Monday, June 28, 2010

Nobody cares about Midland Beach (anymore)

Midland Beach got shafted this week.

Their weekly protest barely got coverage in the local news even though, according to NY1, there were ‘hundreds’ of people there.

They had a few things going against them, it wasn’t as slow of a news day, but mostly the media is losing interest in this story because it isn’t going anywhere. Some people involved in this debate are genuinely concerned and they need to move ahead.

Here are some things the people of Midland Beach should keep in mind going forward.

Play Me I'm Yours at the Staten Island Ferry

We were a little skeptical when we heard they were strategically placing (working) pianos all over New York City, including Staten Island -- homeless people? pigeons? Ingrid Michaelson?

Nah, jk. But seriously it sounded like this was an idea that could go horribly wrong.

However, the Play Me I'm Yours exhibit has brought an unexpected raft of talent to these randomly placed pianos and in the process made an almost quixotic communal experience for all the commuters and tourists who stumble upon them.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Tonight's action: Staten Island

Check out the Northside Festival over in Brooklyn.

At Martini Red DJ's FRANKIE & TIGER present AND THEY SLEPT w/Special Guests

QSINY: Prada G: BACK TO ATTACK! at Q Nightclub

Dock Street: plastiq passion + the delay

LUMEN video art festival Atlantic Salt Richmond Terrace 4 - 12 pm

Cargo: Wahoo Skiffle Crazies/Nick Williams and the Anteaters

Another hate crime near Port Richmond

Police are investigating another possible hate crime near Port Richmond after a Mexican day laborer was severely beaten on the corner of Forest and Jewett ave.

Congressman Mike McMahon (D - Staten Island): "This attack is just the latest in a string of disgraceful violence against members of our community whose only crime is having a different background. It is very upsetting to me that such hateful crimes could occur on the streets of Staten Island."




The patriots have a problem

Look, we love the Tea Party and all -- hey they are the only homegrown political movement we have out here. The anti-war people make good pot brownies, but they can't organizer a rally for shit.

However, it is becoming apparent that the Tea clan is more like a Republican shill machine than a grassroots, middle-class political movement.

Take their recent stance on the Disclose Act. The Act is actually a response to a recent Supreme Court decision that gives mega-million-dollar corporations like Goldman Sachs the same right to donate politically as, say, some ahole who works at the Wendy's on Amboy Road. (Legally a corporation is a person, so I guess it's fair right?)

The Disclose Act doesn't exactly tackle the decision specifically but instead makes these corporate entities, or their political funnel groups, 'disclose' who exactly they are. So when an ad goes on TV and claims "Obama is a closet-Muslim-Commie-terror-coke-dealer" the ad then has to say: "BP America approves this message." (This goes for everyone, that is, except for the National Rifle Association, who got a sweet deal.)

Antipathy toward the Disclose Act is expected from the Republican party machine, which stands to reap windfall donations from corporate entities who would love to get that pesky financial regulations and drilling restrictions of their golden-plated backs.

But where does a local grassroots movement come off criticizing their congressman for voting for this common sense, legislative tweak in a landmark, game-changing SCOTUS decision? How exactly will they, local activists, be affected by this bill, or is there some other motivation behind their opposition?

Friday, June 25, 2010

New York Mets: Small ball, big park

The New York Mets are perennial underdogs, sort of like Staten Island.

After a disappointing start to their Citi Field career the team has made some adjustments this year, which may have accounted for their recent success.

It may be that they have adapted to their new (big) stadium and are playing a version of the game sometimes referred to as small ball.

With 26 wins at Citi Field the Mets are tied for the best home record in the majors despite the fact that the team has only hit 59 home runs, 11th in the league. (David Wright, the team's leading home run hitter is in 18th place with 12 dingers -- 2 at home.)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Tarzan fiasco rocks Staten Island

So the Advance ran this great piece Wednesday on a new addition to a woman's incredibly ridiculous lawn decor on Todt Hill Road.
Tarzan has abandoned his jungle habitat in favor of the front yard of Alla Shchegol’s home...
It looks as though this possibly unstable person has added a new statue (aka "Tarzan") to a front lawn already cluttered with all sorts of wild animals which are enticing random passers-by to gawk and nearly cause accidents on an already hard-to-drive narrow, winding hill.

Even Gothamist picked up on this epic story because, hey, it's a guy swinging on a rope(!).

Meanwhile, the Dump has done an investigation and we are pretty sure a big lie has been perpetrated on all the good people of Richmond County.

This it totally NOT Tarzan!

Jersey Shore responds to becoming gay icons

Apparently, those were Jersey Shore guys on the cover of the Voice's Queer Issue (don't watch the show). And, like the utter douchebags that they are, they have responded quite predictably to the event.

"I don't give a shit, man," said Vinny Guadagnino.

"I've done so many photoshoots and they're pretty much all the same. I go in there, do my thing, take my shirt off, get my hair and my make-up done and they dress me. I take the pictures and wherever they end up, they end up."

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Confirmed: Guidos are homoerotic

We came up with this crazy theory a while back that guidos are homoerotic. Now it's been confirmed, by the Village Voice.

The weekly alt-mag has a new cover which displays these tanned, shaved, muscular pseudo-heteros under the preposterous title: The Queer Issue.

The Voice has all the gory details, including incriminating photos and the well-documented GayOrJersey.blogspot.com and worse of all, quotes from gay Italians.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Midland Beach celebrates 4th of July early

Real patriots don't wait until the Fourth of July.

The good people of Midland Beach decided to celebrate the 4th early yesterday as more than 100 people took to the streets with red-white-and-blue-themed decor to spread the holiday cheer.

Waving to cars and passers-by, the residents displayed nothing but affection for their country as they shouted some patriotic slogans, which were indecipherable to this reporter.

The event marked what seems to be a weekly show of support for all things "traditional" and "American."