Dope on the Slope

The View from the Top

view from the top, originally uploaded by Dope on the Slope.

of the Wonder Wheel that is.

Desperados Waiting on an F Train

desperados waiting on an F train, originally uploaded by Dope on the Slope.

In Memoriam: Bob Guskind

Several of Robert Guskind's colleagues have collaborated on a thorough life history of Brooklyn's own neighborhood "blogfather." This heartfelt remembrance is now available on Gowanus Lounge, the blog that Bob founded.

Con Ed To The Rescue

I'm happy to report that the Con Ed underground team arrived on our block as scheduled this morning and are working beneath the street to isolate the source of our recurring blackouts. With luck (and skill), they'll find the cause and apply a long term solution.

Focus On Crocus

Several specimens peeping through winter detritus in the "backyard" today.

Mini Blackouts Plaguing The Slope?

1920s Electric Appliance Wire, originally uploaded by Todd Ehlers.

At a "livable streets" forum held by the PSCC a few weeks ago, a few people mentioned that they had noticed sporadic power outages over the past month, and that the culprit was saltwater resulting from ice melting measures around the neighborhood. My block just experienced the third partial blackout this year. About half of the lights and outlets in half of the units in half of the buildings were effected. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the pattern, but we told the same story about the suspected cause as I had heard at the meeting. One technician claimed that saltwater was corroding the lines beneath the street (are they not insulated?), and another theorized that repeated freezing and thawing were the culprits. Either way, they got us back up and running once again with a "band-aid" solution and plan to return later to address the problem under the street. Anybody else out there having sporadic blackouts? UPDATE: Commenter Audrey offers the following story and advice: Second Street between 6th and 7th Avenues experienced a mini blackout several weeks ago. Four houses lost half of their power..Co Edison took about a whole day to come and semi-remedy the problem by jumping their electrical boxes, which restored some power. However, the 220 power required to run electric stoves was not restored, greatly inconveniencing people who relied on those stoves. Several weeks and many calls to ConEd passed and the problem was not resolved. I finally found the email address for their VP of Engineering, John Mucci,(muccij@coned.com)( bless you Google!)and sent off a politely huffy message.  He responded and a crew arrived the next morning.  Noteworthy: if food or medicine is spoiled by a power outage, ConEd will reimburse up to $200 if you have receipts.

RIP: Bob Guskind

I've just learned from Flatbush Gardener that Bob Guskind, the founder of the blog Gowanus Lounge, has passed away. 

No other details are available at this time. 

Bob was one of those people who could be wry and warm at the same time. His engaging approach to neighborhood oriented blogging was enormously influential to a number of Brooklyn based bloggers. A discussion I had with him after one of the blogfests about creating an actual social network of bloggers that met face to face led to the creation of the Brooklyn Blogade.

He was also a fine photographer and writer. 

He will be missed.

Clueless Nattering Bloviating Charlatans

The great Jon Stewart critiques so-called "analysts" on CNBC:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Wheel

Snowcrash

Petting Zoo Paranoia

The unusually fair weather yesterday brought a lot of folks out to Prospect Park. I had been eager to show junior some of the farm animals and wildlife that make frequent appearances in his books and often form the basis for our predominantly onomatopoeic discourse (What does the cow say? What does the owl say? etc.).

Well, we found out what at least one cow says in person at the petting zoo. The small but surprisingly menacing cow said "MOOO!!!" with enough volume and ferocity to inspire white knuckle terror in the dozen or so toddlers clinging to their parents in the barn. I've been around a lot of cows, but this one had some real New York attitude.

The alpacas were a bit more popular, but I didn't trust them. Too many shifty sidelong glances.

Clusterdux Redux

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

(Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, KJV)

Ducks amok in the shoe sucking muck at the Prospect Park Zoo yesterday. The attendent who was feeding this hoard said the "official" number of ducks in the pond was twelve. I counted at least eighty. Most of these were mallards, but there were at least two ruddy ducks and two wood ducks (pictured below).

La Maison Grippe

Well it's finally gotten to me. First junior, then momma, and now daddy. Here's the Zagat's review:

"Sharing is half the fun" with this perennial family favorite whose signature symptoms are "projectile" and "explosive." However, the wide variety of secondary symptoms such as uncontrolled shaking, cold sweat, headache and "debilitating" fatigue may be the real stars, inspiring reactions ranging from "more than a little inconvenient" to "please just kill me." Located in all five boroughs with new openings daily.

Here's hoping you never have to confirm these opinions.

Old First Crossing

View from the signal at the northeast corner of 7th Avenue and Carroll Street. I've applied a bit of a cross-processing effect in Paintshop to get the funky colors.

Binnen Bridge - Detail