Friday, November 1, 2024

Jaywalking is Now Legal in NYC but......

 


Jaywalking is crossing the street in a way that contravenes traffic laws, typically outside of crosswalks, despite oncoming traffic. Every day, millions of pedestrians in NYC must "compete" with cars, traditional bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters for the right of way on sidewalks and streets.  Until recently, jaywalkers could be given a summons and forced to pay a fine.  The law was repealed since there was a claim that 
Blacks and Latinos were given a disproportionate amount of summonses.

There are bad pedestrians and drivers.  If two cars collide, the drivers have some protection, but when a car hits a person, a fatality is very likely. Pedestrians don't have carte blanche to do what they please if they can't be given a summons.

As a driver and a pedestrian, I observe much lack of good judgment on the part of everyone in a hurry to get to their destinations.  Many cars jump red lights and many pedestrians don't look out for cars and cross in the middle of the block.  I remember one occasion when I was driving and saw two young men crossing against the light with their heads in their cell phones.

Common Sense and Courtesy Everyone!

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Random Thoughts of the Day - October 31, 2024


  • Today is Halloween.  In recent years only a few kids came to my apartment trick or treating.  I bought a bag of Kit-Kats for them.
  • Yesterday, the World Series came to an end as the Yankees lost to the Dodgers 4-1.  The Yankees should have won game one since the wrong pitcher was brought in to face Freddy Freeman.  The fifth inning of game five was a disaster as the Yankees committed three errors that allowed the Dodgers to score five runs.
  • The Hot Stove League starts today.  For those who are not baseball fans, that term means speculation and rumors about free-agent signings and trades in the off-season.  The big question marks are will Pete Alonso sign with the Mets and will Juan Soto sign with the Yankees?  In any event, the salaries are outrageous.  Is any athlete worth $40 Million per year?  Both teams also must make decisions about other players whose contracts have just expired.
  • This afternoon I passed by a building in my neighborhood where a construction crew was installing sidewalk sheds.  It was obviously their lunch hour as all eight of them were lying on the grass looking at their cell phones.  There is a love affair with the American public and their cell phones.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan vs Timothée Chalamet in the Forthcoming Film A Complete Unknown

 


I first saw this in 1967 when I saw the documentary Don't Look Back.  It is best known for Dylan flipping the cards with Allan Ginsberg in the background.  Subterranean Homesick Blues is a typical Dylan song that nobody understands.

 

It seems that bits and pieces of the forthcoming biopic "A Complete Unknown" are being shown on YouTube.  It whets my appetite to see the film when it is released on Christmas Day.

Monday, October 28, 2024

I bought a New Dell Laptop Today

 


The old Dell laptop just working right lately since I was have problems with the power.  I bought in September 2019 as documented in this journal.  I got plenty of use out of that laptop as I used it twice daily for five years.  It owed me nothing.

I decided to buy another Dell since the last one was very reliable until very recently.  I bought it at Microcenter that gives prompt and courteous service.  I will have to learn to use Windows 11.  I hope to get five years use out of this computer.


Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan and Judy Collins Versions - What A Difference

 




Saturday, October 26, 2024

My Comments on World Series Scheduling

 


  • In the 1960s, all the World Series games were played in the afternoon.  I remember taking a small transistor radio to school to hear the game.
  • If I remember correctly, in 1971 one game was played at night.  After a certain date, all games were played at night.  Money is the name of the game.  Audiences are larger at night so the networks get more money from advertisers.  
  • In the 1960s, there was one announcer from each team and one from the TV network broadcasting the game. Today, the announcers are from the Fox Network.
  • 8 PM is a late starting time for people in the east.  Couldn't they start at 7 PM so very young fans can stay up to watch the game?
  • I assume people in the West don't like the 5 PM PT start. On weekends it will interrupt their dinner, while they commute home on weekdays.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

This is What I Will Be Watching on Christmas Day

 

All Bob Dylan fans greatly anticipate the biopic A Complete Unkown that will be released on Christmas Day.  It is a biopic covering Dylan's early years including his transition from folk to rock music.  The trailers including the one seen above are very promising.  Timothée Chalamet is the actor playing the young Dylan.  The film should be historically accurate.  I don't expect to learn anything new about this era of Dylan's career, but hopefully, it will attract some younger people to Dylan.
 
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