarming is probably the 17.5% spike in murders over the past four weeks.

I think there is a correlation between our recent spell of grey skies and the spike in homicides. Other parts of the world that traditionally have overcast skies tend to also have high rates of depression and drug abuse. New Yorker’s are not strangers to depression or drug abuse, but we do expect to get our fair share of summer. When it doesn’t happen, it seems that New Yorker’s start killing each other.

This is a bold theory, but so far, it seems to be the only one out there. NYPD’s top cops are calling emergency meetings to try and figure out what is going on. I say look no further. We already know an extended heat wave can spark violence in the city, why can’t a month of rain and below average temperatures?

Unfortunately, finding a solution to this problem might not be easy. We all know that we can’t change the weather, so we might just have to wait it out. Eventually, the sun will shine again. By the end of the summer, we will have plenty of days to complain about the oppressive heat and test our air conditioners. Perhaps the city should have a mandatory Day at the Beach holiday for all residents on the next sunny day, just to get everyone back to their normal cheery dispositions.

Check out this story about a Robocoaster on Gizmodo. I couldn’t agree more with the last comment:

Are you really going to strap yourself to a 30-foot tall, 8,000 pound ride that’s controlled by a PC running Windows? Hate to take a cheap shot here, but I wouldn’t even trust a PC to control my air conditioner, let alone some gigantic robotic arm that could potentially hurl me to my death.

Of course, it makes me question what other potentially life endangering devices are actually controlled by Windows software.

The Concorde’s days might be numbered, but you still might be able to experience supersonic travel by riding tourist class aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. If you thought the Concorde was pricey, its 10K round trip price pales in comparison to the $20 Million ticket on the Russian rocket. I wonder if these will be available for purchase on priceline.com.

This Tuesday (16 June) there will be four very timely films at Dahlia’s Flix and Mix: FORUGH FARROKHZAD: Young Revolutionary Poetess of Tehran, RISE: Revolutionary Women Reenvisioning Afghanistan, A preview of A NEW HOPE, and ¿ADONDE VA VICENTE? (Where is Vincent Going?).

Doors at 7, Screenings begin 8pm.
SUGAR
311 Church St. btwn Lispenard & Walker Sts. (431-8642 for directions)
NO cover charge.

Thanks for the info Jax!

According to RCR Wireless News, thieves at JFK stole 25,000 Sony Ericcson phones. This would have been about $5 Million dollars worth of merchandise, if they had been real phones. Alas, they are only display models.

via Gizmodo

Where was Bézenville when gas masks were a hot item in New York a few months ago? These are much more stylish than anything you’ll find down at the Spy Shop. I think my favorite is the “decapotable” model.

Unfortunately it does not appear that there are any retailers in the US. The Parisians are a step ahead of us in the fashion department yet again. However, if you really want to be a trendsetter, you can buy one online.

très magnifique…

via BoingBoing

Ok, I’m sure everyone is going to see a lot of this picture in the next couple of days, but I just couldn’t resist…

Doesn’t the Segway have sophisticated electronics on board to prevent the rider from being thrown off? Well, as the leader of the free world has shown us, you can’t always count on those expensive electronics, or balance for that matter. Next time Bush jr. tries out dad’s new toy I doubt he’ll do it in front of the house (damn photographers).

Samsung is offering a ladies mobile phone for the Asian market. It comes with a jewel encrusted case, calorie counter and built in mirror. I wouldn’t expect to see this in the US market, ever, but how about a men’s phone? It could include a rotating porn collection on the full color display along with a built in cigar cutter or something. Anyone have any other ideas???

via Gizmodo

Start paying now! I heard about mobile phone number portability becoming a reality what, last week? Now it looks like the FCC has yet to render a final decision. Even so, today I received my cell phone bill and found a notice stating that there would be “Changes to Your PCS Invoice”. We all know what that means: Additional charges! The taxes and surcharges already make up 21% of my total bill. Hey, that’s almost like leaving a tip. I wonder how much more the “gratuity” I will be next month?